30 January 2015

• U.S. Gross Domestic Product — Q4 2014


Real gross domestic product -- the value of the production of goods and services in the United States, adjusted for price changes -- increased at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to the "advance" estimate. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 5.0 percent.

The Bureau emphasized that the fourth-quarter advance estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency…. The "second" estimate for the fourth quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on February 27, 2015.

The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), private inventory investment, exports, nonresidential fixed investment, state and local government spending, and residential fixed investment that were partly offset by a negative contribution from federal government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

The deceleration in real GDP growth in the fourth quarter primarily reflected an upturn in imports, a downturn in federal government spending, and decelerations in nonresidential fixed investment and in exports that were partly offset by an upturn in private inventory investment and an acceleration in PCE.

Price Index: The price index for gross domestic purchases, which measures prices paid by U.S. residents, decreased 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter, in contrast to an increase of 1.4 percent in the third. Excluding food and energy prices, the price index for gross domestic purchases increased 0.7 percent, compared with an increase of 1.6 percent.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOC-BEA

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Employment Cost Index — Q4 2014


Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 2.2* percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014. In December 2013, the increase in compensation costs was 2.0 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.1 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, compared with a 1.9-percent increase in December 2013. Benefit costs increased 2.6 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, compared with a 2.2-percent increase for the 12-month period ending December 2013.

Private Industry Workers: Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 2.3 percent over the year. In December 2013 the increase was 2.0 percent. Wages and salaries increased 2.2 percent for the current 12-month period ending December 2014, about the same as the December 2013 increase of 2.1 percent. The cost of benefits rose 2.5 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, which was higher than December 2013, when the increase was 1.9 percent. Employer costs for health benefits increased 2.4 percent over the year. The 12-month percent change for December 2013 was an increase of 3.0 percent.

State and Local Government Workers: Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 2.0 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, compared with a 1.9-percent increase for December 2013. Wages and salaries increased 1.6 percent for the 12-month period ending December 2014, which was higher than the 1.1-percent increase in December 2013. Benefit costs increased 2.9 percent in December 2014. In December 2013, the increase was 3.3 percent.

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*Actual calculation of ECI is 122.7/120.0 = 1.0225 which rounds to 1.023.

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


29 January 2015

• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 29 JAN 2015


In the week ending January 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 265,000, a decrease of 43,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since April 15, 2000 when it was 259,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 307,000 to 308,000.

The 4-week moving average was 298,500, a decrease of 8,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 306,500 to 306,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.8 percent for the week ending January 17, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 17 was 2,385,000, a decrease of 71,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending January 10 were in Alaska (4.9), New Jersey (3.7), Connecticut (3.5), Puerto Rico (3.4), Montana (3.3), Pennsylvania (3.3), Massachusetts (3.2), Rhode Island (3.2), Wisconsin (3.2), California (3.0), Illinois (3.0), and West Virginia (3.0).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 17 were in Puerto Rico (+792) and the Virgin Islands (+25), while the largest decreases were in Pennsylvania (-13,194), New York (-12,255), Georgia (-10,173), Missouri (- 7,082), and Wisconsin (-6,963).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


28 January 2015

• Survey: “More Than 60% of Workers Admit To Workplace Mistakes Due To Tiredness”


”According to a new workplace survey…nearly half (48%) of employed Americans are distracted by fatigue at work, causing them to make mistakes and even doze off. Tiredness is a bigger distraction to workers than social media (19%) and personal communications (35%).”

Please visit this link to read the full report: BLR.com

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


27 January 2015

• U.S. Business Economists Forecast Higher Wages, Employment


”Expectations for rising wages and salaries rose significantly, with over half (51%) of survey respondents anticipating increases in the first three months of 2015….

”Expectations for hiring in the first quarter of 2015 are stronger than those observations for the final quarter of 2014….”

Please visit this link to read the full report: National Association for Business Economics

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — December 2014


Unemployment: Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in December. Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from November, four states had increases, and four states had no change.

Forty-six states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, two states had increases, and two states had no change.

