ISM manufacturing index decelerates in August to slowest pace in two years

The Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers index for US manufacturing decelerated to a reading of 51.1 in August, down from July’s reading of 52.7. The reading indicates continued expansion, but at a slower pace.

Readings above 50 indicate growth.

Reuters reports the reading fell further...

Canada GDP in technical recession, report says, rebound seen

Canadian real GDP contracted 0.5% at an annualized rate in the second quarter, following a 0.8% contraction in the first quarter, Statistics Canada announced today. The Globe and Mail reports Canada has entered into a “technical recession,” but the pain may be short lived.

Despite the weak start to...

NLRB ruling’s effect on staffing firms — Staffing quote of the week

“There’s a reason they are using temporary staffing and if they have to pay a little bit more for it, they’ll pay a little bit more,” Jefferies analyst Dan Dolev told Reuters. “There’s a point at which it becomes too expensive, but I doubt that it gets there.”

List of fastest-growing US staffing firms for 2015 now online

The list of fastest-growing staffing firms for 2015 is now available. This year’s list includes 102 firms that posted a compound annual growth rate in revenue of 15% or more between 2010 and 2014 excluding acquisitions.

The 10 fastest-growing firms on the list posted a median CAGR of 61.0%, and are included...

Atrium Staffing of California acquires San Francisco-based firm

Atrium Staffing of California acquired Bay Staffing Solutions, a San Francisco-based boutique staffing agency. The acquisition brings expertise in residential real estate and nonprofit staffing to Atrium’s California branch, which currently specializes in the commercial and retail real estate...

Novo Group appoints new president and CEO in wake of acquisition

The Novo Group, a recruitment firm headquartered in Milwaukee, acquired an HR consulting firm and named its founder as president and CEO.

Nora Group acquired inVantage, a Milwaukee HR consulting firm launched this year, and named its founder, Kelly Renz, as president and CEO of The Novo Group, effective...

Insurance firms: 15% to decrease temp use in second half, survey finds

While most insurance companies still plan to add staff this year, their plans for temp use are down, according to the semi-annual US Insurance Labor Outlook Study conducted by The Jacobson Group and Ward Group.

The survey found 15% of insurance companies plan to decrease their use of temporary staffing...

Heidrick board member named president and CEO of Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. (NASD: HSII) board member Robert Kaplan resigned his position with the firm following his appointment as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

 His...

Survey finds 76% of workers avoid the office for important tasks

Half of workers report their home as their preferred place for maximum productivity, according to a survey by FlexJobs, a job search website specializing in telecommuting, freelance, part-time and other flexible work opportunities.

The survey found 50% of people reported that their home — and not the...

NLRB expands joint employment; client is temps’ employer in union case

The NLRB voted 3-2 to expand the definition of joint employment, allowing a union to negotiate with a staffing buyer over both directly hired and staffing firm workers. The board announced the ruling yesterday.

In its decision, the NLRB ruled Browning-Ferris Industries of California was a joint employer...