Economic activity rose slightly in most Federal Reserve Districts and expectations for growth rose moderately, according to the Federal Reserve Beige Book report released Dec. 4. Employment levels were flat or up only slightly across districts.

“Business contacts expressed optimism that demand will rise in coming months,” according to the report.

Those contacted for the Beige Book report expected employment to remain steady or rise slightly over the next year, but many were cautious in their optimism about any pickup in hiring. Wage growth softened to a modest pace. Still, job and wage growth for entry-level positions and skilled trades were exceptions, rising robustly and expected to grow further in the next year.

Staffing firms contacted in the Boston district noted that hiring demand weakened amid a combination of election-related uncertainty and ongoing rightsizing. Still, there were no major layoffs reported in the Boston district. The overall hiring outlook in the Boston district was cautious given uncertainty over the direction of the economy.

The New York district reported that demand for workers softened slightly. The presidential election had led to a pause in decision-making.

Staffing contacts in the Philadelphia district reported steady demand for their services with little wage pressure. They generally described wages of $13 to $14 per hour as an effective minimum for their client firms.

In the Dallas district, employment was flat to down in October but increased moderately in November. Job gains were concentrated in professional and business services, healthcare, leisure and hospitality, retail, and manufacturing.

The full Beige Book report is available online.