3.7%

• Leisure and Hospitality: + 8,000
• Education and Health Services: + 61,000
• Health Care and Social Assistance: + 50,500
• Retail Trade: - 5,800
• Professional and Business Services: + 51,000
• Information: + 2,000
• Transportation and Warehousing: + 23,900
• Government: + 33,000
• Manufacturing: + 17,000
• Construction:  + 21,000

Is Your Current Profession Related to Your College Degree?

The Results Are In: The Most Shocking Interview Behaviors

RefreshLeadership.com – July 10, 2019
In a recent Refresh Leadership poll, we asked our readers about the most shocking interview behaviors they’ve witnessed, and a few of them may surprise you. "I was interviewing a registered nurse who ate through the entire interview," wrote one respondent. "First, a banana ... then, a jar of peanuts ... then, an apple! All while I was asking her questions. At the conclusion of the interview, she handed me her banana peel, apple core, and empty peanut jar to throw away."

Along with adding their own shocking stories, respondents were also able to choose multiple answers to the question "Which of these behaviors have you witnessed from a job candidate during an interview?" The results are as follows:

• Showing up late – 85%
• Inappropriate clothing – 83%
• Inappropriate language – 49%
• Eating or chewing gum – 48%
• Responding to text messages – 39%
• Answering a phone call – 37%
• Bringing a child into the interview – 31%
• Bringing a friend into the interview – 31%
• Bringing a parent into the interview – 26%
• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol – 24%

"An interview is an opportunity to show your future employer your full potential," said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express. "If you don't show you care about the interview or respect the time and influence of the person who will hire you, no one will believe you'll care about doing a good job. If you answer a phone call during an interview, you might as well tell the caller you didn't get the job, because it's a pretty safe bet you won't. Interviewers need to be self-aware, too. In this tight labor market, the smallest thing could turn off a qualified candidate, and that's not something you can afford."

Respondents were asked, "How often do you change the passwords for your work devices?" Forty-nine percent say they change their passwords only when told to do so. While requirements to change passwords at regular intervals are common in the workplace, Microsoft recently announced that its newest software will no longer have "expiring" passwords, saying that other practices like multi-factor authentication are more important. Almost one quarter, 24%, say they change passwords quarterly. Twelve percent change them monthly and 5% change every six months. Four percent admit they never change their passwords, while 3% change when they find out their accounts are compromised. Another 1% say "yearly," and 1% say "weekly."

Respondents were also asked whether they had ever had a password-protected account "hacked," and 76% say they have not. When creating a password, Express Director of Infrastructure Don Holt emphasizes the importance of choosing one that is at least 10 characters long and includes numbers, lowercase letters, uppercase letters and symbols. According to cyber-attack prevention company thycotic, a password constructed using this criteria, ex: "%ZBGbv]8g?,” would take 289,217 years to crack on a modern computer.

“It has been widely reported that companies with high engagement perform better financially, are more productive, have lower turnover and greater customer satisfaction,” said Marcus Buckingham, head of people and performance research at the ADP Research Institute. “Our research found that working on a team—regardless of demographics, work status, gig worker or non-gig worker—is the common thread to ensuring a productive and engaged workforce.”

According to the data, the United Arab Emirates had the highest percentage of engagement with 26%, while the U.S. and Canada had 17% of a fully engaged workforce.

The survey also revealed that employees who trust their leaders are 12 times more likely to be engaged, and those with advanced degrees are more fully engaged.

Temporary Employment Growth Rises in June

Staffing Industry Analysts – July 8, 2019
The U.S. temporary help service industry increased by 4,300 jobs in June, as the temporary penetration rate was little changed at 2.01%. May’s temporary jobs gain was revised to 12,700. This was a year-over-year increase of 1.31% in the number of temp jobs. The temporary penetration rate is often an indication of the overall health of the economy.

The unemployment rate at the college level, frequently used as an estimate of professional employment, was unchanged at 2.1%.

“Headline numbers from the last two jobs reports have suggested steady growth in temporary staffing employment, but these gains have been more than offset by downward revisions to prior months,” said Tony Gregoire, research director at Staffing Industry Analysts. “In fact, temporary staffing employment has lost 22,000 jobs since December as the economy has cooled.”

Employment Trends Index Declined in June

The Conference Board – July 8, 2019
After rising in May, the Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) declined to 109.51 in June, from a downwardly revised 111.22 in May. Year-over-year, the index has grown 0.6%.

The decrease can be attributed to negative readings from three of the eight index components, including (in order from the largest contributor to the smallest): “Percentage of Respondents Who Say They Find ‘Jobs Hard to Get,’” “Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance,” and “Percentage of Firms With Positions Not Able to Fill Right Now.”

According to the Conference Board, the index “filters out noise” to show underlying trends more clearly.

“The Employment Trends Index experienced a big drop in June, but this was primarily driven by a large negative contribution from one component, an increase in the percentage of respondents who say they find ‘Jobs Hard to Get’ in The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Survey,” said Gad Levanon, Chief Economist, North America, at The Conference Board. “This marks the fourth largest monthly negative contribution in the series history, which is potentially the result of noise rather than a more significant signal. We therefore interpret this month’s large decline in the ETI with caution. With the US economy slowing a little, but still projected to remain above its 2% long-term trend, we expect job growth to remain strong enough to continue tightening the labor market and draw more people off the sidelines.”

Consumer Confidence Declines to 2-Year Low

Bloomberg – June 25, 2019
Amid trade tensions, U.S. consumer confidence fell in June to lowest level since September 2017. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 121.5, down from 131.3 in May and below previous Bloomberg forecasts of a 131 reading. The Present Situation Index, which shows current views on business and labor conditions, decreased from 170.7 in May to 162.6 in June. The short-term outlook of consumers also decreased as the Expectations Index fell from 105 in May to 94.1 in June.

The report also found that 44% of respondents felt jobs were currently plentiful, while 16.4% said jobs were hard to get.

“The escalation in trade and tariff tensions earlier this month appears to have shaken consumers’ confidence,” Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said in a statement. “Although the index remains at a high level, continued uncertainty could result in further volatility in the index and, at some point, could even begin to diminish consumers’ confidence in the expansion.”

US Consumer Prices Continue to Rise

Wall Street Journal – July 11, 2019 
Consumer prices in the U.S. increased in May, signaling a possible stabilization in U.S. inflation after a season of slight trepidation.

After rising by 0.1% in May, the consumer price index continued to rise by 0.1% in June, as core prices rose by 0.3%, its largest gain since January 2018. Year-over-year growth was 1.6%. The rise was driven by increasing prices for rent, apparel, and used vehicles, offsetting decreases in food and energy.

Excluding food and energy, consumer prices were up 2.1% over June 2018. Along with prices, wages are up 0.2% over May, and 1.5% year over year.

The Federal Reserve uses the consumer price index when making decisions that affect inflation; however, core inflation is up only 1.6%, a decrease from 2% in December and lower than the Fed’s 2% target rate.