Bob Marshall’s April 2024 BLS Analysis for Recruiters;
5/3/24
The 4 April 2024 Articles…
Start here…
Majority Prefer Hybrid or In-Person Schedules, ASA Reports
Daily News, April 25, 2024
More than half of Americans, 68%, prefer a hybrid or in-person work schedule, according to a poll commissioned by the American Staffing Association. It found that 39% prefer a hybrid schedule — partly in-person and partly remote. And 29% prefer a full return to the office.
Nearly a third, 32%, prefer a fully remote schedule.
“The question of whether employees should work fully in person, fully remote or on a hybrid schedule has been a top issue facing organizations across America since the pandemic triggered a workplace revolution 4 years ago,” Richard Wahlquist, CEO of the ASA, said in a press release.
“While some predicted the end of in-person work, the survey found that half of US employees currently work 100% in person,” Wahlquist said. “Employees’ attitudes are changing, with 68% of US workers now stating that they prefer a hybrid or in-person schedule.”
The survey did find significant differences across generations, with baby boomers most likely to prefer a fully remote schedule (37%). Members of Gen Z were least likely to prefer a fully remote schedule, with only 26% being in favor. Millennials and members of Gen Z fell in between at 31% and 33%, respectively.
In addition, the study found that 46% of those with children under 18 in their household preferred a hybrid schedule compared to 35% of adults without children.
Another finding: 57% of employees who aren’t fully remote would not give up compensation such as a bonus, raise or take a pay cut in exchange for being able to work remotely full time.
The ASA study also asked workers about burnout. It found that 43% are burned out, and 47% are hesitant to discuss burnout with their boss.
“With more than 4 in 10 Americans reporting suffering from burnout, employers need to continue to focus on raising employee engagement levels, which includes providing programs to address mental well-being and stress,” Wahlquist said. “As organizations navigate the future of the workplace, the most successful ones will embrace workplace flexibility and focus on creating strong employee-centric cultures.”
The survey took place online from Jan. 5 to Jan. 9 and included 2,094 adults in the US, of whom 1,294 were employed.
1/3rd of US Hiring Managers Admit to Asking Illegal Questions Intentionally During Hiring Process
Daily News, April 19, 2024
Hiring managers often overstep boundaries during their hiring process by asking about protected information such as age, identity, disabilities or family matters, according to a survey released by ResumeBuilder.com.
About 32% of US hiring managers acknowledged posing these illegal questions intentionally. This includes 13% that do so frequently or often, 8% sometimes and 11% rarely.
On the other hand, 69% of hiring managers claim they never ask illegal questions.
The most prevalent illegal inquiries include citizenship status, native language, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, parental status, family history and pregnancy. Other illegal questions touch on health, disability, prior salaries and political views.
“Many job seekers are desperate for work and they believe that not answering a question might take them out of the running for a position, especially if it’s a question where the answer would work in their favor,” ResumeBuilder résumé and career strategist Julia Toothacre said in a press release. “Many people also don’t know what is illegal to ask, so they answer questions openly, not thinking about the consequences or bias someone might have.”
The survey also noted that male hiring managers are more likely to knowingly pose illegal questions compared to their female counterparts.
The online survey includes responses from 1,000 hiring managers and took place on April 3.
Over Half Spend $10,000 or More to Fill Jobs Requiring AI Skills
Daily News, April 16, 2024
More than half of companies, 52%, spend at least $10,000 to fill roles that require AI skills, according to a report by tech training provider General Assembly, a part of The Adecco Group.
The report also found 69% say it’s more challenging to hire people with adequate AI skills compared to those in traditionally hard-to-hire roles in data analytics, data science, software engineering and UX design.
General Assembly’s report, The State of Tech Talent 2024, is based on a survey of more than 1,000 HR leaders. Those surveyed hire software engineering, data analytics and UX roles. The survey included HR leaders in Australia, Canada, France, Singapore and the US.
Other findings regarding tech hiring include:
- 66% of the time, companies agree to pay what job candidates are asking for.
- 53% are reducing traditional educational requirements for their open positions.
- 52% are hiring additional HR staff to acquire talent.
“Companies are entering a new era — one that requires their workforce to not just master AI tools available on the market today but also respond quickly to the rapid evolution of generative AI,” Gretchen Jacobi, head of enterprise at General Assembly, said in a press release.
“Keeping up and staying ahead of the curve requires new, adaptable methods for hiring, retaining and reskilling workers,” Jacobi said. “The companies that succeed in this changing world of work will be the ones that embrace the potential of new approaches to training and talent development to navigate the age of AI.”
Adecco Report finds 41% of Business Leaders to Employ fewer People Because of AI
Daily News, April 5, 2024
Artificial intelligence could cut into employment, according to a poll by The Adecco Group. It found that 41% of business leaders believe they will employ fewer people in five years because of AI.
Still, business leaders are preparing for AI, though they are looking externally. Adecco’s survey found that 66% will seek to bring in AI-skilled talent from outside their organization, while just 34% plan to develop their existing workforce.
Only 46% planned to redeploy employees who lost jobs because of AI.
“Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a great disrupter in the world of work, and the current path is unsustainable,” Adecco CEO Denis Machuel said. “Companies must do more to reskill and redeploy teams to make the most of this technological leap and avoid unnecessary upheaval. Buying your way out of disruption should not be the only approach companies take.”
The buy vs. build gap is widest in AI, but it extends to other digital skills, according to Adecco. It found that 62% of business leaders say they will hire data literacy experts externally, compared to 36% who said they will reskill or upskill teams. Similarly, 60% plan to hire to fill digital literacy gaps compared with 37% who say they will build up capability internally.
Adecco’s study surveyed 2,000 business leaders across the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Singapore, Australia and Japan.
Other findings included:
- 57% lack confidence in their own C-suite’s ability to understand the risks and opportunities afforded by AI. Just 43% of this group had formal training programs in place to improve AI skills, and only 50% said they provide guidance to staff on how to use AI at work.
- A majority, 57%, say the human touch is still more influential than AI in the workplace, while creativity and innovation are cited as areas where skills are lacking.
“It is imperative that leaders not only urgently deploy AI upskilling but also ensure it is implemented safely and responsibly by keeping people firmly at the center of this transition,” Machuel said. “AI should be a tool that supports people’s unique creative potential and enables more time for strategic thinking and problem solving.”