Job Market Monitor
Michel Cournoyer
PISA and TIMSS – How did the u.s. perform ?
Has U.S. school performance been improving over the past two decades? The results of two international tests—the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Assessment (TIMSS)—shed some light on this question. Both were administered in 2015, an event that only occurs every 12 years. Inside the 2017 Brown … Continue reading
Mental Health – Illness account for half of all illness up to age 45 in rich countries
In a typical country, one in five people suffers from a mental illness, the great majority from depression or crippling anxiety. Mental illness accounts for half of all illness up to age 45 in rich countries, making it the most prevalent disease among working-age people; it also accounts for close to half of disability benefits … Continue reading
Unconscious Bias – The failures of diversity training
There’s great work showing that diversity is correlated with business performance. But we’ve also learned that that probably won’t be enough to move the needle. That came as somewhat of a surprise to many of us, who thought that if we can show the business case, things will happen. But clearly more needs to be … Continue reading
Job Report in Canada, March 2017 – Employment was little changed (+19,000 or +0.1%)
Employment was little changed in March (+19,000 or +0.1%), while the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 6.7% as more people searched for work. In the first quarter of 2017, employment gains totalled 83,000 or 0.5%. This growth is comparable to the last quarter of 2016 (+91,000 or +0.5%) and notably higher than the first quarter of 2016 (+36,000 or +0.2%). Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased by 276,000 (+1.5%), mostly … Continue reading
Job Report in US, March 2017 – Employment up by (only) 98,000 bu unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, the lowest level in almost a decade
The unemployment rate declined to 4.5 percent in March, and total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 98,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in professional and business services and in mining, while retail trade lost jobs. Household Survey Data The unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent … Continue reading
Sector skills councils are increasingly seen as effective mechanisms to engage industry
Helping enterprises find workers with the right skills, and ensuring that workers acquire the skills they need to find productive employment, is a key to economic prosperity and building inclusive societies. Adopting a forward-looking perspective to improve the competiveness of a certain industry or sector and its future success by upgrading the skills of its … Continue reading
Older Workers in UK – Although their number in employment is rising, employment rates still drop sizeably reports says
Older workers account for a growing proportion of the UK workforce. As such, it is increasingly important to understand more about the working experiences of older individuals as well as the potential impact changes in the age composition of workplaces may have on their performance. Key findings (1) the proportion of workers aged 50 and … Continue reading
Workforce Development – Five principles
Almost 40 percent of American employers say they cannot find people with the skills they need, even for entry-level jobs. Almost 60 percent complain of lack of preparation, even for entry-level jobs. On the other hand, this “skills gap” represents a massive pool of untapped talent, and it has dire consequences, including economic underperformance, social … Continue reading
VET in Norway – Half choose between eight VET programmes
In Norway, all young people completing compulsory school have a statutory right to three years of upper secondary education. Half of them choose between eight VET programmes. At upper secondary level, Norway has a long-standing tradition of national and regional cooperation between educational authorities and the social partners. At national level, cooperation is organised in … Continue reading
Universal Basic Income (UBI) – Three reasons
From Mongolia to Finland to India, we are seeing heightened interest in the idea of a universal basic income (UBI)—an unconditional cash grant given to every citizen, regardless of their employment status or wealth. The idea is controversial, receiving criticism from many quarters including Future Development. To sharpen the debate, it’s useful to distinguish three … Continue reading
Hourly Labour Costs in EU, 2016 – From €4.4 to €42.0, lowest in Bulgaria and Romania, highest in Denmark and Belgium
In 2016, average hourly labour costs in the whole economy (excluding agriculture and public administration) were estimated to be €25.4 in the European Union (EU) and €29.8 in the euro area. However, this average masks significant gaps between EU Member States, with the lowest hourly labour costs recorded in Bulgaria (€4.4), Romania (€5.5), Lithuania (€7.3), … Continue reading
Talent Acquisition – Should become more intertwined with all the functions of the business
Talent acquisition executives predict “workplace flexibility” will be the top reason why candidates choose an employer five years from now. This flexibility goes well beyond workers’ hours and location, to the very nature of the employee-employer relationship. That is part of another shift in the talent landscape: the move from a full-time employee base to … Continue reading
Digital literacy in Europe – Regional development and computer experience
This figure shows GDP per inhabitant in purchasing power adjusted € expressed as a percentage of the average GDP per inhabitant across EU-28 NUTS-2 regions, and the percentage of individuals in each NUTS-2 region that have never used a computer. Data is obtained from Eurostat and is available for 147 NUTS-2 regions. Also shown is … Continue reading
Leave of Absence in the US – Many, particularly among lower-income workers, aren’t able to take time off
Most Americans say they have taken or are very likely to take family or medical leave at some point (62%), but many, particularly among lower-income workers, aren’t able to take time off from work when these situations arise, according to a new Pew Research Center study. About one-in-six adults (16%) who have been employed in … Continue reading
Wage Gap Across Gender and Race in US – Finding the true numbers
How would someone go about finding the true wage gap numbers across gender and race groups in the US? Step 1: Find a reputable source. Step 2: Read the small print. Step 3: Check the source. Step 4: Find out if the statistics accurately reflect all groups. Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole … Continue reading
Jobs – Offres d’emploi – US & Canada (Eng. & Fr.)
The Most Popular Job Search Tools
Even More Objectives Statements to customize
Cover Letters – Tools, Tips and Free Cover Letter Templates for Microsoft Office
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