| “Confidence among U.S. consumers unexpectedly increased in March from the prior month as Americans grew more optimistic about the outlook for the economy.
”The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan sentiment index advanced to a four-month high of 78.6, exceeding all estimates in a Bloomberg survey, from 77.6 in February.” Source: Bloomberg.com |
29 March 2013
• U.S. Consumer Sentiment – March 2013
[confidence]
• U.S. Wages and Employment by Occupation – May 2012
[report first available 29 March 2013] [salaries, compensation pay]
| The highest paying major occupational groups were management,
legal, computer and mathematical, and architecture and engineering
occupations. Most of the detailed occupations in these groups were
also high paying. In fact, all 19 of the detailed occupations in the
computer and mathematical group had mean annual wages above the
$45,790 average for all occupations. Within these 19 occupations, annual mean wages ranged from $50,130 for computer user support specialists to $106,680 for actuaries. In the architecture and engineering group, 34 of the 35 detailed occupations paid above- average wages. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Employment, Unemployment by State – February 2013
| In February, 22 states had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, 12 states had increases, and 16 states and the District of Columbia had no change. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 42 states and decreased in 8 states and the district. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Personal Income And Outlays - February 2013
| Personal income increased $143.2 billion, or 1.1 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI)
increased $127.8 billion, or 1.1 percent, in February.
Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $77.2 billion, or 0.7 percent. In January, personal income decreased $513.5 billion, or 3.7 percent, DPI decreased $498.3 billion, or 4.0 percent, and PCE increased $40.8 billion, or 0.4 percent, based on revised estimates. Source: USDOC-BEA |
28 March 2013
• Connecticut Employment and Unemployment – February 2013
| Nonfarm employment in Connecticut fell by 5,700 jobs, or -0.4% in February 2013 (seasonally adjusted). Eight of ten industry employment supersectors exhibited job declines last month, possibly driven by storm-related disruptions. Source: CTDOL |
• U.S. Employment and Wages by County – Q3 2012
| Over the year, Yolo, Calif., had the largest percentage decrease in average weekly wages in the third quarter of 2012, -7.0 percent.
Elkhart, Ind., had the biggest over-the-year percentage increase in employment, 6.9 percent in September 2012. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Initial Unemployment [Jobless] Claims Up 16k
| In the week ending March 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 357,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 341,000 and down 1.7% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 343,000, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 340,750.
Click on chart to enlarge
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent for the week ending March 16, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 9 were in Alaska (5.8), Puerto Rico (4.5), Rhode Island (4.1), New Jersey (4.0), Connecticut (3.9), Montana (3.9), Pennsylvania (3.9), Wisconsin (3.8), California (3.7), and Massachusetts (3.7). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 16 were in California (+3,007), Virginia (+1,165), Mississippi (+485), North Dakota (+54), and Puerto Rico (+38), while the largest decreases were in Pennsylvania (-2,497), New York (-2,116), Georgia (-2,023), North Carolina (-1,340), and Ohio (-1,192).
Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product – Q4 2012 [GDP]
| Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the "third" estimate.... In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent. Source: USDOC-BEA |
27 March 2013
• U.S. Consumer Expenditures Survey - Update
| Average expenditures per consumer unit for July 2011 through June 2012 were
1.9 percent higher than the 2011 annual average. This gradual rise in spending continued the
increase reported for all of 2011.
All major components of household spending except apparel increased over the 12 months ending in June 2012 compared to the 2011 annual average. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• “After Strong January, CT Building Permits Plunged In February”
| “That sound you heard was the state's building permit activity crashing back to earth after a spectacular January. ”The 128 municipalities in the state that file monthly data with the U.S. Census Bureau issued 244 building permits for new housing units in February, a 39 percent drop from the 401 issued in February 2012, according to a report released Tuesday by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.” Source: Rep-Am.com |
• U.S. Personal Income by State - 2012
| Average state personal income growth slowed to 3.5 percent in 2012 from 5.2 percent in 2011. State personal income growth ranged from -0.2 percent in South Dakota to 12.4 percent in North Dakota. Inflation, as measured by the national price index for personal consumption expenditures, fell to 1.8 percent in 2012 from 2.4 percent in 2011. Source: USDOC-BEA |
• “Research Points Out Dangers of Using Laser Pointers In the Workplace”
| “If those red and green laser pointers are commonly used in training and at meetings in your workplace, you might want to know the results of new research that suggest they may be hazardous for those who use them...and those who are in places where they are in use.”
