Canadian job vacancy rate at 3.1%, highest since at least 2004

The rate of job vacancies in Canada rose to 3.1% in the second quarter, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business reported today. It was the highest rate since the group began tracking the number in 2004.

An estimated 397,400 jobs have sat vacant for at least four months.

“Although the national...

Apprenticeships make people more job-ready than college, say majority: ASA survey

Apprenticeships make people more employable than going to college, according to 62% of the US adults polled by the American Staffing Association in is Workforce Monitor report. Apprentices ships are where a person learns a new skill while working under another person.

In addition, the survey found that...

Jobless claims four-week average falls, overall claims see first decline in three weeks

The four-week moving average of jobless claims fell 500 to 214,250 in the week ended Aug. 4 from the previous week’s revised average of 214,750, the US Department of Labor announced today.

While the four-week moving average smooths results, total claims for the week ended Aug. 4 fell by 6,000 from the...

New York approves ride-sharing cap, minimum wage (The New York Times)

The New York City Council approved legislation setting a cap on the number of ride-hail drivers for human cloud firms such as Uber and Lyft, The New York Times reported. It also set a minimum pay rate for ride-hail drivers. The newspaper reported the city is the first to take such steps, and could provide...

Kelly Services revenue up 4% in second quarter; company cites growth in Europe

Second-quarter revenue at Kelly Services (NASD: KELYA) rose 4.0% with strong growth in Europe. The increase in constant currency was 3.0%. Revenue rose in the company’s Americas staffing and international staffing segments, but fell in its global talent solutions segment, which includes the company’s...

Barrett Q2 revenue rises 3%, reaches agreement with SEC

Barrett Business Services Inc. (NASD: BBSI) revenue rose 2.7% in the second quarter with the growth coming from its PEO division, but staffing services revenue fell, the Vancouver, Wash.-based company reported. CEO Michael Elich cited headwinds to growth, although he noted the company added 380 new clients...

PageGroup revenue increases 13% in constant currency

PageGroup, a UK-based staffing provider with operations in the US, reported revenue rose 12.8% in constant currency in the first half of the year ended June 30. The strongest growth was in the company’s Europe and Americas segments. UK revenue fell.

‘Flexible work schedule’ tops list of most important nonhealth benefits: Express Employment Professionals

“Flexible work schedule” topped the list of most important nonhealth benefits, according to a survey by Express Employment Professionals.

The survey found 18% of workers consider a flexible work schedule to be the most important nonhealth benefit. It was followed by “generous/unlimited” vacation...

‘Humans are underrated’: Greatest performance gains happen when people work alongside machines (Harvard Business Review)

When Tesla tried to make a fully automated factory, it discovered that sophisticated robots slowed production down, according to a new story in the Harvard Business Review. “Humans are underrated,” Elon Musk said. The article discusses why the greatest performance gains happen when people work alongside...

Deadline this Friday for the Americas 50, part of the Global Power 100 Women in Staffing list

The deadline to nominate people to the Americas 50 portion of the Power 100 Women in Staffing list is this Friday. To make a nomination, please go to this survey.

The Global Power 100 list of the most powerful women in the workforce solutions ecosystem, which includes the staffing industry, is being compiled...