BLS Analysis for May 2017

Bob Marshall’s May 2017 BLS Analysis for Recruiters; 6/2/17

 

May BLS Preface

 

TBMG Coaching Updates and News

 

Bob Marshall – Coaching & Speaking Updates:

 

California Staffing Professionals (CSP) Annual Conference, Kona Kai Club, San Diego, California, May 4-5, 2017

 

I want to thank the CSP folks for putting on a great conference in San Diego.  I enjoyed presenting there for two days and for the support I received.  If you are in California and you are looking for a group to join, you should check them out.

 

The Recruitment and Search Business Growth Conference 2017, June 2017

 

I have been invited by fellow coach and colleague (in the UK), Terry Edwards, to present at his virtual conference entitled, “The Recruitment and Search Business Growth Conference 2017”.  The topics for this conference are intended to benefit recruitment/search firm owners.  This conference is sponsored by some of the major providers’ industry suppliers.

 

I will record my one-hour presentation entitled, “Garages are Good! – 2017 Version” on Tuesday, June 13th, at 11:45am, ET.  It will be officially offered for listening via ‘Evergreen Webinars’ to North America, Australia and Europe simultaneously over two days in June.

 

There is no cost for delegates to listen live. Should delegates wish to purchase recordings they can.  Stay tuned for further details.

 

National Association of Personnel Consultants (NAPS), 2017 Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado, September 20-22, 2017

 

I have been invited by NAPS to present again, and so I will at the NAPS Annual Conference in Denver Colorado, September 20-22, 2017.

 

My presentation will be on Friday, September 22nd, from 11am to 12:15pm.  The title of my presentation will be: “Make Placements by Overcoming Objections with Contract Staffing.”

 

Taking the first step…

 

Over 36 years ago (my anniversary is on June 15th) I began a career that turned out to be the most dynamic and rewarding professional move I have ever made.  With the opportunity to earn an unlimited income at my fingertips, I began my career as a Recruiter.

 

Soon I became a student of the business and transitioned into Coaching.  I traveled extensively and learned and listened and I packaged my material in a unique way.  I studied many of the top producers in the recruiting industry and developed a series of training tools based on their proven success—training techniques that work time and time again.

 

I developed these tools and coaching techniques to help others achieve their goals as top producing professional recruiters. I continue to base all of my coaching and training tools on the same “nuts and bolts” approach I used as a recruiter.

 

I realize that taking that first step to engage a Coach to help you reach a higher level of production is not as easy as it sounds.  After all, your training investment – and your time – are important and deserve every consideration.  I share your feelings.  I believe that how you approach your recruitment career matters…that you should get what you pay for, and then some…that you should enjoy your time with your Coach as you are benefiting from it…and that you should never settle for the ordinary.

 

If you are ready to take the first step, you can read descriptions of my coaching plans, and all of my products, on my website @ www.themarshallplan.org.  Then, call me directly at 770-898-5550 or email me @ bob@themarshallplan.org.

 

“Bob Marshall is a speaker’s speaker and a trainer’s trainer.  He has a gift for taking the cornerstones of the business and compelling people and teams to not only hone their skills but to execute. We’ve had Bob engage our teams a number of times over the last few years and our groups always come away more focused on the core and more energized to perform. Come ready to learn because this man knows the business and will make you better!”

 

—David Alexander, President, Adecco & Soliant, January, 2017

 

 

Preface

 

Many of you continue to correspond with me about these monthly BLS analyses and have asked if it is OK to use them in your presentations.  The answer is, of course, yes!  That is why I spend the time to assemble this information.  I would encourage any of you who have that desire to weave any of the information I have printed below into your presentations.  I write these analyses for the benefit of our recruitment industry in general and for the members of my distribution list in particular.  So use this info as you deem appropriate.

 

I also write these monthly BLS analyses to not only counterbalance the negative/incorrect press reporting of our general economic state but, more than that, to remind all of my recruitment readers that, at the level we work, there is no unemployment and so we must recruit to find the candidates our client companies so desperately need!

 

So, to my recruiter colleagues, get out there and do what your name implies…RECRUIT!  When your client companies have unique and difficult positions to fill, they need you.  When they are being picky, they need you.  When they are longing for more production from fewer employees, they need you.  Go fill those needs.  These should be the halcyon days in the recruitment arena!

 

Finally, always remember that we are not in an HR business, but in a ‘circumventing the time factor in the hiring sequence’ business—and adding value to our client companies.

 

 

Jobless Claims Average Hits Lowest Level Since 1973

Daily News, May 25, 2017

 

The US 4-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 235,250 last week, down 5,750 from the previous week’s average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor.  This is the lowest level for this average since April 14, 1973, when it was 232,750.

 

The previous week’s average was revised up by 250.

 

The 4-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers.  Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended May 20 rose to 234,000, up 1,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised upward by 1,000.

 

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

 

MarketWatch reports the number of Americans applying for and receiving unemployment benefits continues to drop to levels last seen nearly a half century ago, a sign the US labor market remains quite robust eight years into an economic expansion.  The US economy has been churning out new jobs at a rapid pace since 2011, pulling the unemployment rate down to 4.4% and eliciting widespread complaints from businesses that they cannot find enough skilled workers to fill open positions..

 

 

American Workers not taking vacations

Daily News, May 23, 2017

 

While American workers are stressed, they’re not taking time away from work, according to a survey released today by CareerBuilder.

 

3 in 5 workers, 61%, said they are burned out in their current job, and 31% report high or extremely high levels of stress at work.  However, a third of all workers have not taken or do not plan to take a vacation this year.

 

Nearly a third of workers say work causes high or extremely high stress levels for them — an issue that is affecting women more than men at 34% and 27%, respectively.

 

Stress is also affecting areas such as job satisfaction.  A third of workers with high levels of stress said they are dissatisfied with their job; 17% say they are dissatisfied with their job overall.

 

Survey results include:

 

*33% of workers said they won’t be taking a vacation this year, down slightly from 35% last year

*3 in 10 workers still stay connected with work during vacation

*Nearly 1 in 5 have left vacation days unused in 2016

*People in power positions – i.e., senior management and VPs – are the least stressed of all workers

*Women were more likely to report high stress levels at work than men

*Anger issues at work, depression and sleepless nights are among stress-related symptoms workers say they have experienced

 

“If you’re a boss, it’s important that you role model how to take a vacation,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.  “If you’re prone to answering every email and phone call that comes through on your own vacation time, consider the example you’re setting for your team members.”

 

The survey was conducted online within the US by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder among 3,215 employees — employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government — between February 16 and March 9, 2017.