Source: HR.BLR.com |
26 March 2013
• U.S. New Residential Sales - February 2013 [home sales]
| Sales of new single-family houses in February 2013 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000.
This is 4.6 percent (±20.4%) below the revised January rate of 431,000, but is 12.3 percent (±23.3%) above the
February 2012 estimate of 366,000.
The median sales price of new houses sold in February 2013 was $246,800; the average sales price was $313,700. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of February was 152,000. This represents a supply of 4.4 months at the current sales rate. Source: USDOC-Census |
• U.S. Durable Goods Orders – February 2013
| New orders for manufactured durable goods in
February increased $12.4 billion or 5.7 percent to $232.1
billion. This
increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 3.8
percent January decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 4.5 percent. Source: USDOC-Census |
• Ansonia Employer to Lay-off 144
| Hilltop Health Center, Ansonia, CT will layoff 144 workers on 5/10/13. At least some of these workers are represented by New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, SEIU. |
25 March 2013
• Hartford Employer to Lay-off 55
| “AmeriPride Services, Inc. in Hartford, CT will layoff 55 workers effective 5/1/13. At least some of these employees are represented by Workers United, SEIU. |
22 March 2013
• Bridgeport Employer to Layoff 99
| KGI Bridgeport Company in Bridgeport, CT will layoff 99 workers on 4/18/13. At least some of these workers are represented by AFSCME Local 1303-356; Local 1303-459; Teamsters Local 145; I.B.E.W. Local 488; or UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 777.
Source: CTDOL |
• U.S. Mass Layoffs – February 2013
| In February, employers took 906 mass layoff actions involving 79,786 workers [NSA].
Mass layoff events increased by 65 from the same month a year ago, and associated initial claims increased by 5,812. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment – January 2013
| Jobless rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 227 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 124, and unchanged in 21. Nonfarm payroll employment was up in 306 metropolitan areas over the year, down in 57, and unchanged in 9. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• Connecticut Employer Faces Fines for Repeat Violations
| “Hoffman Auto Body Shop of East Hartford, Conn., has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for repeat and serious violations of workplace safety standards.
”OSHA's Hartford office re-inspected the business to verify correction of hazards cited during a 2011 inspection. OSHA found recurring hazards from the storage of equipment and materials, some flammable, near paint spray booths and electric panels. The stored materials limited access to extinguish potential fires, presented fire and shock hazards and impeded cleaning around the booths, allowing potentially combustible materials to accumulate. ”The auto body repair shop faces proposed fines of $54,300.” Source: Read the News Release |
21 March 2013
• U.S. Manufacturing Productivity – Annual Report
| Labor productivity rose in 63 percent of the 86 detailed manufacturing industries in 2011, down from 78 percent in 2010. Fewer industries recorded gains in output in 2011 than in the previous year, while more industries posted gains in hours. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Leading Indicators – February 2013 [Leading Economic Index]
| “The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. rose 0.5 percent in February to 94.8 (2004 = 100), following a 0.5 percent increase in January, and a 0.4 percent increase in December.”
Source: The Conference Board |
• U.S. Existing Home Sales – February 2013
| “February existing-home sales and prices affirm a healthy recovery is underway in the housing sector, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
”Sales have been above year-ago levels for 20 consecutive months, while prices show 12 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases.” Source: National Association of Realtors |
• U.S. Initial Unemployment [Jobless] Claims Up 2k
|
In the week ending March 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 336,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 334,000 but down 7.7% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 339,750, a decrease of 7,500 from the previous week's revised average of 347,250.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent for the week ending March 9, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending March 2 were in Alaska (5.8), Puerto Rico (4.4), Rhode Island (4.2), Montana (4.1), New Jersey (4.1), Pennsylvania (4.1), Connecticut (4.0), Wisconsin (3.9), Illinois (3.6), and Massachusetts (3.6). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 9 were in Georgia (+1,678), Florida (+802), Pennsylvania (+801), Ohio (+741), and Texas (+640), while the largest decreases were in New York (-7,248), California (-6,189), Illinois (-1,172), Kansas (-1,098), and Alabama (-1,083). Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS |
20 March 2013
• Unemployment Rate for Gulf War-Era II U.S. Veterans
| The unemployment rate for veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time since September 2001--a group referred to as Gulf War-era II veterans--declined by 2.2 percentage points to 9.9 percent in 2012.