Employment: In December 2014, 14 states had statistically significant over-the-month changes in employment, all of which were increases. The largest significant job gains occurred in Texas (+45,700), New York (+30,400), and Illinois (+17,100).

Over the year, 37 states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant changes in employment, all of which were positive. The largest significant over-the-year job increase occurred in Texas (+457,900), followed by California (+320,300) and Florida (+230,600).

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


23 January 2015

• U.S. Union Membership Rate Drops Again — 2014


In 2014, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of unions--was 11.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.6 million, was little different from 2013.

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.

Highlights from the 2014 data:

• Public-sector workers had a union membership rate (35.7 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 rate, at 35.3 percent for each occupation group.

• Men had a higher union membership rate (11.7 percent) than women (10.5 percent) in 2014.

• Black workers were more likely to be union members than were white, Asian, or Hispanic workers.

• Median weekly earnings of nonunion workers ($763) were 79 percent of earnings for workers who were union members ($970). (The comparisons of earnings in this release are on a broad level and do not control for many factors that can be important in explaining earnings differences.)

• Among states, New York continued to have the highest union membership rate (24.6 percent), and North Carolina again had the lowest rate (1.9 percent).

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


22 January 2015

• U.S. Employers’ Hiring Plans — 2015


"36% of Employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees in 2015, says CareerBuilder:

”Companies will be ringing in the New Year with more job openings, according to CareerBuilder’s annual job forecast. More than one third of employers expect to hire full-time, permanent employees in 2015, the best outlook from the survey since 2006.

”Salary increases—including raises for minimum wage workers—are also on the agenda of hiring managers.”

Please visit this link to read the full report: HR.BLR.com

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 22 JAN 2015


In the week ending January 17, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 307,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 316,000 to 317,000.

The 4-week moving average was 306,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,000 from 298,000 to 300,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.8 percent for the week ending January 10, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 10 was 2,443,000, an increase of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending January 3 were in Alaska (4.5), New Jersey (4.0), Connecticut (3.8), Pennsylvania (3.7), Rhode Island (3.6), Wisconsin (3.4), Massachusetts (3.3), Montana (3.3), and Puerto Rico (3.0).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 10 were in California (+26,122), Texas (+12,312), Indiana (+6,158), Missouri (+6,151), and Illinois (+5,769), while the largest decreases were in New York (-2,433), Pennsylvania (-1,625), Oregon (-1,314), New Jersey (-841), and South Carolina (-802).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


21 January 2015

• U.S. Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers — Q4 2014


Median weekly earnings of the nation's 107.4 million full-time wage and salary workers were $799 in the fourth quarter of 2014 (not seasonally adjusted). This was 1.7 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.2 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period.

• Median weekly earnings were $799 in the fourth quarter of 2014. Women who usually worked full time had median weekly earnings of $724, or 82.1 percent of the $882 median for men.

• The women's-to-men's earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 81.4 percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with black (90.3 percent), Asian (77.4 percent), and Hispanic women (86.2 percent).

• Among the major race and ethnicity groups, median weekly earnings for black men working at full-time jobs were $667 per week, or 73.5 percent of the median for white men ($907). The difference was less among women, as black women's median earnings ($602) were 81.6 percent of those for white women ($738). Overall, median earnings of Hispanics who worked full time ($600) were lower than those of blacks ($621), whites ($823), and Asians ($959).

• Usual weekly earnings of full-time workers varied by age. For men, those age 45 to 54 and age 55 to 64 had the highest median weekly earnings ($1,012 and $1,029, respectively). Weekly earnings were highest for women age 35 to 64: weekly earnings were $784 for women age 35 to 44, $774 for women age 45 to 54, and $790 for women age 55 to 64. Workers age 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, at $493.

• By educational attainment, full-time workers age 25 and over without a high school diploma had median weekly earnings of $491, compared with $664 for high school graduates (no college) and $1,224 for those holding at least a bachelor's degree. Among college graduates with advanced degrees (professional or master's degree and above), the highest earning 10 percent of male workers made $3,508 or more per week, compared with $2,394 or more for their female counterparts.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Educational Attainment — 2014


This table package provides Current Population Survey statistics on academic achievement by demographic characteristics, such as age, sex and Hispanic origin. It also includes detailed information on years of school completed, showing how many years of education adults have completed for each level of attainment.