 

 

4 Ways to get Passive Candidates to come to you

Boss Magazine, Keith Johnstone, May 23, 2017

In LinkedIn’s Global Recruiting Trends 2017 report nearly 85% of talent leaders said that finding top talent is their number one priority.  However, with 5% unemployment, shrinking talent pools, and 95% of executives admitting to making bad hires every year, getting strategic hires right is only getting harder.

 

With arguably the fiercest competition over talent in more than a decade, it is more important than ever for human resource leaders to pursue candidates that are not actively looking but open to listening.  These passive job seekers make up approximately 75% of the workforce, but convincing them to ‘jump ship’ can be a challenge.

 

Too often, even the savviest Fortune 500 companies lack a coherent strategy to pursue passive candidates.  Instead, they sift through incoming resumes from candidates who are unemployed or always looking to move.  While is it unfair to generalize, these are less likely to be the best performers.

 

As the Head of Marketing of Peak Sales Recruiting, we have worked extensively with world-class companies on this issue and have developed 4 ways to get passive job seekers to jump ship:

 

Become a ‘Best Place to Work’ and Promote It Proudly


Glassdoor reported that 84% of employees would consider leaving their current jobs if offered another role with a company that had an excellent corporate reputation.  Money is not the ‘end all, be all’ that it once was.  Candidates of today seek career opportunities, compensation & benefits, culture & values, senior management and work-life balance.  In the 2017 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends study, nearly 80% of executives rated employee experience as very important or important.

 

Top companies such as Bain & Co., Google, and Facebook offers perks such as free meals, onsite gyms, massages, free laundry services, and generous parental leave.

 

Moreover, Glassdoor Community Expert Scott Dobroski recently said, “We see employees talking favorably about working for companies with mission-driven company cultures, working for senior leaders who embrace and practice transparency, and doing interesting work that has a greater impact, career growth opportunities, and competitive pay.”

 

Wise business leaders adopt these philosophies and policies because employees become their biggest brand ambassadors.  In addition to that organic positive publicity, submit applications for the “Best Places to Work” lists offered by most publications.

 

These are now offered by most national publications as well as local business journals.

 

Make Your Application Process Seamless and Optimized


Unemployed candidates have one job and that is to apply for jobs.

 

Passive candidates, on the other hand, have a never-ending to-do list.  If job seekers happen to stumble across your job ad, it is critical that you make the application process as seamless as possible or they are likely to abort the mission.  Follow the lead of emerging SaaS organizations that offer one-click apply options:  Facebook and Netflix simply allow applicants to upload resumes and cover letters with a couple of clicks.

 

“A laborious online application process will severely hinder your ability to score a passive job seeker.”

 

In addition to speed, your application process must be optimized for any device.  A survey from Glassdoor revealed that 9 out of 10 job seekers are job hunting on mobile.

 

Global Web Index (GWI) study found that on average people own 3.64 connected devices each.  Passive job seekers, who may only have a few minutes to browse career opportunities, must be able to apply on the go on any device.

 

Use a Third-Party Recruiter to Avoid a Poaching War


Using a third-party recruiter is the best way to approach passive candidates without starting a poaching war.  While some leaders believe that lateral recruitment is controversial, many believe poaching from a competitor is ethically sound and a smart business move.  Just as companies compete for clients, they need to be prepared to compete for top employees too.

 

Zappos, the popular online shoe and clothing shop, prides itself on recruiting passive candidates.

 

“Everyone is really struggling for technology people,” explained Christa Foley, Senior HR Manager at Zappos.  “When we’re competing from a tech candidate standpoint with the Bay Area and Seattle and Austin… we definitely have to seek passive candidates for those roles.”

 

Use Social Media to Network


When Mark Zuckerberg first launched Facemash, the “hot or not” predecessor to Facebook, it is doubtful he was thinking of job recruiting but the evolution of social media has made scouting out potential candidates invariably easier.

 

The number one reason HR professionals use social media is to recruit passive candidates per a study from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  

 

Consider using multiple channels including Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, and YouTube.

 

In addition to sending cold messages—which is absolutely fine as long as they are targeted and individually customized—join groups relevant to your industry and share content that will contribute and elevate the discourse.  This will make A-players more likely to hear your pitch and can drive them to come to you.

 

In 2017, having a best-in-class recruiting program is no longer optional, it is critical to the success of your organization.  In the current climate, having a robust strategy to target passive candidates is more important than ever and the tips above will help put you on a path to success.

 

 

What makes organizations attractive to work for?

Daily News, May 15, 2017

 

To a growing number of employees — particularly women and millennials — a good work-life balance and a pleasant atmosphere are decisive features that make organizations attractive to work for, according to the Randstad Employer Brand Research 2017 released on May 15th.  Worldwide, employees ranked good work-life balance higher than a year ago; the ranking went from fourth to third on their priority list.

 

After an attractive salary and long-term job security, a good work-life balance and a pleasant work atmosphere as key contributors to company attractiveness.  Based on the research, many employees are more susceptible to these attributes than organizations seem to realize.

 

Survey respondents worldwide reported the most attractive factors in an employer include:

 

*Provides attractive salary and benefits:  58%, down from 61% in 2016 survey

*Offers long-term job security:  46%, down from 52%

*Supports a good work-life balance:  45%, up from 43%

*Fosters a pleasant work atmosphere:  43%, down from 49%

*Offers career progression opportunities:  35%, down from 38%

 

The survey also asked what the least important attributes in a future employer are.  Items which would involve taking risks were selected most often as unattractive.  The least important attribute — international career opportunities — is often presented as an advantage by employers, but more than half of the respondents found this to be unimportant.  This is probably because international opportunities involve outlay and upheaval — something not everyone is willing to undertake, according to the report.

 

The research also found that to employees globally, technology, IT and life sciences are the most appealing sectors to work in, although IT has lost some points in attractiveness after a few years of growth:

 

*Technology:  51%

*IT:  50%

*Pharma/life sciences:  50%

*Automotive:  49%

 

In North America, the most attractive sectors include:

 

*Technology:  50%

*Logistics:  45%

*Pharma/life sciences:  44%

*IT:  44%

 

The Randstad Employer Brand Research captures the views of over 160,000 respondents (general public, aged 18-65) on 5,495 companies in 26 countries.  The research, conducted since 2000, was done by Randstad’s international research partner Kantar TNS. Respondents for the 2017 research were polled between September and December 2016.

 

 

ADP research finds 63% may be open to new job

Daily News, Mary 15, 2017

 

As the US labor market improves, the “me” vs. “we” disconnect becomes most apparent in the area of employee retention, according to research released by ADP.  Employees tend to concentrate on their work environment, look for meaning in their job and want immediate advancement opportunities; however, employers tend focus on bigger picture areas like financial performance, reputation and long-term career pathing.