Source: USDOL-BLS |
19 March 2013
• U.S. Residential Construction – February 2013 [building permits, housing starts]
| BUILDING PERMITS: Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000. This is
4.6 percent (±0.8%) above the revised January rate of 904,000 and is 33.8 percent (±1.4%) above the February 2012 estimate of
707,000.
Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 600,000; this is 2.7 percent (±0.7%) above the revised January figure of 584,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 316,000 in February. HOUSING STARTS: Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 917,000. This is 0.8 percent (±10.6%) above the revised January estimate of 910,000 and is 27.7 percent (±13.7%) above the February 2012 rate of 718,000. Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 618,000; this is 0.5 percent (±12.1%) above the revised January figure of 615,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 285,000. Source: USDOC-Census |
18 March 2013
• U.S. Regional and State Employment and Unemployment
| In January, 25 states and the District of Columbia reported over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 8 states had decreases, and 17 had no change. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 34 states and the district and decreased in 16 states. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• Dealing with March Madness
| “The workplace will soon be abuzz with “March Madness” — 68 men’s teams and 64 women’s teams are competing for the NCAA annual national basketball championship. "The tournament starts on March 19, 2013, and ends on April 9. "March Madness creates a number of issues and opportunities in the workplace. Losses of productivity from employees using social media and the Internet and participating in NCAA brackets or office pools during work time are the most challenging.” Source: JacksonLewis.com |
• Civil Rights Attorney to Be U.S. Labor Secretary
| “President Barack Obama on Monday will announce Thomas E. Perez, U.S. assistant attorney general heading the Justice Department's civil rights division, as his nominee for the next secretary of the Department of Labor, according to a White House official.”
Source: CNN.com |
15 March 2013
• U.S. Consumer Sentiment – March 2013 [Confidence]
| ”Confidence among American consumers unexpectedly slumped in March, which may signal a cooling in spending, the biggest part of the economy.
”The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary sentiment index for March fell to 71.8, the lowest level since December 2011, from 77.6 in February. The gauge was projected to increase to 78, according to the median estimate of 67 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.” Source: Bloomberg.com |
• U.S. Industrial Production, Capacity Utilization - February 2013 [index]
| Industrial production increased 0.7 percent in February after having been unchanged in January. Manufacturing output rose 0.8 percent in February, and the index revised up for the previous two months.
In February, the output of utilities advanced 1.6 percent, as temperatures for the month were near their seasonal norms after two months of unseasonably warm weather. The production at mines declined 0.3 percent, its third consecutive monthly decrease. At 99.5 percent of its 2007 average, total industrial production in February was 2.5 percent above its level of a year earlier. The capacity utilization rate for total industry increased to 79.6 percent, a rate that is 0.6 percentage point below its long-run (1972--2012) average. Source: Federal Reserve |
• U.S. Real Earnings – February 2013 [Inflation, wages, pay, salaries]
|
Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.6 percent from January to February, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.2 percent increase in average hourly earnings being more than offset by a 0.7 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Real average weekly earnings fell 0.2 percent over the month due to the decrease in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.3 percent increase in the average workweek. Real average hourly earnings rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, from February 2012 to February 2013. The increase in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.3 percent decrease in the average workweek, resulted in a 0.2 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings over this period. Source: USDOL-BLS *Note: Real earnings show the effect of inflation on your pay. If your salary went up by 2.1% over the year while the cost-of-living (CPI-U) rose 2.3%, then the “real” value of your salary fell by 0.2% [differences in some of the data are due to rounding and seasonal adjustment]. The figures reported here are earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, seasonally adjusted. |
• U.S. Consumer Price Index – February 2012 [Inflation]
| The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased
2.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 232.166
(1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 0.8 percent prior
to seasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.9 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 228.677 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 1.0 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 1.8 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.7 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2011 period are subject to revision. The Consumer Price Index for March 2013 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). Source: USDOL-BLS |
14 March 2013
• U.S. Initial Unemployment [Jobless] Claims Down 10k
|
In the week ending March 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 332,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 342,000 and down 8.5% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 346,750, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 349,500.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent for the week ending March 2, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending February 23 were in Alaska (6.2), Puerto Rico (4.7), Rhode Island (4.5), Connecticut (4.2), New Jersey (4.2), Montana (4.1), Pennsylvania (4.1), Massachusetts (4.0), Wisconsin (3.9), California (3.7), Illinois (3.7), and Oregon (3.7). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending March 2 were in California (+11,720), New York (+7,900), Missouri (+2,722), Kansas (+1,419), and Washington (+813), while the largest decreases were in Massachusetts (-4,193), North Carolina (-1,146), Connecticut (-913), Michigan (-909), and Florida (-726).
Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Producer Price Index – February 2013
|
The Producer Price Index for finished goods increased 0.7 percent in February. Prices for finished goods advanced 0.2 percent in January and declined 0.3 percent in December. The index for finished goods less foods and energy rose 0.2 percent in February. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• US. Businesss Sales, Inventories – January 2013
| Sales. The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’
shipments for January, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at
$1,268.8 billion, down 0.3 percent (±0.3%) from December 2012 and up 2.9 percent (±0.4%) from January 2012.
Inventories. Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,642.2 billion, up 1.0 percent (±0.2%) from December 2012 and up 5.6 percent (±0.5%) from January 2012. Inventories/Sales Ratio. The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of January was 1.29. The January 2012 ratio was 1.26. Source: USDOC-Census |
13 March 2013
• U.S. Monthly Treasury Statement – January 2013
[Federal, Budget, Deficit]
| Now available at….
Source: USDOT http://www.fms.treas.gov/mts/mts0113.pdf |
• U.S. Retail Sales – February 2013
| U.S. retail and food services sales for February, adjusted for seasonal
variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $421.4 billion, an increase of 1.1 percent (±0.5%) from the
previous month and 4.6 percent (±0.7%) above February 2012.
Total sales for the December 2012 through February 2013 period were up 4.5 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. Source: USDOC-Census |
12 March 2013
• U.S. Employer Costs for Employee Compensation
| Private industry employers spent an average of $28.89 per hour worked for employee compensation in December 2012.
Private industry costs averaged $1.98 per hour worked for paid leave benefits and $2.37 for legally required benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Job openings Steady at 3.7 Million in January
| There were 3.7 million job openings on the last business day of January, little changed from December.
The hires rate (3.1 percent) and the separations rate (3.0 percent) also were little changed in January. The annual levels and rates for 2012 are now available. Source: USDOL-BLS |
11 March 2013
• U.S. Employers: New I-9 Form [Immigration, Hiring]
| U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 for use. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States.
Effective 03/08/13: Employers should begin using the newly revised Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13)N for all new hires and reverifications. Employers may continue to use previously accepted revisions (Rev.02/02/09)N and (Rev. 08/07/09) Y until May 7, 2013. After May 7, 2013, employers must only use Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13)N.” Source: USCIS |
08 March 2013
• U.S. Employment Situation, February 2013 [Unemployment, Earnings]
| Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 236,000 in February, and the
unemployment rate edged down to 7.7 percent.
Employment increased in professional and business services, construction, and health care. Source: USDOL-BLS |
07 March 2013
• U.S. Initial Unemployment [Jobless] Claims Down 7k
|
In the week ending March 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 340,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 347,000 and down 9.1% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 348,750, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised average of 355,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent for the week ending February 23, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending February 16 were in Alaska (6.0), Montana (4.3), Puerto Rico (4.3), New Jersey (4.1), Pennsylvania (4.1), Rhode Island (4.1), Wisconsin (3.9), Idaho (3.7), Massachusetts (3.7), Connecticut (3.6), Illinois (3.6), and Oregon (3.6). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending February 23 were in Massachusetts (+4,024), North Carolina (+1,995), Illinois (+1,782), Rhode Island (+988), and Connecticut (+733), while the largest decreases were in California (-40,352), New York (-2,070), Texas (-1,334), Florida (-878), and Pennsylvania (-781). Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Labor Productivity Down in Q4 2012
| Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 1.9 percent
annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2012. The decrease in productivity reflects increases
of 0.5 percent in output and 2.5 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly
percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)
From the fourth quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2012, productivity increased 0.5 percent as output and hours worked increased 2.5 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Trade Deficit Increased in January [Exports, Imports, Trade Balance]
| Total January exports of $184.5 billion and imports of $228.9
billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $44.4 billion, up from $38.1 billion in
December, revised.
