Jobless claims average up 3,000, but initial claims fall

The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose to 262,750 last week, up 3,000 from the previous week’s average, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Department of Labor. The previous week’s average was revised downward by 500.

The four-week...

Canadian job vacancies down 18% year over year in Q1

Canadian employers reported 328,000 job vacancies in the first quarter, Statistics Canada reported today. The number of job vacancies fell by 72,000, down 17.9%, from the first quarter of 2015.

The job vacancy rate — a measure of job openings compared with total employment — declined 0.5 percentage...

The gig is up: Real value of gig economy startups is supply, not model (Forbes)

Recently, the gig economy has drawn as much ire as it has excitement and cash from venture capital investors seeking the next Uber or Airbnb, TrueBridge Capital Partners reports in a Forbes article. But despite the criticisms and fears of oversaturation or underestimated challenges inherent in the gig...

The biggest threat to America’s jobs machine (CBSNews)

Despite a tepid and disappointing pace of GDP growth and an ongoing corporate earnings recession, payrolls have been on fire, CBSNews reports. New jobs have increased at an average of 273,500 over the last two months and consumers are responding with rising confidence. But those good feelings face a...

Adecco global revenue up 4% organically as North America revenue falls

Adecco, the world’s largest staffing firm, reported revenue rose 4% on an organic basis, which excludes the impact of currencies, acquisitions and divestitures. When also adjusting for the number of business days in the quarter, revenue rose 3%.

Permanent placement revenue rose 9% on an organic basis....

Kelly revenue falls 0.7% in Q2, demand softens in Americas

Kelly Services Inc. (NASD: KELYA) revenue fell 0.7% in the second quarter, but was up 0.6% in constant currency. Americas revenue fell 0.1% in constant currency.

Gross margin improved to 16.8% from 16.1%

Barrett’s PEO revenue rises in Q2, but temp staffing revenue falls

Barrett Business Services Inc. (NASD: BBSI) reported revenue rose 11.8% in the second quarter amid growth in client count and same-store sales growth that was partially offset by an 11.1% decline in staffing services revenue. Net professional employer organization revenue rose 18.7%.

The Vancouver, Wash.-based...

US job openings rise 2% in June, hiring also up

The number of US job openings in June rose 2.0% from May to 5.6 million, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of hires also edged up 1.7% from May.

The number of job openings was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm, total private...

Driving recruitment industry dealmaking (TheStreet)

M&A appetite has never been stronger in the global recruitment sector, with Japan’s Recruit Holdings and private equity buyers expected to lead the charge, and markets like the UK still highly fragmented and ripe for further consolidation, TheStreet reports.

Illegal kickbacks for foreign farm workers brings federal fraud conviction (StarTribune)

An Ohio woman has been convicted in a conspiracy that required foreign laborers at a Minnesota farm to pay illegal fees and kickbacks, the StarTribune reports. Sandra Lee Bart and a co-defendant recruited mostly agricultural employers — including for the Svihel Vegetable Farm in Foley, Minn. — to...