 

According to ADP, 17% of employees are actively looking and 46% are passively looking for new jobs — showing that more than half of an employer’s total workforce, 63%, may be open to leaving.  Yet, while employers overestimate how many of their employees are actively searching, 26%; they underestimate how many are passively looking, 23%.

 

“ADP’s economic reports on employment and wages show if employers can’t meet the needs of their employees they can easily look for new jobs elsewhere,” said Jan Siegmund CFO of ADP.  “In addition, employers face a perfect storm of sorts when it comes to keeping top talent.  While they focus on efforts to be an employer of choice, face paying higher wages, and more, their employees can use technologies that make it easy to essentially browse for new job opportunities.”

 

47% of employees at midsize companies in the US would consider an opportunity that matched their current salary or even paid less, demonstrating that wage growth is not the only determinant for employees who are considering a job switch.  ADP also found 47% of employees say they have walked away from a job that did not meet their expectations.

 

Additional findings include:

 

*63% of an employer’s workforce is open to leaving for another job

 

*46% of employees would consider a job that matched current salary or paid less

 

*13% raise in pay would prompt someone to change jobs

 

*47% of employees have walked away from a job that did not meet their expectations

 

*27% of people change jobs annually, putting job switching at an all-time high

 

 

The new ADP/Moody’s National Employment Report:  Over 77% of all new job growth in May 2017 came from Small and Medium-size Companies!

June 1, 2017

 

Private sector employment increased by 253,000 jobs from April to May, (a 79,000 job increase from April’s revised 174,000—down by 3,000 from the originally reported 177,000) according to the May ADP National Employment Report®.

 

This report is produced by ADP® in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics.  The matched sample used to develop the ADP National Employment Report® was derived from ADP actual payroll data, which represents 411,000 U.S. clients employing nearly 24,000,000 workers in the U.S.

 

By Company Size

 

Small businesses:       83,000

1-19 employees           38,000

20-49 employees         45,000

 

Medium businesses:  113,000

50-499 employees       113,000

 

Large businesses:      57,000

500-999 employees     27,000

1,000+ employees       30,000

 

By Sector

 

  1. Goods-producing:                                      48,000

 

  1. Natural resources/mining                           3,000
  2. Construction                                             37,000
  3. Manufacturing                                            8,000

 

  1. Service-providing: 205,000

 

  1. Trade/transportation/utilities 58,000
  2. Information             <-8,000>
  3. Financial activities                7,000
  4. Professional/business services               88,000
  5. Professional/technical services                                  35,000
  6. Management of companies/enterprises                       7,000
  7. Administrative/support services                                46,000
  8. Education/health services                              54,000
  9. Health care/social assistance                                      34,000
  10. Education                                                                   20,000
  11. Leisure/hospitality                                     <-11,000>
  12. Other services                                               15,000

 

Franchise Employment

 

Franchise Jobs             18,400

 

“May proved to be a very strong month for job growth,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute.  “Professional and business services had the strongest monthly increase since 2014.  This may be an indicator of broader strength in the workforce since these services are relied on by many industries.”

 

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, said, “Job growth is rip-roaring.  The current pace of job growth is nearly three times the rate necessary to absorb growth in the labor force.  Increasingly, businesses’ number one challenge will be the shortage of labor.”

 

 (The June 2017 ADP National Employment Report will be released at 8:15 a.m. ET on July 6, 2017.)

 

Due to the important contribution that small businesses make to economic growth, employment data that is specific to businesses with 49 or fewer employees is reported each month in the ADP Small Business Report®, a subset of the ADP National Employment Report.

 

May 2017 Small Business Report Highlights

 

Total Small Business Employment:             83,000 (a 22,000 increase)

 

●By Size  
►1-19 employees 38,000
►20-49 employees 45,000
   
●By Sector for 1-49 Employees  
►Goods Producing 20,000
►Service Producing 63,000
   
●By Sector for 1-19 Employees  
►Goods Producing 10,000
►Service Producing 28,000
   
●By Sector for 20-49 Employees  
►Goods Producing 10,000
►Service Producing 35,000

 

Bottom-line:  To my audience of recruiters, always remember this:  Our ‘bread and butter’, especially on the contingency side of the house, has historically been, and continues to be, small and medium-sized client companies.  Along with the large companies, these companies need to be in included in your niche!

 

 

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary – March 2017

 

On May 9th, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the number of job openings was little changed at 5,700,000 on the last business day of March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.  Over the month, hires and separations were also little changed at 5,300,000 and 5,100,000, respectively.  Within separations, the quits and the layoffs and discharges rates were unchanged at 2.1% and 1.1%, respectively.  This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by 4 geographic regions.

 

Job Openings

 

On the last business day of March, there were 5,700,000 job openings, little changed from February.  The job openings rate was 3.8% in March.  The number of job openings was little changed for total private and edged up for government.  Job openings increased in professional and business services (+126,000), other services (+55,000), and state and local government education (+27,000).  Job openings decreased in educational services  (-43,000) and mining and logging (-8,000).  The number of job openings was little changed in all 4 regions.

 

Hires

 

The number of hires was essentially unchanged at 5,300,000 in March.  The hires rate was 3.6%.  The number of hires was little changed for total private and for government.  Hires increased in health care and social assistance (+49,000), but decreased in mining and logging (-8,000).  The number of hires was little changed in all 4 regions.

 

Separations

 

Total separations includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.  Total separations is referred to as turnover.  Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee.  Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs.  Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer.  Other separations includes separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.

 

There were 5,100,000 total separations in March, little changed from February.  The total separations rate in March was 3.5%.  The number of total separations was little changed for total private and decreased for government (-38,000).  Total separations increased in health care and social assistance (+67,000) and educational services (+29,000), but decreased in state and local government education (-39,000).  The number of total separations was little changed in all 4 regions.

 

The number of quits was little changed at 3,100,000 in March.  The quits rate was 2.1%.   The number of quits was little changed for total private and for government.  Quits increased in health care and social assistance (+52,000), but decreased in information (-12,000).  In the regions, the number of quits increased in the West.

 

There were 1,600,000 layoffs and discharges in March, little changed from February.  The layoffs and discharges rate was 1.1% in March.  The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed for total private and decreased for government (-33,000). The layoffs and discharges level increased in real estate and rental and leasing (+18,000) and educational services (+18,000).  The layoffs and discharges level decreased in state and local government education (-31,000).  The number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in all 4 regions.

 

In March, the number of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government.  Other separations increased in educational services (+5,000), but decreased in state and local government education (-7,000).  In the regions, the number of other separations decreased in the West.

