Job Market Monitor
Michel Cournoyer
US / Fed shifts focus from inflation to jobs
The focus on jobs represents a historic shift for the central bank that began with the 2008 financial crisis and has intensified in the face of four years of middling economic growth. But how much influence the central bank wields over unemployment remains an open question: It cannot direct businesses to hire or inspire entrepreneurs … Continue reading
Only 24% of employers say they are effective in meeting talent needs – Mercer
Employers are investing more money in talent, but much of it is proving ineffective, according to the latest Talent Barometer survey from Mercer. The survey showed that 60% of organisations worldwide have reported increasing their investment in talent in recent years, however only 24% said their plans are highly effective in meeting immediate and long-term … Continue reading
Vietnam / A project to reduce gender imbalance at birth
The General Department of Population and Family Planning has proposed a VND3,000 billion ($150 million) project to reduce gender imbalance at birth. Part of the funding is to support the families with two daughters. The project has been submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and sent to ministries for consultation. Under the scheme, the … Continue reading
China / 8 provinces and cities have adjusted their minimum wage levels in 2013
Shenzhen has raised its monthly minimum wage levels by RMB100 to RMB1,600 from March 1, 2013, while its hourly minimum wages have been adjusted from RMB13.3 to RMB14.5. This news comes after Guangdong Province recently announced wage hikes of nearly 20 percent that would have seen Guangzhou overtake Shenzhen as the city with the highest monthly minimum … Continue reading
US / Long-Term Unemployment Is Still High
Jobs! The economy added 236,000 of them in February, which is good. And, as my colleague Derek Thompson points out, it added more construction jobs than at any time since March of 2007, which is even better. After all, housing is what makes recoveries go boom. But let’s be honest. Even with our nascent housing … Continue reading
UK / Working from home could save up to £34 billion to employers
Employers could save up to £34 billion by freeing up desk space and reducing overhead costs with employees working from home, mobile phone giant Vodafone has said today. In a survey of 500 key decision makers conducted by YouGov in tandem with Vodafone it found that despite the average office desk costing thousands of pounds … Continue reading
Canada / Job gains: thanks to older workers
Sometimes age and experience can pay off. In Canada, as in many other countries, an aging population can face financial uncertainty as it heads toward retirement. But for now, older workers are in big demand in the workplace. Canada’s see-sawing labour force swung back into job-creation mode in February, with a net 50,700 people finding … Continue reading
Google / Motorola Mobility will layoff 1,200 employees
Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility will layoff 1,200 employees, which is 10 percent of its current workforce, in an attempt to make the company profitable. The Wall Street Journal reports that a company email it obtained details that the layoffs have already begun and will affect workers in the U.S., China, and India. Motorola’s decision to … Continue reading
US / unemployment rate for the 2011 cohort of recent college graduates was 12.6 percent
Every year, thousands of recent graduates of colleges and universities across the United States enter the labor force with newly minted degrees and high hopes about their employment prospects.1 In October 2011, 74.5 percent of the 1.3 million 2011 recent college graduates were employed, according to data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). The unemployment … Continue reading
US / A Facts Sheet on Federal Minimum Wage
The minimum wage is not indexed to the price level. It has been legislatively increased from time to time to make up for the loss in its real value caused by inflation. In nominal (current dollar) terms, the minimum wage has risen steadily from 25 cents to $7.25 an hour, where it has remained since … Continue reading
US / Nonfarm payrolls surged 236,000 jobs and jobless rate fell to 7.7 percent
U.S. employers stepped up hiring in February, pushing the unemployment rate to a four year-low and suggesting the economy has enough momentum to withstand the blow from higher taxes and deep government spending cuts. Nonfarm payrolls surged 236,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday, handily beating economists’ expectations for a gain of … Continue reading
Canada / Employment rose by 51,000 and unemployment rate remained at 7.0%
Employment rose by 51,000 in February, following a slight decline the previous month. This increase was spread between full- and part-time work. The unemployment rate remained at 7.0% as more people participated in the labour force. Chart 1 Employment Compared with 12 months earlier, employment grew by 1.9% or 336,000, predominantly in full-time work. Over the same period, the total number of hours … Continue reading
Autism / Employability and “Phenomenal Talent”
Peter Bell with Autism Speaks spoke of the employability of individuals with autism during a visit to Exceptional Minds vocational school for young adults on the autism spectrum last month. “Most of the world doesn’t know yet that there is phenomenal talent here in Sherman Oaks, in this room,“ said Peter Bell to a roomful … Continue reading
The housing Traps / Housing benefit creates an unemployment trap
If we’re to move away from using housing benefit to prop up a dysfunctional housing market, we desperately need to think much more carefully about rent levels and wages, writes Rebecca Tunstall. Housing benefit is preventing poverty and homelessness, but propping up a dysfunctional system and hindering work incentives. We need lower housing costs to … Continue reading
Women’s Day: The single biggest issue
International Women’s Day: What do you think is the single biggest issue currently facing women? asks The Independent The Independent‘s feminist writers have answered two questions. Here’s what they had to say (click on the image on the link) Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor via International Women’s Day: What do you think is the single biggest … 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
Job Market Monitor 