January exports were $2.2 billion less than December exports of $186.6 billion. January imports were $4.1 billion more than December imports of $224.8 billion. Source: USDOC-BEA |
06 March 2013
• OFCCP Issues Directive on Use of Arrest and Conviction Records in Contractors’ Employment Decisions
| “The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has announced it will be reviewing carefully employer consideration of candidate criminal history information for systematic discrimination. OFCCP’s Directive 306, “Complying with Nondiscrimination Provisions: Criminal Record Restrictions and Discrimination Based on Race and National Origin,” issued on January 29, 2013, and effective immediately, applies to all covered federal contractors and subcontractors.”
Source: JacksonLewis.com |
• U.S. Factory Orders Fell in January
| New orders for manufactured goods in January, down
two of the last three months, decreased $9.6 billion or
2.0 percent to $472.9 billion. This followed a 1.3 percent December increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.3 percent. Source: USDOC-Census |
04 March 2013
• “Ten Things Your Boss Doesn't Want You To Know”
| “Your boss is secretly smiling. He knows things you don’t about your workplace rights. And what you don’t know about those rights can destroy your career or even get you fired. ”Understanding those rights can help you wipe that smile right off his face. ”Here are 10 things you need to know.” Source: Forbes.com |
• U.S. DOL Releases New FMLA Model Forms and Notice Poster
| “The U.S. Department of Labor has released revised model Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) forms to administer federal FMLA leave and a notice poster.
”The updated forms should be used by employers immediately, although they include no substantive revisions despite recent rulemaking on the FMLA military caregiver leave provisions (see our article DOL Publishes Final Regulations Addressing Military Family Leave Provisions). ”The new forms expire on February 28, 2015. Following are links to the revised model forms:” Source: JacksonLewis.com |
• Connecticut: “Time to Fix The Jobless Trust Fund Is Now”
| ”In October 2009, Connecticut began borrowing from the federal government because the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was running out of money.
”So many people were filing for unemployment benefits because of the economic downturn that the jobless benefits the state was paying out far exceeded what it was taking in from employers for the trust fund. ”Connecticut wasn't alone, of course.” Source: Rep-Am.com |
• U.S. Jobless Rates Down In 46 States In 2012; Employment-Population Ratios Up In 26 States
| “Annual average unemployment rates in 2012 declined in 46 states and the District of Columbia, rose in 2 states, and were unchanged in 2 states.
”Employment-population ratios increased in 26 states and the district, decreased in 18 states, and were unchanged in 6 states.” Source: USDOL |
• America's Youth At 25: School Enrollment, Number of Jobs Held and Labor Market Activity
| “Thirty percent of women and 22 percent of men earned a bachelor's degree by age 25.
”Men averaged 6.2 jobs and women averaged 6.4 jobs from ages 18 to 25. ”Five percent of male high school graduates who never attended college were in the military at age 25.” Source: USDOL |
• FMLA: 2013 Final Rule Changes
| The U.S. Department of Labor issued amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act on February 5 that become effective March 8.
”There’s a host of changes, so let’s cover those that BLR’s resident FMLA expert, Susan Schoenfeld, JD, believes are the most important: ”(1) The definition of a “serious injury or illness” for military caregiver leave has been formalized by regulation that became effective March 8; ”(2) An eligible family member who has a qualifying exigency reason for taking “Rest and Recuperation” leave can now take up to 15 days; the former limit was 5; ”(3) Covered servicemembers now have more choices of physicians to certify a serious injury or illness; under the former rules the doctor had to be from the military healthcare system (Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, or TRICARE); now private physicians who otherwise authorize FMLA serious conditions can also certify qualifying conditions for covered servicemembers. "And there’s lot’s more….” Source: HR.BLR.com |
02 March 2013
• “Recruiters Challenged to Manage New Technologies”
| “No function of human resources is more affected by disruptive technologies than recruiting, a trend that promises to hold true in 2013.
"From mobile to social to video interviewing platforms, rapid evolution has recruiting leaders rethinking their technology options.” Source: SHRM |
01 March 2013
• Connecticut’s Union Membership Plummeted in 2012
| At the same time that union membership nationwide decreased from 11.8% of wage and salary workers to 11.3%, in Connecticut membership dropped from 16.8% to 14.0%.
Source: SOURCE: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Union Membership Declined Again in 2012
| In 2012, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were
members of a union--was 11.3 percent, down from 11.8 percent in 2011.