 

Net Change in Employment

 

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle.  Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations.  When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining.  Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising.  Over the 12 months ending in March, hires totaled 62,900,000 and separations totaled 60,500,000, yielding a net employment gain of 2,300,000.  These totals include

workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.

 

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for April 2017 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

 

 

As we recruiters know, that 5,700,000 number only represents 20% of the jobs currently available in the marketplace.  The other 80% of job openings are unpublished and are filled through networking or word of mouth or by using a RECRUITER.   So, those 5,700,000 published job openings now become a total of 28,500,000 published AND hidden job orders.

 

In May there were 6,861,000 unemployed workers.  What was the main reason why those workers were unemployed?  Two Words:  Structural Unemployment.  If we can’t figure out how to educate and/or reeducate those 6,861,000 unemployed, then they will keep reappearing each month as a BLS unemployment statistic—as they have.  In the meantime, our recruitment marketplace flourishes!

 

 

Online Job Ads Increased 195,600 in May

May 31, 2017

 

*Following the April decrease, HWOL registered a gain in May

*All 4 regions showed gains

*Most occupations showed gains over the month

 

Online advertised vacancies increased 195,600 to 4,809,200 in May, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series, released today.  The April Supply/Demand rate stands at 1.53 unemployed for each advertised vacancy, with a total of 2,400,000 more unemployed workers than the number of advertised vacancies. The number of unemployed was approximately 7,100,000 in April.

 

The Professional occupational category saw gains in Healthcare Practitioners (46.4), Computer/Math (25.2), and Management (23.8).  The Services/Production occupational category saw gains in Sales (31.8) and Office and Administrative Support (30.6).

 

NOTE: Recently, the HWOL Data Series has experienced a declining trend in the number of online job ads that may not reflect broader trends in the U.S. labor market.  Based on changes in how job postings appear online, The Conference Board is reviewing its HWOL methodology to ensure accuracy and alignment with market trends.

 

OCCUPATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

*In May, all of the largest 10 online occupational categories posted increases

 

Occupational Changes for the Month of May

 

Healthcare practitioners and technical ads increased 46,400 to 642,400.  The supply/demand rate lies at 0.15, i.e. over 6 advertised openings per unemployed job-seeker.

 

Computer and mathematical science ads increased 25,200 to 542,100.  The supply/demand rate lies at 0.29, i.e. over 3 advertised openings per unemployed job-seeker.

 

Management ads increased 23,800 to 412,700.  The supply/demand rate lies at 0.78, more than 1 advertised opening per unemployed job-seeker.

 

Business and finance ads increased 15,700 to 298,600.  The supply/demand rate lies at 1.00, i.e. 1 unemployed job-seeker for every advertised available opening.

 

Sales and related ads increased 31,800 to 489,500.  The supply/demand rate for these occupations lies at 1.57, more than 1 unemployed job-seeker for every advertised available opening.

 

Office and administrative support ads increased 30,600 to 507,400.  The supply/demand rate lies at 1.37, i.e. over 1 unemployed job-seeker for every advertised available opening.

 

(The June 2017 Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series will be released at 10:00 AM ET on Wednesday, July 5, 2017).

 

 

U-6 Update

 

In May, 2017 the regular unemployment number fell one-tenth to 4.3%, and the broader U-6 measure fell to 8.4%, two-tenths less than twice as high as the regular unemployment figure.

 

The above 8.4% is referred to as the U-6 unemployment rate (found in the monthly BLS Employment Situation Summary, Table A-15; Table A-12 in 2008 and before).  It counts not only people without work seeking full-time employment (the more familiar U-3 rate), but also counts “marginally attached workers and those working part-time for economic reasons.”  Note that some of these part-time workers counted as employed by U-3 could be working as little as an hour a week.  And the “marginally attached workers” include those who have gotten discouraged and stopped looking, but still want to work.  The age considered for this calculation is 16 year and over.

 

Here is a look at the May U-6 numbers for the past 14 years:

 

May 2016                    9.7%

May 2015                    10.7%

May 2014                    12.1%

May 2013                    13.8%

May 2012                    14.8%

May 2011                    15.8%

May 2010                    16.5%

May 2009                    16.4%

May 2008                    9.8%

May 2007                    8.3%

May 2006                    8.2%

May 2005                    8.9%

May 2004                    9.7%

May 2003                    10.1%

 

 

The May BLS Analysis

 

The unemployment rate is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the US Department of Labor.  The rate is found by dividing the number of unemployed by the total civilian labor force.  On June 2nd, 2017, the BLS published the most recent unemployment rate for May 2017 of 4.3% (actually it is 4.294%, down by .110% from 4.404% in April, 2017.

 

The unemployment rate was determined by dividing the unemployed of 6,861,000 (–down from the month before by 195,000—since May, 2016 this number has decreased by 590,000) by the total civilian labor force of 159,784,000 (down by 429,000 from April, 2017).  Since May 2016, our total civilian labor force has increased by 1,274,000 workers.

 

(The continuing ‘Strange BLS Math’ saga—after a detour in December when the BLS {for the first time in years} DECREASED the total Civilian Noninstitutional Population—this month the BLS increased this total to 254,767,000.  This is an increase of 179,000 from last month’s increase of 174,000.  In one year’s time, this population has increased by 1,593,000. The Civilian Noninstitutional Population has increased each month—except in December 2016—by…)

 

Up from April 2017 by 179,000
Up from March 2017 by 174,000
Up from February 2017 by 168,000
Up from January 2017 by 164,000
Down from December 2016 by 660,000
Up from November 2016 by 202,000
Up from October 2016 by 219,000
Up from September 2016 by 230,000
Up from August 2016 by 237,000
Up from July 2016 by 234,000
Up from June 2016 by 223,000
Up from May 2016 by 223,000
Up from April 2016 by 205,000
Up from March 2016 by 201,000
Up from February 2016 by 191,000
Up from January 2016 by 180,000
Up from December 2015 by 461,000
Up from November 2015 by 189,000
Up from October 2015 by 206,000
Up from September 2015 by 216,000
Up from August 2015 by 229,000
Up from July 2015 by 220,000
Up from June 2015 by 213,000
Up from May 2015 by 208,000
Up from April 2015 by 189,000
Up from March 2015 by 186,000
Up from February 2015 by 191,000
Up from January 2015 by 176,000
Up from December 2014 by 696,000
Up from November 2014 by 143,000
Up from October 2014 by 187,000
Up from September 2014 by 211,000
Up from August 2014 by 217,000
Up from July 2014 by 206,000
Up from June 2014 by 209,000
Up from May 2014 by 192,000
Up from April 2014 by 183,000
Up from March 2014 by 181,000
Up from February 2014 by 173,000
Up from January 2014 by 170,000
Up from December 2013 by 170,000
Up from November 2013 by 178,000
Up from October 2013 by 186,000
Up from September 2013 by 213,000
Up from August 2013 by 209,000
Up from July 2013 by 203,000
Up from June 2013 by 204,000
Up from May 2013 by 189,000
Up from April 2013 by 188,000
Up from March 2013 by 180,000
Up from February 2013 by 167,000
Up from January 2013 by 165,000
Up from December 2012 by 313,000
Up from November 2012 by 176,000
Up from October 2012 by 191,000
Up from September 2012 by 211,000
Up from August 2012 by 206,000
Up from July 2012 by 212,000
Up from June 2012 by 199,000
Up from May 2012 by 189,000
Up from April 2012 by 182,000
Up from March 2012 by 180,000
Up from February 2012 by 169,000
Up from January 2012 by 335,000
Up from December 2011 by 2,020,000