A variety of historical time series tables going back to 1940 are also provided, as are graphs illustrating historical data. Internet address:

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOC-Census

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


20 January 2015

• U.S. Consumer Price Index: Further Detail — December 2014


Further to the posting of 16 January:

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 234.812 (1982-84=100).

The Consumer Price Index for January 2015 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


16 January 2015

• U.S. Real Earnings – December 2014


Real average hourly earnings for all employees rose 0.1 percent from November to December, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.2 percent decrease in average hourly earnings combined with a 0.4 percent decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings increased by 0.2 percent over the month due to the increase in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek.

Real average hourly earnings increased by 1.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, from December 2013 to December 2014. This increase in real average hourly earnings, combined with a 0.9 percent increase in the average workweek, resulted in a 1.9 percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period.

See the complete report at this link: 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.

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Consumer Price Index — December 2014


CPI-U: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 234.812 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index fell 0.6 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

CPI-W: The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 229.909 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index fell 0.7 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.

C-CPI-U: The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 133.926. For the month, the index fell 0.8 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the post-2012 period are subject to revision.

The Consumer Price Index for January 2015 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. (EST).

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


15 January 2015

• U.S. Computer Science Projects Top Starting Salary for Master’s Degree Grads — 2015


"Computer science majors have the highest average starting salary projection among master’s degree graduates from the college Class of 2015, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

"NACE’s January 2015 Salary Survey found that projected starting salaries for Class of 2015 master’s degree graduates in computer science average $71,140."

"The salaries of engineering and business majors follow just behind. The average starting salary for Class of 2015 graduates earning master’s degrees in engineering is projected to be $69,698, while business majors earning master’s degrees can anticipate earning salaries that average $67,890.

"Math and sciences majors are expected to earn the next highest salary—$64,465.

"The remainder of the master’s degree broad categories have salary projections that exceed $50,000."

Please visit this link to read the full report: NACEWeb.org

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Producer Price Index — December 2014


The Producer Price Index for final demand fell 0.3 percent in December, seasonally adjusted. Final demand prices decreased 0.2 percent in November and advanced 0.2 percent in October. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand increased 1.1 percent in 2014 after rising 1.2 percent in 2013.

In December, the 0.3-percent decline in the final demand index can be traced to a 1.2-percent drop in prices for final demand goods. In contrast, the index for final demand services moved up 0.2 percent.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 10 JAN 2015


In the week ending January 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 316,000, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 3,000 from 294,000 to 297,000.

The 4-week moving average was 298,000, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 750 from 290,500 to 291,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.8 percent for the week ending January 3, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's revised rate. The previous week's rate was revised up by 0.1 from 1.8 to 1.9 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 3 was 2,424,000, a decrease of 51,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending December 27 were in Alaska (5.0), New Jersey (3.4), Connecticut (3.3), Massachusetts (3.1), Montana (3.0), Rhode Island (3.0), Wisconsin (3.0), Pennsylvania (2.9), California (2.8), and Oregon (2.8).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending January 3 were in New York (+21,493), Georgia (+14,274), South Carolina (+8,955), Texas (+5,422), and Florida (+5,338), while the largest decreases were in California (-13,261), Michigan (-5,476), New Jersey (-3,852), Iowa (-3,542), and Massachusetts (-3,379).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.


14 January 2015

• U.S. Employment Turnover: 2-Year Comparison — November 2014


Please visit this link to read the full report: LinkToArticle

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


13 January 2015

• U.S. Job Openings, Hires, Turnover, Quits — November 2014


[1] The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. [2] The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. [3] The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment; includes quits. [4] The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment; included in "total turnover."

Please visit this link to read the full report: LinkToArticle

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Job Openings and Hires — November 2014


The number of job openings (not seasonally adjusted) increased over the 12 months ending in November for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Job openings increased over the year for many industries, including professional and business services, health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Job openings decreased in arts, entertainment, and recreation. The number of openings increased over the year in all four regions.

