Jobless claims average at low for the year but initial claims jump

The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance was 272,000 last week, down 1,250 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...

California to get $9 million more to provide temp employment in wake of drought

The US Department of Labor awarded $9 million in incremental funding to continue temporary employment services to workers hurt by California’s historic drought.

The department in July approved a National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $18 million with $3 million released initially to the California...

Best Staffing Firms to Work For, Yessne winner receive honors — Executive Forum

Winners of the Best Staffing Firms to Work For competition and the Best Staffing Firms to Temp For were announced today at Staffing Industry Analysts’ Executive Forum in Phoenix.

In addition, the Peter Yessne Staffing Leadership award was also formally presented today at the conference to Janice...

Healthcare IT contingent hiring to rise, TEKsystems survey finds

This year 44% of healthcare IT leaders plan to increase contingent IT hiring, up from 42% who planned to increase contingent hiring in 2015, according to a TEKsystems’ healthcare IT survey. Also, 54% plan to keep temporary hiring the same, up from 52% in 2015, while 2% plan to decrease contingent IT...

CHG Healthcare names chief strategy officer

CHG Healthcare Services, the second-largest US healthcare staffing firm, named David Baldridge as chief strategy officer effective Feb. 5. The role is a new position within the firm.

Baldridge joined CHG in 1990 as a client representative and has been involved in every area of CHG’s business, including...

EEOC sues North Carolina staffing firm for disability discrimination

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Two Hawk Employment Services LLC, a temporary staffing agency based in Lumberton, NC.

The lawsuit alleges the firm violated federal law when it asked an applicant illegal medical questions during its application process and then refused...

Trillium acquires Boston IT, engineering staffing firm

Trillium Staffing acquired Boston-based Atlantic Associates Inc., effective Jan. 14.

Atlantic Associates, founded in 1998 by John Fitzgerald and Jack Harrington, provides strategic IT and engineering staffing services. Atlantic Associates will transition to the Trillium Technical brand and continue to...

Consumer confidence falls in February, job outlook down

The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index for the US fell in February following a moderate increase in January, The Conference Board announced today. The index fell to a reading of 92.2 (1985=100), down from a reading of 97.8 in January.

Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was also less...

Heidrick revenue up 23% in constant currency, Europe leads growth

Fourth-quarter net revenue rose 19.2% at Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. (NASD: HSII), but was up 23.4% in constant currency.

Among segments, Europe revenue posted the largest increase at the Chicago-based executive search and leadership consulting firm, up 37.2% on a constant-currency...

Enduring truths about successful staffing firms — Executive Forum

The impact of technology is growing and staffing clients are becoming more sophisticated, but there continues to be enduring truths about successful staffing firms, said Barry Asin, president of Staffing Industry Analysts, during a keynote speech entitled “Where we came from, where we are going,”...