 

This month the BLS has decreased the Civilian Labor Force to 159,784,000 (down from April by 429,000).

 

Subtract the second number (‘civilian labor force’) from the first number (‘civilian noninstitutional population’) and you get 94,983,000 ‘Not in Labor Force’—up by 608,000 from last month’s 94,375,000.  The government tells us that most of these NILFs got discouraged and just gave up looking for a job.  My monthly recurring question is:  “If that is the case, how do they survive when they don’t earn any money because they don’t have a job?  Are they ALL relying on the government to support them??”

 

This month our Employment Participation Rate—the population 16 years and older working or seeking work—fell two-tenths of a point to 62.7%.  This is .3% above the historically low rate of 62.4% recorded in September 2015—and, before that, the rate recorded in October 1977—9 months into Jimmy Carter’s presidency—38 years ago!

 

Final take on these numbers:  Fewer people looking for work will always bring down the unemployment rate.

 

Anyway, back to the point I am trying to make.  On the surface, these new unemployment rates are scary, but let’s look a little deeper and consider some other numbers.

 

The unemployment rate includes all types of workers—construction workers, government workers, etc.  We recruiters, on the other hand, mainly place management, professional and related types of workers.  That unemployment rate in May was 1.9% (this rate was .1% lower than last month’s 2.0%).  Or, you can look at it another way.  We usually place people who have college degrees.  That unemployment rate in May was 2.3% (this rate was .1% lower than last month’s 2.4%).

 

Now stay with me a little longer.  This gets better.  It’s important to understand (and none of the pundits mention this) that the unemployment rate, for many reasons, will never be 0%, no matter how good the economy is.  Without boring you any more than I have already, let me add here that Milton Friedman (the renowned Nobel Prize-winning economist), is famous for the theory of the “natural rate of unemployment” (or the term he preferred, NAIRU, which is the acronym for Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment).  Basically, this theory states that full employment presupposes an ‘unavoidable and acceptable’ unemployment rate of somewhere between 4-6% with it.  Economists often settle on 5%, although the “New Normal Unemployment Rate” has been suggested to fall at 6.7%.

 

Nevertheless (if you will allow me to apply a ‘macro’ concept to a ‘micro’ issue), if this rate is applied to our main category of Management, Professional and Related types of potential recruits, and/or our other main category of College-Degreed potential recruits, we are well below the 4-6% threshold for full employment…we find no unemployment!  None!  Zilch!  A Big Goose Egg!

 

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF GDP

 

“The economic goal of any nation, as of any individual, is to get the greatest results with the least effort.  The whole economic progress of mankind has consisted in getting more production with the same labor…Translated into national terms, this first principle means that our real objective is to maximize production.  In doing this, full employment—that is, the absence of involuntary idleness—becomes a necessary by-product.  But production is the end, employment merely the means.  We cannot continuously have the fullest production without full employment.  But we can very easily have full employment without full production.”

 

Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt, Chapter X, “The Fetish of Full Employment”

On May 26th, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) announced the real gross domestic product (GDP) — the value of the goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes — increased at an annual rate of 1.2% in the first quarter of 2017, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2016, real GDP increased 2.1%. The GDP estimate is based on more complete source data than were available for the “advance” estimate issued last month.  In the advance estimate, the increase in real GDP was 0.7%.  With this “second” estimate for the first quarter, the general picture of economic growth remains the same; increases in nonresidential fixed investment and in personal consumption expenditures (PCE) were larger and the decrease in state and local government spending was smaller than previously estimated.  These revisions were partly offset by a larger decrease in private inventory investment. The increase in real GDP in the first quarter reflected positive contributions from nonresidential fixed investment, exports, residential fixed investment, and PCE that were partly offset by negative contributions from private inventory investment, federal government spending, and state and local government spending.  Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased. The deceleration in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected a downturn in private inventory investment and a deceleration in PCE that were partly offset by an upturn in exports and an acceleration in nonresidential fixed investment. Updates to GDP The percent change in real GDP was revised up from the advance estimate, reflecting upward revisions to nonresidential fixed investment, PCE, and state and local government spending that were partly offset by a downward revision to private inventory investment.  Three Update Releases to GDP BEA releases 3 vintages of the current quarterly estimate for GDP:  “Advance” estimates are released near the end of the first month following the end of the quarter and are based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency; “second” and “third” estimates are released near the end of the second and third months, respectively, and are based on more detailed and more comprehensive data as they become available. Annual and comprehensive updates are typically released in late July.  Annual updates generally cover at least the 3 most recent calendar years (and their associated quarters) and incorporate newly available major annual source data as well as some changes in methods and definitions to improve the accounts.  Comprehensive (or benchmark) updates are carried out at about 5-year intervals and incorporate major periodic source data, as well as major conceptual improvements.

(The First Quarter 2017 “Third Estimate” will be released on June 29th, 2017)  

 

 

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT EVER TO BE ZERO

 

‘Unemployment’ is an emotional ‘trigger’ word…a ‘third rail’, if you will.  It conjures up negative thoughts.  But it is important to realize that, while we want everyone who wants a job to have the opportunity to work, unemployment can never be zero and, in fact, can be disruptive to an economy if it gets too close to zero.  Very low unemployment can actually hurt the economy by creating an upward pressure on wages which invariably leads to higher production costs and prices.  This can lead to inflation.  The lowest the unemployment rate has been in the US was 2.5%.  That was in May and June 1953 when the economy overheated due to the Korean War.  When this bubble burst, it kicked off the Recession of 1953.  A healthy economy will always include some percentage of unemployment.