Over the 12 months ending in November, the number of hires (not seasonally adjusted) increased for total nonfarm and total private, and was little changed for government. Hires increased over the year in several industries, including retail trade and accommodation and food services. The number of hires increased in the Northeast and Midwest regions.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


12 January 2015

• U.S. College Salary Projections — 2015


"Engineering majors are projected to be the top-paid bachelor’s degree graduates from the Class of 2015, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

"Employers responding to NACE’s January 2015 Salary Survey projected starting salaries for engineering graduates overall that average $62,998. Within the reported engineering disciplines, petroleum engineering majors are likely to earn the highest salaries with an anticipated average salary of $80,600."

Table shows projected salaries, bachelor's degrees, by discipline:

"Following closely behind the engineering graduates in terms of projected starting salaries are those earning bachelor’s degrees in the computer sciences fields; these grads are projected to earn an average starting salary of $61,287, with specific computer science majors having an average projected salary of $62,377.

"At $56,171, the third-highest average salary projection among the bachelor’s degree broad categories is for math and sciences majors. Within these disciplines, physics majors received the highest projection—$64,625."

Please visit this link: National Association of Colleges and Employers

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


09 January 2015

• U.S. Employment Situation — December 2014


Payroll employment rises by 252,000 in December; unemployment rate declines to 5.6%

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 252,000 in December, and the unemployment rate declined to 5.6 percent. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, construction, food services and drinking places, health care, and manufacturing.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2015 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


08 January 2015

• 21 States Had Minimum Wage Increases on 01 JAN 2015


”The states getting increases on Jan. 1, 2015, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, include: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.

Other states ared getting increases later in 2015 and several states have approved increases for 2016, 2017 and beyond.

Please visit this link to read the full report: LinkToArticle

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2014 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/


• U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims — 13 January 2015


In the week ending January 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 294,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 298,000.

The 4-week moving average was 290,500, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 290,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.8 percent for the week ending December 27, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 27 was 2,452,000, an increase of 101,000 from the previous week's revised level.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending December 20 were in Alaska (4.3), New Jersey (3.0), Puerto Rico (3.0), Connecticut (2.7), Nevada (2.7), Massachusetts (2.6), Montana (2.6), Pennsylvania (2.6), California (2.5), and Rhode Island (2.4).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending December 27 were in Michigan (+11,544), New Jersey (+9,663), Wisconsin (+7,051), California (+6,547), and Iowa (+5,204), while the largest decreases were in Texas (- 7,008), North Carolina (-2,377), Florida (-1,860), New York (-1,801), and South Carolina (-1,554).

Note: “Insured unemployment rate” refers to individuals who are unemployed and receiving UC benefits.

See the complete report at this link: USDOL-BLS

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.


02 January 2015

• New OSHA Reporting Regulations Effective in 2015


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s revised recordkeeping rule includes two key changes:

First, the rule updates the list of industries that are exempt from the requirement to routinely keep OSHA injury and illness records, due to relatively low occupational injury and illness rates. Note: The new rule retains the exemption for any employer with ten or fewer employees, regardless of their industry classification, from the requirement to routinely keep records.

Second, the rule expands the list of severe work-related injuries that all covered employers must report to OSHA. The revised rule retains the current requirement to report all work-related fatalities within 8 hours and adds the requirement to report all work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours to OSHA.

Establishments located in States under Federal OSHA jurisdiction must begin to comply with the new requirements on January 1, 2015. Establishments located in states that operate their own safety and health programs should check with their state plan for the implementation date of the new requirements. OSHA encourages the states to implement the new coverage provisions on 1/1/2015, but some may not be able to meet this tight deadline.

Please visit this link to read the full report: USDOL-OSHA

NOTE: This report is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in providing legal, financial, accounting or other professional advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Furthermore, while we do our best to ensure that these data are accurate, we suggest that any entity making decisions based on these numbers should verify the data at their source prior to making such decisions.

© 2014 Connecticut Human Resource Reports, LLC

URL: http://connecticuthumanresources.blogspot.com/