Tagged: unemployment

As The Economy Slows, Focus On The Skills Of The Future: Ability To Change.

This week we saw US unemployment “tick up” to 4.3% and economists started begging for lower interest rates. For those of us who talk with companies and leaders all day, I would say we’re experiencing what I’d call a normal economic cycle.

The last major recession (not including the Pandemic, which was not a demand ... Read more»

The Churning US Labor Market… And Why We Need “Labor Anthropologists.”

While I’m not formally trained as an economist, I spend so much time with companies HR departments I feel like we are “micro-economics” experts. So in a confusing time of paradoxical data (low unemployment during growing layoffs), let me explain what’s happening.

The US Labor Market Is A Churning Engine

While it’s tempting to think ... Read more»

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Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, And More Jobs. What’s Up With The Economy?

This week we saw the US unemployment rate drop to 3.4%, a 53 year low. Yet many large companies are announcing layoffs. Is this “the big shift” from Tech to Retail, Hospitality, Healthcare, And Travel? Or is this just the new normal: too many jobs and not enough people? In this podcast I’ll explain what’s ... Read more»

Labor Shortage In The Middle Of A Business Slowdown? It All Makes Sense.

Why do we have a labor shortage as we enter an economic slowdown? It’s an interesting paradox.

For the first time I can remember we’re entering a global economic slowdown yet the unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest it’s been in 53 years (3.4%)  There is a shortage of people to take the jobs ... Read more»

What I Learned From The King and Queen Of The Netherlands

People have been talking about the future of work for decades, and it’s always an interesting, controversial, and complicated topic. Well, this week I spoke at a very unique event in Europe that gives us new ideas how to address this large and complex issue.

On November 23 I was honored to address the King ... Read more»

We Are Becoming A PowerSkills Economy

Everyone keeps talking about the economy these days. Interest rates are rising, inflation feels out of control, and there’s a hint of recession in the air. Yet job growth remains strong and unemployment is low. What’s really going on?

After years of study and hundreds of conversations with business leaders, I’ve come to a ... Read more»

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Understanding The PowerSkills Economy And How Technology Makes Work Better

In this podcast I dig into the low unemployment rate and the new role technology plays at work. We’re no longer in a world were tools are used to replace people: our new world of work is far more “human-centered,” giving employers and policy-makers an opportunity to leverage PowerSkills in a very important and strategic ... Read more»

The Confusing Job Market: CEOs and CHROs Seem Baffled

We have entered one of the most confusing job markets in decades. While the unemployment rate continues to drop (3.5% here, 2.4% in Japan), companies are also worried about the slowdown. So they’re “hiring” and “laying off” simultaneously. What a confusing time.

Consider the following data, taken from a recent PWC pulse survey among ... Read more»

What’s Happening With Unemployment? Unfortunately, It’s Pretty Hard To Tell.

We all know the unemployment rate is very high. Overall nearly 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment this year (roughly 1/4 of the workforce), and while some have gone back to work, most stores and offices are still not fully open. But it’s important to know the “rate,” because policymakers and business leaders ... Read more»

We’re Running Out Of Workers. Now What Do We Do?

In all my years as a working professional, I’ve never lived in an economy where “there are not enough workers.” But that’s where we are.

For the next ten years, the term “shortage of talent” is going to be one of the most important topics in business.

Consider a few striking statistics:

  • The fertility rate
... Read more»