The humans working behind the AI curtain (Harvard Business Review)

Just how artificial is Artificial Intelligence? Harvard Business Review reports that as AI makes progress, it also results in the rapid creation and destruction of temporary labor markets for new types of humans-in-the-loop tasks. AI will eliminate some work as it opens up opportunities for redefining...

Employment trends index edges down but still suggests solid job growth

The Conference Board’s US Employment Trends Index edged down in December to a reading of 129.62 from November’s downwardly revised reading of 129.93. The December reading, which followed an increase in November, is up 2.2% from the same month a year ago.

“After strong growth over the previous three...

Express Employment North Carolina branch gets new owner

Express Employment Professionals’ office in Greensboro, NC, has changed hands. Jim Franklin purchased the resale from Larry Diana, who retired after a 16-year career as an Express franchisee.

The transaction took effect Nov. 2; terms were not disclosed. The existing staff will remain in place.

Franklin...

US temp jobs fall by 15,500 in December, but still up over year

Temporary help jobs fell by 15,500 in December from November, but were still up compared to a year ago, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The year-over-year growth rate fell to 0.78% in December from 2.18% in November.

December’s temporary...

Artech acquires Minneapolis-based IT solutions company

Artech Information Systems LLC, a multinational staffing and professional services firm, acquired Tech-Pro Inc., a Minneapolis-based IT solutions company providing IT, engineering and business strategies. Although Artech has an established footprint in Kansas and Minnesota, the acquisition expands its...

Half of US employers to hire temps in 2017

The demand for temporary labor will remain strong this year as employers strive to have more flexibility in their staff levels, according to CareerBuilder’s job forecast for 2017. The forecast’s survey found 51% of employers plan to hire temporary or contract workers in 2017, up from 47% in last...

Canadian jobs rise by 53,700 in December

Employment in Canada rose by 53,700 jobs in December from November, a 0.3% increase on a seasonally adjusted basis, Statistics Canada reported today. For the full year 2016, employment growth rose 1.2%, the fastest December-to-December growth since 2012.  

Canada added 81,300 full-time jobs but lost...

People: Nelson, iWorkGlobal, On Assignment, MRINetwork, Allegis Partners and more

The Nelson Family of Cos., a staffing provider based in Sonoma, Calif., appointed Jim Wagner as senior VP. In this role, Wagner will oversee two Nelson divisions that focus on specialty staffing and workforce solutions: Nelson & Associates, serving the accounting, finance and legal fields, and Nelson...

Infosys, Tata stocks hit by US proposal to restrict skilled visas (Bloomberg)

A bill being proposed in US Congress aimed at limiting the outsourcing of jobs and reforming the country’s high-skilled immigration program is weighing on Indian IT consulting and software stocks, Bloomberg reports. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. fell as much as 3.3%, the most since Nov. 9, while Infosys...

Workplace of the near future will be agile, with robot bosses (Chicago Tribune)

The Chicago Tribune examines future of the American workplace and suggests the roving worker/AI manager concept is likely on the horizon. The predicted shift is away from a career in the traditional sense and toward an ongoing series of work experiences. The reporter argues that workers attached to a...