Jobless claims average falls by 2,000, but total claims rise

The US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell last week to 263,250, the lowest level since mid-December 1973. The moving average fell by 2,000 from the previous week’s average, which was revised slightly upward, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today...

Employers to hire 11% more new grads, survey says

Employers plan to hire 11% more new college grads from the class of 2016 for their US operations than they did from the class of 2015, according to a survey of 201 employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

But although employers plan to hire more grads this year, the number of employers...

Survey finds professionals want more feedback on work future

Employees want more feedback on their future from the boss, according to research released today by Robert Half Finance & Accounting. The survey found 40% of professionals said their managers never discuss their career paths with them. Additionally, 37% said they would like to discuss their career...

ManpowerGroup sees uneven global growth, revenue up 6% in constant currency

ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), one of the world’s largest staffing firms, reported uneven growth across geographies in the third quarter. A strong US dollar also significantly impacted results.

French revenue fell 14.6%, but when measured in constant currency, rose 1.9%. France represents ManpowerGroup’s...

Volt exec takes CEO role on permanent basis

Volt Information Sciences Inc. (NYSE MKT: VISI) named Michael Dean as president and CEO on a permanent basis, effective immediately. Dean has served in the role on an interim basis following the resignation of President and CEO Ron Kochman in June. Dean joined Volt’s board as chairman in May 2015....

Amazon increases seasonal hiring plans 25%

Amazon.com Inc. (NSDQ: AMZN) announced it will add 100,000 seasonal positions across its US network of fulfillment and sortation centers this holiday season — up 25% from 80,000 seasonal positions added last year — in order to meet an increase in customer demand. The company has also hired more than...

Mexico sets single national minimum wage

Mexico’s National Minimum Wage Commission established a single national minimum daily wage of 70.10 pesos (US$4.24), effective Oct. 1.

Labor Secretary Alfonso Navarrete said the change will benefit 751,915 workers in 2,341 municipalities currently within “zone B,” which will see a 2.66% increase...

Silicon Valley survey finds 43% expect Q4 hiring needs to rise

Employers in California’s Silicon Valley expect a high level of hiring in the fourth quarter, according to West Valley Staffing Group’s latest Silicon Valley economic forecast survey.

The quarterly survey found 43.0% of hiring managers predict their hiring needs to increase in the fourth quarter and...

ADP Workforce Vitality Index up 5% in Q3

The ADP Workforce Vitality Index, a measure of the total wages paid to the US private-sector workforce, rose 5.1% year over year to a level of 108.9 (third quarter 2013=100, not seasonally adjusted) in the third quarter of 2015.

The quarterly report analyzes the overall vitality of the US labor market...

Median earnings of US full-timers up 1.6% in Q3

Median weekly earnings of US full-time wage and salary workers rose 1.6% year over year in the third quarter to $803 (not seasonally adjusted), the US Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today.

Women who usually worked full time had median weekly earnings of $721, or 81.1% of the $889 median for men....