 

There are five main sources of unemployment:

 

  1. Cyclical (or demand-deficient) unemployment – This type of unemployment fluctuates with the business cycle. It rises during a recession and falls during the subsequent recovery.  Workers who are most affected by this type of unemployment are laid off during a recession when production volumes fall and companies use lay-offs as the easiest way to reduce costs.  These workers are usually rehired, some months later, when the economy improves.

 

  1. Frictional unemployment – This comes from the normal turnover in the labor force. This is where new workers are entering the workforce and older workers are retiring and leaving vacancies to be filled by the new workers or those re-entering the workforce.  This category includes workers who are between jobs.

 

  1. Structural unemployment – This happens when the skills possessed by the unemployed worker don’t match the requirements of the opening—whether those be in characteristics and skills or in location. This can come from new technology or foreign competition (e.g., foreign outsourcing).  This type of unemployment usually lasts longer than frictional unemployment because retraining, and sometimes relocation, is involved.  Occasionally jobs in this category can just disappear overseas.

 

  1. Seasonal unemployment – This happens when the workforce is affected by the climate or time of year. Construction workers and agricultural workers aren’t needed as much during the winter season because of the inclement weather.  On the other hand, retail workers experience an increase in hiring shortly before, and during, the holiday season, but can be laid off shortly thereafter.

 

  1. Surplus unemployment – This is caused by minimum wage laws and unions. When wages are set at a higher level, unemployment can often result.  Why?  To keep within the same payroll budget, the company must let go of some workers to pay the remaining workers a higher salary.

 

Other factors influencing the unemployment rate:

 

  1. Length of unemployment – Some studies indicate that an important factor influencing a workers decision to accept a new job is directly related to the length of the unemployment benefit they are receiving. Currently, in 2015, workers in most states are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits from the regular state-funded unemployment compensation program, although eight states provide fewer weeks and two provide more. No additional weeks of federal benefits are available in any state:  the temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program expired at the end of 2013, and no state currently qualifies to offer more weeks under the permanent Extended Benefits (EB) program.  Studies suggest that additional weeks of benefits reduce the incentive of the unemployed to seek and accept less desirable jobs.

 

  1. Changes in GDP – Since hiring workers takes time, the improvement in the unemployment rate usually lags behind the improvement in the GDP.

 

WHERE RECRUITERS PLACE

 

Now back to the issue at hand, namely the recruiting, and placing, of professionals and those with college degrees.

 

If you take a look at the past few years of unemployment in the May “management, professional and related” types of worker category, you will find the following rates:

 

May 2016                    2.1%

May 2015                    2.4%

May 2014                    3.1%

May 2013                    3.5%

May 2012                    4.0%

May 2011                    4.4%

May 2010                    4.5%

May 2009                    4.3%

May 2008                    2.6%

May 2007                    1.9%

May 2006                    2.0%

May 2005                    2.4%

May 2004                    2.8%

May 2003                    3.0%

May 2002                    3.1%

 

Here are the rates, during those same time periods, for “college-degreed” workers:

 

May 2016                    2.4%

May 2015                    2.7%

May 2014                    3.2%

May 2013                    3.8%

May 2012                    3.9%

May 2011                    4.5%

May 2010                    4.6%

May 2009                    4.8%

May 2008                    2.3%

May 2007                    2.0%

May 2006                    2.1%

May 2005                    2.4%

May 2004                    2.9%

May 2003                    3.1%

May 2002                    3.0%

 

The May 2017 rates for these two categories, 1.9% and 2.3%, respectively, are low again this month and are still close to the halcyon numbers we attained in the 2006/2007 time frames.  But regardless, these unemployment numbers usually include a good number of job hoppers, job shoppers and rejects.  We, on the other hand, are engaged by our client companies to find those candidates who are happy, well-appreciated, making good money and currently working and we entice them to move for even better opportunities—especially where new technologies are expanding.  This will never change.  And that is why, no matter the overall unemployment rate, we still need to market to find the best possible job orders to work and we still need to RECRUIT to find the best possible candidates for those JOs.

 

 

 

Below are the numbers for the over 25 year olds:

 

 

Less than H.S. diploma – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
7.7% 7.4% 8.2% 7.9% 8.4% 8.9% 8.6% 9.7% 9.8% 10.4% 10.6% 10.9%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
12.0% 12.6% 13.3% 14.8% 15.5% 15.5% 15.4% 15.6% 15.0% 15.5% 15.0% 15.3%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
15.2% 15.6% 14.5% 14.7% 15.0% 14.1% 13.8% 14.0% 15.4% 15.3% 15.7% 15.3%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
14.2% 13.9% 13.7% 14.6% 14.7% 14.3% 15.0% 14.3% 14.0% 13.8% 13.2% 13.8%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
13.1% 12.9% 12.6% 12.5% 13.0% 12.6% 12.7% 12.0% 11.3% 12.2% 12.2% 11.7%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
12.0% 11.2% 11.1% 11.6% 11.1% 10.7% 11.0% 11.3% 10.3% 10.9% 10.8% 9.8%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
9.6% 9.8% 9.6% 8.9% 9.1% 9.1% 9.6% 9.1% 8.4% 7.9% 8.5% 8.8%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
8.5% 8.4% 8.6% 8.6% 8.6% 8.2% 8.3% 7.7% 7.7% 7.3% 6.8% 6.7%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
7.4% 7.3% 7.4% 7.5% 7.1% 7.5% 6.3% 7.2% 8.5% 7.3% 7.9% 7.9%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
7.7% 7.9% 6.8% 6.5% 6.1%              

 

H.S. Grad; no college – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
4.6% 4.7% 5.1% 5.0% 5.2% 5.2% 5.3% 5.8% 6.3% 6.5% 6.9% 7.7%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
8.1% 8.3% 9.0% 9.3% 10.0% 9.8% 9.4% 9.7% 10.8% 11.2% 10.4% 10.5%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
10.1% 10.5% 10.8% 10.6% 10.9% 10.8% 10.1% 10.3% 10.0% 10.1% 10.0% 9.8%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
9.4% 9.5% 9.5% 9.7% 9.5% 10.0% 9.3% 9.6% 9.7% 9.6% 8.8% 8.7%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
8.4% 8.3% 8.0% 7.9% 8.1% 8.4% 8.7% 8.8% 8.7% 8.4% 8.1% 8.0%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
8.1% 7.9% 7.6% 7.4% 7.4% 7.6% 7.6% 7.6% 7.6% 7.3% 7.3% 7.1%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
6.5% 6.4% 6.3% 6.3% 6.5% 5.8% 6.1% 6.2% 5.3% 5.7% 5.6% 5.3%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
5.4% 5.4% 5.3% 5.4% 5.8% 5.4% 5.5% 5.5% 5.3% 5.3% 5.4% 5.6%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
5.3% 5.3% 5.4% 5.4% 5.1% 5.0% 5.0% 5.1% 5.2% 5.5% 4.9% 5.1%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
5.3% 5.0% 4.9% 4.6% 4.7%              

