Indeed.com has released their February trends graph for job openings by industry. The news is bleak which is to be expected on the back of all of the layoffs that occured in February. Nonetheless it is a great tool for understanding where to point your job search.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Best and Worst Job, February 2009, Job Openings, Recession, Unemployment, Work
CareerBuilder Network was the No. 1 online career development destination in January 2009, with 20.8 million unique visitors. Yahoo! HotJobs and Monster took the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, with 11.7 million and 9.5 million unique visitors, respectively (see Table 1).
“With the current unstable economy and rising unemployment rate, more people are heading online to search for jobs, and interestingly not just the unemployed. The career development category also grew 20 percent year-over-year among at work users, suggesting that many people are trying to build up their resumes and get a sense of the job market before the next potential layoff,” said Chuck Schilling, research director, agency & media, Nielsen Online.
Although if you want to access the best job board on the planet, click here – you may be surprised.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Careerbuilder.com, HotJobs, Job Boards, Job Search, Monster.com, Nielsen Online, Online, Top 10
Sometimes employees walk out with more than their walking papers when they clock out for the last time.
A study by the Ponemon Institute found that more than 59 percent of those surveyed kept corporate data after leaving their jobs. The survey, which was sponsored by Symantec, included responses from 945 adult employees who had lost or left a job in 2008.
The most commonly stolen pieces of information were e-mail lists and non-financial business information, taken by 65 and 45 percent, respectively, of the respondents who took something. Thirty-nine percent admitted taking customer information such as contact lists.
Among those who stole data, more than half said they did so because they thought it would be useful in the future – for example, at their new job. Roughly 60 percent of those who kept data had an unfavorable view of their company, and thirty-seven percent of the survey’s participants said they left because they were fired. Thirty-eight percent, meanwhile, said they simply found a new job, while another 21 percent left because they were expecting layoffs.
Are they employees from hell? Maybe. But either way, Larry Ponemon, chairman of the Ponemon Institute, found the statistics surprising.
“I’m not sure that malicious intent and future employment are mutually exclusive,” he said. “Clearly the responses show that obtaining future employment was a significant motivating factor, but when we see a high percentage of individuals who took information knowing full well they were acting in violation of company policy, that hints strongly at the presence of malice.”
Sixty-one percent of the employees who stole business information took it in the form of paper documents or hard files. The next most popular method was downloading data onto a CD or DVD, which was done by 53 percent. Just fewer than 40 percent did it by sending documents as attachments to a personal e-mail account.
Equally troubling from an IT security perspective is that almost a quarter of the participants had the ability to access data even after they left the company, with 32 percent of these respondents admitting they accessed the system and their credentials worked.
“Most of this data loss is preventable,” said Rob Greer, senior director of product management for Symantec Data Loss Prevention. “While the majority of data loss is still due to accidental insider actions or broken business processes, this survey highlights preventable issues exacerbated by a slowing economy.”
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Data Thieves, Disgruntled Employees, Laid-off Workers, Layoffs, Poneman Institute
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Engineering, Job Openings, Layoffs, Recession, Workforce Metrics
Click to enlarge.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged December 2008, Layoffs, North America, Unemployment, Unemployment Rate by State, US, USA
This is as of January 2009.
Corporations are mistaken to think that employees who survive layoffs will “work harder out of gratitude,” according to a study by Leadership IQ. In fact, by their own admission, employees say their companies should expect less from them going forward.
The Washington-based research company says nearly three-quarters of employees who held on to their jobs amid downsizing acknowledge that their individual productivity is declining, while nearly seven in 10 say their company’s product or service lines are in decline since the layoffs. The research is based on interviews with about 4,200 workers at roughly 320 companies that have enacted layoffs during the past six months.
Other key findings:
• 87 percent are less likely to recommend their company as a good place to work.
• 64 percent say their colleagues’ productivity is declining as well.
• 81 percent claim customer service is falling.
• 77 percent “see more errors and mistakes being made.”
• 61 percent forecast “worse” prospects for their company’s future.
Coupled with an earlier Leadership IQ report, this paints a bleak picture for talent-hungry companies. It reveals that 47 percent of high-performing employees are actively seeking other jobs, compared with 18 percent of low performers and 25 percent of middle performers.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Economic Crisis, Employee Morale, Layoffs, Leadership IQ
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Harvard Business School, Information Technology, Intern, IT Retention, Salaries
The budget knife is out, and most human resources professionals are bracing for the worst. A poll released by the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Virginia, found that 70 percent of HR pros expect their organizations to enact cost-cutting measures if the U.S. economy continues its descent. A reported 55 percent say hiring freezes also are likely. The survey also found that companies are examining various options pertaining to employee investments and retirement planning, including changes to 401(k)s and similar programs. “In addition to organization-wide budget cuts and hiring freezes, HR professionals said cutting bonuses (50 percent), freezing wage increases (45 percent) and conducting layoffs (39 percent) are “likely” actions that might be taken should economic conditions worsen,” according to a statement released by SHRM.
The study also said: “On the flip side, respondents said restructuring executive compensation and/or severance packages (82 percent), and outsourcing some business functions (79 percent) were only ‘somewhat’ or ‘not as likely’ to be taken under the same circumstances.” The poll compiled the responses of 450 people.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Economic Crisis, Hiring Freeze, Report, Retention, SHRM, Study
LinkUp.com released a report that provides a unique snapshot of the US Job Market. LinkUp monitors over 11,000 corporate and employer websites nationwide. After analyzing the number of new jobs and total jobs that each company posted in October and November 2008, LinkUp accurately presents labor market statistics by state and by industry.
