Canadian GDP to rebound to 1.8% in 2017

Canadian economic growth will snap back after a second-quarter contraction and will get further lift in 2017 from rising energy prices, low interest rates, and federal stimulus, according to the Economic Outlook report released today by RBC Economics.

Canadian GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 1.8%...

Pontoon appoints global marketing exec

Pontoon, the global HR outsourcing brand for Adecco Group, appointed Marisa Kacary as senior VP, global head of marketing, effective Sept. 5. This is a new role within Pontoon.

Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Pontoon provides managed service provider and recruitment process outsourcing services. Adecco at...

Jobless claims average edges down

The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 260,750 last week, down 500 from the previous week’s unrevised average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of...

The coming teacher shortage crisis (Politico)

Politico reports the US is teetering on the edge of a teacher shortage crisis, and if nothing is done to stop it, the country could be grappling with a shortage of more than 100,000 teachers annually by 2025, according to a new report released by the Learning Policy Institute, a California-based think...

US producer prices unchanged, underlying inflation firming (Reuters)

US producer prices were flat in August as the cost of energy products declined and trade services fell, but underlying producer inflation firmed, Reuters reported. The US Department of Labor said today the unchanged reading in its producer price index for final demand followed a 0.4% drop in July. In...

Randstad lists 12 key markets for cybersecurity talent

Demand is strong for cybersecurity talent in 12 key markets nationwide, according to Randstad Technologies “Cybersecurity Workforce Report,” released today. The report names key markets nationwide with strong demand for top-tier, enterprise-level cybersecurity talent.

Washington, DC, reported the...

Human cloud firm Care.com expands benefit program for gig workers

Human cloud firm Care.com, which connects caregivers to families, announced today an expansion a benefit program for its gig workers. The New York Times reports it’s one of the earliest moves to bring employee benefits to Gig Economy workers.

Care.com initially started its benefits program in January,...

AI tools and robots will eliminate only 6% of jobs by 2021 (TechRepublic)

The impending “robot revolution” has brought questions about what jobs, if any, will be replaced by bots, and when it will happen, TechRepublic reports. While some have posited that robots will replace nearly all jobs, and free up humans to work on more creative endeavors, others have been more reserved...

Labor demand prompts UPS to up pay for some seasonal jobs (Bloomberg)

United Parcel Service Inc. is offering bonuses and higher wages for holiday help in some parts of the US, as the package-delivery company plans to hire about 95,000 seasonal workers amid tighter labor markets, Bloomberg reported. The sweetened compensation by one of the largest users of temporary Christmas-time...

Weekly staffing employment down 0.3% in Q2, ASA reports

The number of workers employed per week by the US staffing industry edged down 0.3% in the second quarter compared to the same period a year ago, according to data released by the American Staffing Association. Additionally, average weekly employment in the second quarter was flat after 25 consecutive...