 

Some College; or AA/AS – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
3.7% 3.8% 3.9% 4.0% 4.3% 4.4% 4.6% 5.0% 5.1% 5.3% 5.5% 5.6%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
6.2% 7.0% 7.2% 7.4% 7.7% 8.0% 7.9% 8.2% 8.5% 9.0% 9.0% 9.0%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
8.5% 8.0% 8.2% 8.3% 8.3% 8.2% 8.3% 8.7% 9.1% 8.5% 8.7% 8.1%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
8.0% 7.8% 7.4% 7.5% 8.0% 8.4% 8.3% 8.2% 8.4% 8.3% 7.6% 7.7%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
7.2% 7.3% 7.5% 7.6% 7.9% 7.5% 7.1% 6.6% 6.5% 6.9% 6.6% 6.9%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
7.0% 6.7% 6.4% 6.4% 6.5% 6.4% 6.0% 6.1% 6.0% 6.3% 6.4% 6.1%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
6.0% 6.2% 6.1% 5.7% 5.5% 5.0% 5.3% 5.4% 5.4% 4.8% 4.9% 5.0%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
5.2% 5.1% 4.8% 4.7% 4.4% 4.2% 4.4% 4.4% 4.3% 4.3% 4.4% 4.1%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
4.2% 4.2% 4.1% 4.1% 3.9% 4.2% 4.3% 4.3% 4.2% 4.2% 3.9% 3.8%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
3.8% 4.0% 3.7% 3.7% 4.0%              

 

BS/BS + – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
2.1% 2.1% 2.1% 2.1% 2.3% 2.4% 2.5% 2.7% 2.6% 3.1% 3.2% 3.7%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
3.8% 4.1% 4.3% 4.4% 4.8% 4.7% 4.7% 4.7% 4.9% 4.7% 4.9% 5.0%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
4.9% 5.0% 4.9% 4.9% 4.7% 4.4% 4.5% 4.6% 4.4% 4.7% 5.1% 4.8%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
4.2% 4.3% 4.4% 4.5% 4.5% 4.4% 4.3% 4.3% 4.2% 4.4% 4.4% 4.1%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
4.2% 4.2% 4.2% 4.0% 3.9% 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 3.8% 3.8% 3.9%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
3.8% 3.8% 3.8% 3.9% 3.8% 3.9% 3.8% 3.5% 3.7% 3.8% 3.4% 3.3%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
3.2% 3.4% 3.4% 3.3% 3.2% 3.3% 3.1% 3.2% 2.9% 3.1% 3.2% 2.8%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
2.8% 2.7% 2.5% 2.7% 2.7% 2.5% 2.6% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
2.5% 2.5% 2.6% 2.4% 2.4% 2.5% 2.5% 2.7% 2.5% 2.6% 2.3% 2.5%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
2.5% 2.4% 2.5% 2.4% 2.3%              

 

Management, Professional & Related – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
2.2% 2.2% 2.1% 2.0% 2.6% 2.7% 2.9% 3.3% 2.8% 3.0% 3.2% 3.3%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
4.1% 3.9% 4.2% 4.0% 4.6% 5.0% 5.5% 5.4% 5.2% 4.7% 4.6% 4.6%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
5.0% 4.8% 4.7% 4.5% 4.5% 4.9% 5.0% 5.1% 4.4% 4.5% 4.7% 4.6%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
4.7% 4.4% 4.3% 4.0% 4.4% 4.7% 5.0% 4.9% 4.4% 4.4% 4.2% 4.2%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
4.3% 4.2% 4.2% 3.7% 4.0% 4.4% 4.8% 4.5% 3.9% 3.8% 3.6% 3.9%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
3.9% 3.8% 3.6% 3.5% 3.5% 4.2% 4.1% 3.8% 3.5% 3.4% 3.1% 2.9%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
3.1% 3.2% 3.3% 2.9% 3.1% 3.5% 3.5% 3.4% 2.8% 2.7% 2.8% 2.7%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
2.9% 2.7% 2.4% 2.4% 2.4% 2.9% 3.1% 2.9% 2.4% 2.2% 2.1% 2.0%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
2.3% 2.4% 2.4% 2.1% 2.1% 2.8% 3.0% 3.1% 2.7% 2.5% 2.3% 2.2%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
2.3% 2.1% 2.0% 2.0% 1.9%              

 

Or employed…(,000)

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
52,165 52,498 52,681 52,819 52,544 52,735 52,655 52,626 53,104 53,485 53,274 52,548

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
52,358 52,196 52,345 52,597 52,256 51,776 51,810 51,724 52,186 52,981 52,263 52,131

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
52,159 52,324 52,163 52,355 51,839 51,414 50,974 50,879 51,757 51,818 52,263 51,704

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
51,866 52,557 53,243 53,216 52,778 52,120 51,662 51,997 52,665 52,864 52,787 52,808

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
53,152 53,208 53,771 54,055 54,156 53,846 53,165 53,696 54,655 55,223 54,951 54,635

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
54,214 54,563 54,721 54,767 54,740 54,323 54,064 54,515 55,013 55,155 55,583 54,880

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
55,096 55,501 56,036 55,896 56,202 55,714 55,381 55,646 56,365 56,759 57,110 56,888

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
57,367 57,596 57,805 57,953 58,155 57,710 57,392 57,288 58,105 58,456 58,667 59,030

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
59,014 59,583 60,080 59,690 59,613 59,181 58,434 58,526 59,599 59,766 59,707 60,069

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
59,921 61,064 61,156 61,317 61,174              

 

And unemployed…(,000)

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
1,164 1,159 1,121 1,088 1,407 1,478 1,585 1,779 1,539 1,647 1,786 1,802

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
2,238 2,137 2,292 2,164 2,373 2,720 3,034 2,925 2,859 2,593 2,530 2,509

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
2,762 2,637 2,600 2,464 2,450 2,644 2,687 2,762 2,381 2,417 2,525 2,468

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
2,557 2,435 2,381 2,196 2,419 2,598 2,742 2,671 2,450 2,410 2,336 2,303

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
2,410 2,336 2,330 2,062 2,275 2,472 2,666 2,556 2,245 2,170 2,077 2,221

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
2,211 2,164 2,020 1,980 1,990 2,358 2,286 2,130 1,978 1,930 1,749 1,637

