Leading economic index slips in May, reflecting higher jobless claims

The Conference Board today reported its US Leading Economic Index declined 0.2% in May to a level of 123.7. The decline was attributed to an increase in unemployment insurance claims.

“The US LEI declined in May, primarily due to a sharp increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance. The growth...

Online degrees gain traction among employers (U.S. News & World Report)

Acceptance of online master’s and bachelor’s degrees is growing among employers, but not all are totally comfortable with them, according to U.S. News & World Report. David Morgan, president of staffing firm Addison Group’s IT division, told the publication that some employers are more familiar...

Company uses stock to squelch employee poaching, other things (BuzzFeed)

Palantir Technologies is spending $225 million to buy back stock from current and former employees, but there’s a catch, BuzzFeed reported. Those current and former employees must agree to not poach Palantir employees for 12 months, renew their nondisclosure agreements and promise not to sue the company....

EmployBridge announces president of professional division

EmployBridge today formally announced Joanie Courtney joined the firm as president and chief operations officer for its professional services division. Included in the division are EmployBridge’s RemX Specialty Staffing and the company’s energy brands: Decca Energy, Resdin Industries and Vaughan...

Jobs website The Muse closes $16 million funding round

Jobs website The Muse closed a $16 million funding round, bringing total investment in the site to $28.7 million.

Based in New York, the company was founded in 2011. It reports more than 50 million users per year and recently expanded from offering jobs in more than 40 markets in the past 18 months from...

Millennials have management potential, Robert Half CFO survey says

CFOs in the US are confident that millennials have management potential, according to a survey by Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Of the 2,200 CFOs surveyed, 85% said they are confident in millennials’ future leadership abilities.

“Millennials are a highly educated, ambitious group who...

Executive search provider Elliot Group secures investment

Executive search provider Elliot Group Enterprises LLC and Steve Lockton entered into a strategic partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, which closed in May, Lockton made an undisclosed equity investment.

Lockton is executive VP and owner at the Lockton Companies, a privately held insurance broker...

Freelancer software firm Lystable lands $11 million (TechCrunch)

TechCrunch reported Lystable, which makes software to enable businesses to manage freelancers, just closed an $11 million Series A round. The funding round was led by Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures and Goldcrest Capital, according to the report. Thiel is a co-founder of Paypal. The report said Lystable...

IMF lowers US economic forecast (Fox Business)

Fox Business reported the International Monetary Fund downgraded its forecast for the US economy. It now calls for growth of 2.2% this year, down from a forecast in April that called for 2.4% growth. It also said the Federal Reserve should hold off on raising interest rates. In addition, the IMF warned...

IT hiring in US to hold steady in second half of year, Robert Half says

Chief information officers in the US plan to add a similar amount of IT staff in the second half of 2016 as they did in the first half, according to the new Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. However, Canadian CIOs plan to hire slightly fewer workers.

The US survey found...