Category: General Interest

July 12, 2021

Supply, Talent Shortages Weigh on Manufacturing Growth

Supply, Talent Shortages Weigh on Manufacturing Growth

The manufacturing sector grew last month for the thirteenth month running, albeit at a slightly slower pace than it had in May. The Institute for Supply Management, in its June report on manufacturing business, lowered its manufacturing PMI to 60.6%—above the 50% mark indicating growth, but 0.6 points lower than May’s 61.2% PMI. Results fromRead More

June 2, 2021

Reshoring Rose Significantly in 2020, Report Finds

Reshoring Rose Significantly in 2020, Report Finds

The Reshoring Initiative said the push by companies to return operations to the U.S. was a COVID-19 silver lining. IW Staff JUN 02, 2021 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. found itself unexpectedly facing down a global pandemic it was not materially supplied for. Shortages of PPE and medical technology pushed 3M protective mask operationsRead More
Manufacturing in May Grows, Still Troubled by Supply Difficulties

Manufacturing in May Grows, Still Troubled by Supply Difficulties

Optimism is up among surveyed manufacturers after 12 solid months of growth. Ryan Secard JUN 01, 2021 According to the latest data from the Institute for Supply Management, expansion in manufacturing is still on the rise despite record-long lead times and wide-scale shortages of critical basic materials. The manufacturing sector as a whole has consistentlyRead More

May 19, 2021

Job Satisfaction Remains High, Despite Pandemic

Job Satisfaction Remains High, Despite Pandemic

Employees are happy as many companies went above and beyond in supporting their workers during the pandemic, said the Conference Board EHS Today Staff APR 28, 2021 Despite the fallout from the pandemic -- an economic crisis, mass layoffs, and high unemployment -- the percent of employees reporting overall satisfaction with their jobs remained highRead More

April 16, 2021

US jobless claims plunge to 576,000, lowest since pandemic

US jobless claims plunge to 576,000, lowest since pandemic

Elyse Russo APR 15, 2021 / 08:02 AM CDT The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, a post-COVID low and a hopeful sign that layoffs are easing as the economy recovers from the pandemic recession. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications plummeted by 193,000 from a revised 769,000 a weekRead More
Industrial Production Returns to Growth After February’s Storms Subside

Industrial Production Returns to Growth After February’s Storms Subside

U.S. manufacturing output rose 2.7% in March after falling almost 4% in February. IW Staff APR 15, 2021 The Federal Reserve reported on April 15 that industrial production in March rose 1.4%, returning to growth after an unseasonably stormy February knocked it down 2.6%. The report shows total industrial production rose 2.5% at an annualizedRead More

April 13, 2021

The economy is on the cusp of a major boom and economists believe it could last

The economy is on the cusp of a major boom and economists believe it could last

PUBLISHED FRI, APR 9 2021 Patti Domm@IN/PATTI-DOMM-9224884/@PATTIDOMM The economy has entered a period of supercharged growth, and instead of fizzling, it could potentially remain stronger than it was during the pre-pandemic era into 2023. Economists now expect the second quarter to grow at a pace of 10%, and growth for 2021 is expected to be north of 6.5%.Read More

April 7, 2021

Is Your Future Talent Hidden in Plain Sight?

Is Your Future Talent Hidden in Plain Sight?

There are 28 million hidden workers according to the Harvard Business Project on Managing the Future of Work. Adrienne Selko APR 05, 2021 If you are like me, you struggle with understanding how so many jobs are going unfilled, and yet there are so many people out of work. Joseph Fuller, who is a co-chairRead More

April 6, 2021

March Manufacturing More than Doubles February’s Pace for New Hires

March Manufacturing More than Doubles February’s Pace for New Hires

Manufacturers hired 53,000 more people in March as employment recovery picks up steam. APR 02, 2021 The Department of Labor’s most recent employment report reveals that the nonfarm economy added 916,000 jobs last month while manufacturing more than doubled the amount of jobs it gained in February. Manufacturing added 53,000 jobs in March after addingRead More
In Like a Lion: Manufacturing in March Grew for a Tenth Straight Month

In Like a Lion: Manufacturing in March Grew for a Tenth Straight Month

Surveyed manufacturing executives are increasingly optimistic despite supply chain and talent struggles. Ryan Secard APR 02, 2021 March was a good month for manufacturing, according to the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM’s manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index rose 3.9 points from February to reach 64.7%, making March the tenth month of an expanding industrial economyRead More