Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 336,000 in September while the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate (62.8%), and the employment-population ratio (60.4%) were unchanged. Average hourly earnings for all employees rose by 7 cents (0.2%) to $33.88. The average workweek for private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 34.4 hours.
Major Industry Employment
Notable Gains and Losses
- Leisure and Hospitality: +96,000
- Government: +73,000
- Health Care and Social Assistance: +65,900
- Retail Trade: +19,700
- Manufacturing: +17,000
- Construction: +11,000
- Temporary Help Services: -4,200
Read the full report at BLS.gov
Workforce and Economic News
The Newest Hires: How to Integrate Gen Z into the Workplace
NewsWire — October 6, 2023
Businesses are struggling more than ever to hire, train, and retain Generation Z workers. Job transitions for this group of people are up 80% year over year, and nearly 75% of hiring managers have revealed that Gen Z is the most difficult generation to deal with in the workplace. Because of these struggles, experts have worked to define three major reasons for these setbacks and five methods to keep Gen Z on the payroll. Read more at NewsWire.net.
Even As Job Creation Surges, Americans Still Think the Economy Stinks. Here’s Why
CNBC — October 7, 2023
The U.S. economy has added more than 2.3 million jobs this year, the unemployment rate is still below 4%, and there are nearly 10 million open positions out there for anyone still looking for work. So if a healthy jobs picture is the cornerstone of a healthy economy, then why do so many people still think things are terrible? In a word: Inflation. Read more at CNBC.com.
Poll: How Are Return to Office Policies Impacting You?
Express Blog — August 28, 2023
The future of remote work seems uncertain as companies around the world call workers back to the office following work-from-home policies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Pew Research Center survey shows 35% of U.S. employees who can work from home full-time do so, while Gartner estimates that 39% of global knowledge workers will have hybrid schedules, and 9% will work fully remote by the end of the year. How are return to office policies impacting you and your job? Vote in our poll to let us know. Read more at ExpressPros.blog.
America Employed
Surge in U.S. Seniors Applying for Entry-Level Positions
ExpressPros.com — September 27, 2023
U.S. hiring managers are on the hunt for full-time talent, and many (79%) report a rising tide of older workers vying for entry-level roles compared to three years ago. This is according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.
Furthermore, 60% of these hiring managers express a preference for hiring older candidates over younger ones for entry-level positions, highlighting a shift in perceptions about experience and maturity. For the overall U.S. labor market, hiring managers say their sights are set on full-time talent acquisition, encompassing both hourly (55%) and salaried (51%) employees. Most commonly, companies are looking to hire for entry-level (53%, down from 63% in late 2022) and mid-level (52%, down from 58% in late 2022). Read more at ExpressPros.com.
Generative AI Adoption Soars: 69% of US Companies Utilize AI to Transform Operations
ExpressPros.com — September 13, 2023
As companies search for ways to be more efficient, many are turning to generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help streamline operations. This is according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.
Nearly 7 in 10 U.S. hiring managers (69%) use generative AI at their company—most commonly for processing data (52%) either for customers, operations, and even employees. Others report utilizing it to manage customer service questions (27%), create content (26%), and operate chatbots (23%). In using generative AI, many believe it will have a major/moderate positive impact on their company by enhancing customer service (63%), making some processes more efficient (63%), and freeing up employee time (62%). Eighty-five percent of hiring managers also believe opportunities will be created through using generative AI in the workplace, such as increased efficiency (54%), improved decision-making (44%), improved workforce management (43%), and enhanced creativity (42%). Read more at ExpressPros.com.
