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What rurally-based companies can teach us about shrinking labor pools

Jun 21, 2023
A remote corner of the U.S. might offer insight into how companies can work with the labor market they've got.
Rural companies in areas with low populations have to find ways to attract and retain workers.
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Immigration is slowly increasing after a stark pandemic drop

Apr 10, 2023
Here's what that could mean for the labor market — and inflation.
Above, a U.S. naturalization ceremony in Boston on Jan. 5. An uptick in the number of immigrants could help ease persistent labor shortages.
Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Gen Z teens are heading back to the workforce; older Zoomers, not so much

Apr 7, 2023
Labor force participation for 20- to 24-year-olds is lagging. Zoomers whose educations were interrupted by the pandemic are still catching up.
In March, 37.4% of Americans aged 16 to 19 were actively employed or looking for work, according to the Labor Department.
Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images

The class of 2023 is graduating into a challenging job market

Apr 5, 2023
The jobless rate for young workers has jumped since late 2021 and loan repayment is back on the table. Soon-to-be grads are scrambling.
New grads are entering a tougher hiring environment than last year's class. "There are jobs," says Wall Street Journal reporter Lindsay Ellis, but "it is a longer journey than many soon-to-be college grads would like."
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

How low unemployment lifts workers at the bottom

Mar 29, 2023
In "Moving the Needle: What Tight Labor Markets Do for the Poor," authors Newman and Jacobs advocate letting tight labor markets stay that way.
"When unemployment goes below about 4.5%, folks who've been out of work find work and keep work," said author Elisabeth Jacobs.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Wages are still rising. Because employers are still feeling the pressure to pay more.

May 26, 2022
Apple is the latest big employer to announce it's hiking hourly pay. The market for in-person work is especially competitive.
An employee serves customers at an Apple store. Apple increased its hourly starting wage to a minimum of $22.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

4.2 million people quit their jobs in October

Dec 8, 2021
That was down slightly from September, but still high. Some say watch that figure to know what will happen to the economy in 2022.
According to the latest JOLTS report, the accommodation and food services sector had the largest increase in job openings.
Joe Raedle via Getty Images

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In labor crunch, businesses back efforts to clear workers' criminal records

Oct 22, 2021
“Clean slate” laws call for updating court databases and creating algorithms to automatically clear records for minor offenses.
Many officials and activists are trying to modernize the record-clearing process for people with criminal records and ease their path to employment.
Joe Raedle via Getty Images

Consumers face higher prices as businesses pass on costs of shortages

Jun 8, 2021
Higher costs for labor and supplies are increasing price tags.
With pent-up demand now unleashed, many businesses can't find enough labor or supplies to satisfy consumers.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

How a food business tied to the hotel industry is recovering from COVID-19

Apr 20, 2021
“We're not there yet,” said Kurt Loudenback, CEO of Grand Prairie Foods. “But we feel pretty optimistic about 2021.”
As travel demand bounces back, Kurt Loudenback, CEO of a company that makes hotel breakfast food, is optimistic that his business will return to pre-pandemic levels.
Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images