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Beige Book: Hiring holds steady or rises in most districts

September 06, 2013

For most industries and occupations in most Federal Reserve Districts, hiring held steady or increased somewhat, according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report released this week. Increased demand for information technology workers was widespread and hiring increased for workers in accounting and health services occupations in several districts.

Manufacturing hiring rose modestly, with the St. Louis Federal Reserve District reporting increases in employment at a variety of manufacturing firms connected to the auto industry or the home construction industry. The Boston, Richmond and Minneapolis districts reported shortages of some types of skilled manufacturing workers. The Atlanta district reported slight employment increases in Georgia and Florida, and the Dallas district reported gains in oil and gas producing areas.

The Boston and Richmond, Va., districts reported that temporary workers are increasingly being offered permanent employment. A staffing firm in the Dallas district reported “near-record” levels of direct hiring by healthcare and engineering clients.

In the Chicago district, the hiring pace slowed, with some contacts noting layoffs in recent weeks. Manufacturers and retailers, in particular, indicated they were more likely to boost hours or increase temporary and part-time hiring than expand their existing full-time workforce if they needed labor.

New England staffing contacts generally reported strengthened business conditions through August.