BLS Employment Situation Report: December 2020

Total nonfarm payroll employment in December declined by 140,000 in December, well below the consensus forecast of a job gain of 45,000. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.7 percent or 10.7 million unemployed persons. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted in today’s release that both unemployment measures are much lower than their AprilRead More

Economists Predict Sharp Slowdown Before Outlook Brightens Considerably

BY EMEL AKAN January 14, 2021 Updated: January 14, 2021 WASHINGTON—Economists are forecasting a strong recovery this year but warn of a sharp drop in economic activity in the first quarter before it builds momentum following the winter. The U.S. economy will grow at 3.9 percent over the four quarters of 2021, according to the latest estimates by theRead More

US private-sector employment drops for first time since April as Covid surges

Released on January 6, 2021 Private-sector employment fell by 123,000 jobs in December compared to November as Covid-19 surged, according to the ADP National Employment Report released today. “As the impact of the pandemic on the labor market intensifies, December posted the first decline since April 2020,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, VP and co-head of theRead More

Monster report finds top global recruiting challenges for 2021

Released on January 7, 2021 The top recruiting challenges of 2021 include the skills gap, virtual recruitment and the recruitment process, according to a global survey of hiring professionals by job board operator Monster Worldwide. It found that 40% of respondents expect to continue facing the skills gap, with a third of respondents saying theRead More

New Stimulus Bill Passed by Congress

Congress has, at last, passed a second stimulus bill. It is awaiting President Trump’s signature, which is expected today. The bill clarifies that you can claim normal tax deductions for business expenses paid with PPP money, reversing the IRS decision. This will provide much-needed tax relief and aligns with the original intention of the PPP.Read More

US adds jobs in November at slowest rate since July: ADP

Released on December 2, 2020 The US added 307,000 private-sector jobs in November when compared to October, according to the ADP National Employment Report released today. It was the lowest month-over-month gain since July. “While November saw employment gains, the pace continues to slow,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, VP and co-head of the ADP Research Institute.Read More

US economy’s moderate expansion slows; Covid surge raises concerns including labor supply challenges

Released on December 3, 2020 While the US economy has continued a moderate expansion, economic activity began to slow in early November as Covid-19 cases surged, according to the US Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report. Businesses cited concerns over the pandemic and mandated restrictions. Employment has also been on the rise, according to the report.Read More

Building critical skills and competencies is top HR priority for 2021

Released on November 17, 2020 Building critical skills and competencies are the No. 1 priority for human resources leaders in 2021, according to research by Gartner Inc. Its survey of more than 750 HR leaders found that 68% said building critical skills and competencies was their top priority. The survey took place from June throughRead More

Forecast for US GDP gets downgrade, but jobs projections improve

Released on November 16, 2020 Economists downgraded their forecast for growth in US gross domestic product for the remainder of this year and the first nine months of 2021, according to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s Survey of Professional Forecasters for the fourth quarter. However, they don’t believe the US unemployment rate will be as highRead More

Jobless claims below 800,000 for third straight week (CNBC)

Released on November 5, 2020 Initial jobless claims totaled 751,000 last week, the third straight week that claims were below 800,000, CNBC reports. Claims have been trending down since late March but remain above pre-pandemic levels. “Bottom line, overall, the labor market continues to repair itself but the pace at which it is doing so isRead More