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
1,784 1,845 1,890 1,642 1,795 2,001 2,011 1,930 1,617 1,582 1,656 1,568

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
1,741 1,601 1,398 1,435 1,460 1,714 1,807 1,686 1,414 1,312 1,276 1,208

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
1,404 1,456 1,477 1,251 1,305 1,712 1,782 1,869 1,652 1,506 1,382 1,361

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
1,425 1,313 1,265 1,254 1,208              

 

For a total Management, Professional & Related workforce of…(,000)

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
53,329 53,657 53,802 53,907 53,951 54,213 54,240 54,405 54,643 55,132 55,060 54,350

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
54,596 54,333 54,637 54,761 54,629 54,496 54,844 54,649 55,045 55,574 54,793 54,640

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
54,921 54,961 54,763 54,819 54,289 54,058 53,661 53,641 54,138 54,235 54,788 54,172

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
54,423 54,992 55,624 55,412 55,197 54,718 54,404 54,668 55,115 55,274 55,123 55,111

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
55,562 55,544 56,101 56,117 56,431 56,318 55,831 56,252 56,900 57,393 57,028 56,856

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
56,425 56,727 56,741 56,747 56,730 56,681 56,350 56,645 56,991 57,085 57,332 56,517

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
56,880 57,346 57,926 57,538 57,997 57,715 57,392 57,576 57,982 58,341 58,766 58,456

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
59,108 59,197 59,203 59,388 59,615 59,424 59,199 58,974 59,519 59,768 59,943 60,238

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
60,418 61,039 61,557 60,941 60,918 60,893 60,216 60,395 61,251 61,272 61,089 61,430

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
61,346 62,377 62,421 62,571 62,382              

 

Management, Business and Financial Operations – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
2.3% 2.3% 2.2% 2.1% 2.7% 2.5% 2.6% 2.8% 2.8% 3.0% 3.6% 3.9%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
4.6% 4.5% 4.5% 4.4% 4.6% 4.8% 4.9% 5.0% 5.2% 5.4% 5.4% 5.2%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
5.2% 5.1% 5.4% 5.1% 4.9% 4.8% 4.7% 4.9% 4.3% 5.0% 5.5% 5.7%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
5.3% 4.9% 4.8% 4.6% 4.9% 4.6% 4.6% 4.6% 4.6% 4.7% 4.6% 4.4%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
4.5% 4.4% 4.4% 4.0% 4.1% 3.8% 3.8% 3.7% 3.5% 3.6% 3.8% 4.1%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
4.0% 3.9% 3.5% 3.5% 3.8% 3.5% 3.1% 3.4% 3.3% 3.7% 3.2% 3.1%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
3.4% 3.6% 3.5% 3.2% 3.3% 2.8% 2.7% 2.6% 2.4% 2.7% 2.7% 2.5%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
3.0% 2.8% 2.6% 2.6% 2.9% 2.4% 2.3% 2.2% 2.4% 2.2% 2.1% 1.9%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
2.3% 2.6% 2.5% 2.4% 2.4% 2.5% 2.4% 2.5% 2.8% 2.5% 2.3% 2.4%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
2.5% 2.4% 2.4% 2.2% 1.8%              

 

Professional & Related – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
2.1% 2.1% 2.0% 2.0% 2.5% 2.9% 3.2% 3.6% 2.8% 3.0% 3.0% 2.9%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
4.9% 4.6% 4.3% 4.1% 4.3% 5.0% 5.2% 5.3% 4.4% 4.1% 4.1% 3.8%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
4.3% 4.1% 3.9% 3.5% 4.0% 4.9% 5.3% 5.1% 4.4% 4.1% 4.0% 4.0%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
4.2% 4.1% 4.0% 3.5% 4.0% 4.8% 5.5% 5.2% 4.3% 3.9% 3.5% 3.8%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
3.8% 3.8% 3.6% 3.4% 3.3% 4.6% 4.7% 4.0% 3.6% 3.1% 2.9% 2.7%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
2.9% 3.0% 3.1% 2.6% 2.9% 4.0% 4.1% 3.9% 3.1% 2.7% 2.9% 2.8%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
2.9% 2.7% 2.2% 2.3% 2.1% 3.2% 3.6% 3.3% 2.4% 2.2% 2.2% 2.1%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
2.4% 2.2% 2.3% 1.8% 2.0% 3.1% 3.4% 3.5% 2.6% 2.4% 2.2% 2.1%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
2.2% 1.9% 1.8% 1.8% 2.0%              

 

Sales & Related – Unemployment Rate

 

1/08 2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08 10/08 11/08 12/08
5.2% 5.2% 4.8% 4.3% 5.1% 5.6% 6.2% 6.3% 5.7% 6.1% 6.5% 7.0%

 

1/09 2/09 3/09 4/09 5/09 6/09 7/09 8/09 9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09
7.7% 8.4% 8.9% 8.6% 8.9% 9.1% 8.3% 8.7% 8.9% 9.5% 9.1% 8.9%

 

1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 11/10 12/10
10.1% 10.2% 9.7% 9.2% 9.6% 9.4% 10.1% 9.0% 9.4% 9.1% 8.8% 8.3%

 

1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11
9.3% 9.0% 8.5% 8.5% 9.4% 9.7% 9.4% 8.6% 9.4% 8.2% 7.8% 7.7%

 

1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12
8.2% 7.9% 8.1% 7.6% 7.9% 8.4% 8.3% 8.6% 7.9% 7.0% 7.3% 7.0%

 

1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 7/13 8/13 9/13 10/13 11/13 12/13
8.5% 8.2% 7.7% 6.9% 7.1% 6.7% 6.9% 7.2% 7.5% 7.3% 7.0% 6.3%

 

1/14 2/14 3/14 4/14 5/14 6/14 7/14 8/14 9/14 10/14 11/14 12/14
7.1% 7.7% 6.8% 5.8% 6.8% 6.1% 6.2% 5.6% 5.4% 5.2% 5.3% 5.0%

 

1/15 2/15 3/15 4/15 5/15 6/15 7/15 8/15 9/15 10/15 11/15 12/15
5.8% 5.2% 5.8% 5.5% 5.8% 5.6% 5.8% 5.4% 5.6% 5.3% 5.1% 4.3%

 

1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16 9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16
5.0% 4.4% 4.4% 5.2% 5.1% 4.9% 4.9% 4.8% 5.2% 4.4% 4.6% 4.6%

 

1/17 2/17 3/17 4/17 5/17 6/17 7/17 8/17 9/17 10/17 11/17 12/17
5.2% 4.3% 3.9% 4.2% 4.5%