Labor markets tight, but wage increases remain modest, Beige Book says

Labor markets remained tight, but wage increases were modest despite firms saying difficulty in hiring workers has constrained expansion, according to the US Federal Reserve’s Beige Book report released yesterday. It covers the US economy from late November through the end of the year.

“Only one manufacturing...

Three in 10 workers to seek new jobs; résumé length less important, Accountemps says

Approximately three in 10 workers, 29%, plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months, according to a survey by Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Los Angeles had the highest percentage of workers planning to seek new jobs, 40%, among the 27 markets surveyed.

The...

Human cloud firm Hyr raises $1.3 million for platform that offers gig workers benefits

Human cloud firm Hyr raised $1.3 million in seed funding round led by venture capital firm Flybridge Capital Partners, according to media reports.

Hyr seeks to match workers with shifts at hospitality companies. And the new funding round brings total funding to $2.4 million, Jesse Middleton, a general...

Jobless claims at lowest rate since February 1973

Jobless claims last week reached their lowest level since Feb. 24, 1973, when they fell 41,000 to a total of 220,000, the US Department of Labor reported.

The four-week moving average of claims was 244,500, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 250,750.

CNBC reported the decline...

Legislation could offer retirement options to gig economy workers (The Hill)

A new bill that would permit “multiple employer defined contribution plans,” also referred to as “MEPs” could enable businesses to voluntarily provide retirement benefits to gig economy workers, writes Mario Lopez in an opinion article in The Hill. Lopez is president of the Hispanic Leadership...

Jackson Healthcare names former Trump administration cabinet member to advisory board

Jackson Healthcare, which ranks among the largest US healthcare staffing providers, announced that former US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has been named to its advisory board. Price, who is also a medical doctor, had served as Health and Human Services Secretary in the Trump administration...

75% of staffing firms expect more revenue this year, Bullhorn report says

A new report by staffing software supplier Bullhorn found 75% of staffing and recruiting firms expect more revenue this year than last year.

It also found the top three priorities for staffing firms this year were increasing profitability, cited by 45%; driving top line revenue growth, cited by 43%; and...

Illinois-based staffing firm sells to Cornerstone Staffing Solutions

Arlington Resources Inc., a provider of human resources and accounting/finance staffing, was acquired by Cornerstone Staffing Solutions, a Pleasanton, Calif.-based staffing supplier. The deal was announced by De Bellas & Co. Investment Banking.

Privately held Arlington Resources is based in Rolling...

Engineering majors have highest projected starting salary at $66,521

Engineering majors from the class of 2018 have a projected average starting salary of $66,521, the highest of all majors, according to a report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Computer science graduates are projected to receive the second-highest starting salary at $66,005.

Both...

While 12% say they have been sexually harassed at work, a majority do not report it, CareerBuilder survey finds

A new CareerBuilder survey found that 12% of workers say they have felt sexually harassed at work with 17% of women saying they have and 7% of men. However, the report found that a majority of those who experience harassment, 72%, do not report it.

Those who did not report sexual harassment most often...