The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.4 million, also declined over the year. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million union workers. Public-sector workers had a union membership rate (35.9 percent) more than five times higher than that of private-sector workers (6.6 percent). Workers in education, training, and library occupations and in protective service occupations had the highest unionization rates, at 35.4 and 34.8 percent, respectively. Black workers were more likely to be union members than were white, Asian, or Hispanic workers. Among states, New York continued to have the highest union membership rate (23.2 percent), and North Carolina again had the lowest rate (2.9 percent). Source: SOURCE: USDOL-BLS |
• OFCCP Rescinds Restrictions On Investigating Pay Discrimination
| The U.S. Department of Labor says its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is rescinding two enforcement guidance documents on pay discrimination originally issued in 2006, commonly known as the "Compensation Standards" and "Voluntary Guidelines.”
The notice of final rescission withdrawing these two documents also includes new guidance for employers and other interested stakeholders setting forth the procedures, analysis and protocols OFCCP will utilize going forward when conducting compensation discrimination investigations. OFCCP will supplement the guidance with frequently asked questions, technical assistance, webinars, and other resources and materials to ensure that contractors have ample information about how to comply with the law. For more information, including copies of the notice of final rescission and supporting materials, visit: USDOL-OFCCP |
• U.S. Productivity Declines 2.0% in Q4 2012 (annual rate)
Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 2.0 percent annual
rate during the fourth quarter of 2012.
The decrease in productivity reflects increases of 0.1 percent in output and 2.2 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)
From the fourth quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2012, productivity increased 0.6 percent as output and hours worked rose 2.4 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.
Annual average productivity increased 1.0 percent from 2011 to 2012.
Source: USDOL-BLS
• U.S. Major Work Stoppages in 2012
In 2012, there were 19 major strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least
one shift.
The 19 major work stoppages beginning in 2012 equaled the total from 2011.
Major work stoppages beginning in 2012 idled 148,000 workers, higher than 2011 with 113,000 idled workers.
In 2012, there were 1.13 million days idle from major work stoppages in effect, also higher than 2011 with 1.02 million days idle.
Source: USDOL-BLS
• U.S. and Connecticut Mass Layoffs – January 2013
Connecticut employers took 11 mass layoff actions in January involving 771 workers, nsa, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month.
Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer.
There were 8 Connecticut mass layoff events in the same month a year ago, and the number of associated initial claims was 547.
Nationally, employers took 1,528 mass layoff actions involving 144,517 workers, nsa.
U.S. mass layoff events in the latest month decreased by 177 from the same month a year ago, but the number of associated initial claims increased by 2,814.
Source: USDOL-BLS
• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Down 22k
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In the week ending February 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 344,000, a decrease of 22,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 366,000 and down 7.8% from the same week a year ago. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average of 361,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.4 percent for the week ending February 16, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's revised rate. The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending February 9 were in Alaska (6.5), Puerto Rico (4.3), Montana (4.2), New Jersey (4.2), Pennsylvania (4.2), Rhode Island (4.1), Wisconsin (4.0), California (3.9), Idaho (3.8), Illinois (3.8), and Massachusetts (3.8). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending February 16 were in California (+26,683), Connecticut (+1,747), Massachusetts (+883), and New Mexico (+5), while the largest decreases were in Illinois (-3,285), Kansas (-3,114), Pennsylvania (-2,865), Florida (-2,442), and Ohio (-2,265). Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits. Source: USDOL-BLS |
• U.S. Real GDP Slowed Dramatically in Q4 2012
Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the "second" estimate.
In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent.
The full text of the release on BEA's Web site can be found at www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm
• U.S. Personal Income Fell in January 2013
Personal income decreased $505.5 billion, or 3.6 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) decreased $491.4 billion, or 4.0 percent, in January.
Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $18.2 billion, or 0.2 percent.
In December, personal income increased $353.4 billion, or 2.6 percent, DPI increased $325.7 billion, or 2.7 percent, and PCE increased $14.8 billion, or 0.1 percent, based on revised estimates.
The full text of the release on BEA's Web site can be found at www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/pinewsrelease.htm
• Connecticut "Minimum Wage, Workers Comp Expansion Clear One Hurdle"
"A proposal to expand worker's compensation coverage and another to raise the minimum wage in 75 cent increments over the next two years, to $9.75 by Jan. 1, 2015, cleared the state legislature's Labor and Public Employees Committee Thursday."
Source: Hartford Courant
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