Looking at the numbers by state, only 18 showed an increase in new jobs between October 2008 and November, with Maine, Alaska, and Oklahoma showing the biggest increase of new jobs. Twenty states increased in total number of job openings. On the other hand, 30 states saw the number of new jobs decrease from October while 29 states experienced a decrease in the number of total job listings. Indiana, Connecticut, and Tennessee suffered the biggest
losses in both categories. In total, the number of new job listings on company sites dropped 5 percent from 1.2 million to 1.14 million, while the number of total job listings dropped 4 percent from 1.5 million to 1.44 million.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Employment, Job Growth, Job Market, Linkup, North America, Unemployment, United States
In a survey in the field from November 5 to November 10, executives from around the world indicate that many companies are surviving the global economic turmoil fairly well. And though executives are quite pessimistic about broad economic trends, some say their companies are finding opportunities. Respondents also spell out what they think governments should do to help.
In a survey launched the day after the US presidential election, executives from around the world indicate that they expect 2009 to open with a global recession and continuing high volatility in equity markets. They also believe that financial markets will remain more stalled than liquid. And a majority expect their country’s GDP to contract next year—most predict by 2 percent or less.
Nonetheless, many executives say their companies are holding their ground, though some are hard hit. Half of all respondents expect their companies’ profits to stay stable or increase this fiscal year, and some are finding opportunity in turmoil—by entering markets where competitors have weakened, hiring talent that would otherwise not be available, and seeking M&A opportunities. Smaller and private companies generally see themselves in a somewhat better position than larger and public ones. Most companies across the board have not sought external funding since mid-September because they haven’t needed it, and, although few expect to hire in the rest of 2008, only about a third expect to decrease their workforce.
Looking ahead, executives say that governments should take some limited, globally coordinated steps on regulation and fiscal policy, invest in infrastructure, and support a range of industries beyond the financial sector.
For a PDF version and to read the complete report click here.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Global Workers, Global Workforce Trends, Workforce Trends
Just over half of American adults (53%) say that they are currently employed with full or part-time work. Among those who are employed, 62% could be considered “Networked Workers” who use the internet or email at their workplace.
Networked Workers are not only connected while at work, but they are also more likely than average Americans to have access to a wide array of technological assets outside of the workplace. They are more likely to own cell phones, desktop and laptop computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Among Networked Workers:
Do you think these numbers will change as Gen Y continues to enter the workforce?
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Cell Phones, Email, Internet, Networked Workers, Working Americans
To help identify where skills gaps and shortages exist, respondents were asked to select the top three job functions within their organizations where they feel ongoing training and development is most essential. Those with managerial responsibilities ranked highest, but a number of other roles were highlighted too – as outlined in SkillSoft’s Global Training Index below:
SkillSoft’s Global Training Index:
| Most in need of training
(US) |
Most in need of training
(UK) |
Most in need of training (Rest of Europe) | ||
| 1. Supervisors (70%) | 1. Line Managers (76.3%) | 1. Supervisors (54.3%) | ||
| 2. Customer Service Team (54.2%) | 2. Supervisors (69.9%) | 2. Line Managers/IT Team (54%) | ||
| 3. IT Team (52.5%) | 3. Senior Managers (66.2%) | 3. Senior Managers (51.7%) | ||
| 4. Operations Team (52.3%) | 4. IT Team (61.4%) | 4. Sales Team (49.9%) | ||
| 5. Senior Managers (52%) | 5. HR Team (57.9%) | 5. Customer Service Team (48.2%) | ||
| 6. Line Managers (51.4%) | 6. Customer Service Team (57%) | 6. HR Team (46.4%) | ||
| 7. Management/Exec Team (48.7%) | 7. Operations Team (56.9%) | 7. Management/Executive Team (45.4%) | ||
| 8. HR Team (48.6%) | 8. Sales Team (55.3%) | 8. Marketing Team (44.5%) | ||
| 9. Administration Team (46.1%) | 9. Health & Safety Team (55.2%) | 9. Operations Team (41.8%) | ||
| 10. Sales Team (45.1%) | 10. Management/Executive Team (54.1%) | 10. Finance Team (39.5%) |
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Employee Training, Global Index, Manager Training, Most Needed
Recruiting Responsibility
Percentage of companies reporting that HR Department have sole responsibility for recruiting tasks, 2008.
Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Background Checking, Drug Screen, Recruiting, Temporary Employment
Reviewing Offers
Percentage of college students reporting with whom they review their jobs offers, by gender, 2008
| Source | Female | Male |
| Parents | 72.3% | 66.0% |
| Relative other than parent | 29.8 | 28.6 |
| Friend | 61.2 | 58.9 |
| Faculty | 27.7 | 27.9 |
| Career center | 15.7 | 17.7 |
| No one; decided on my own | 16.9 | 21.0 |
| Note: Survey of 19,000 college students | ||
| Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers | ||
Online Help Wanted Ads
National and regional total-ads rate and new-ads rate, June 2007 and 2008
| Total-ads rate | New-ads rate | |||
| June ’07 | June ’08 | June ’07 | June ’08 | |
| U.S. | 2.8 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| New England | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 3.1 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| South Atlantic | 2.9 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| East North Central | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| East South Central | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| West North Central | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| West South Central | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Mountain | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pacific | 3.8 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 |
| Note: Ads rates are calculated as a percentage of the most currently available | ||||
| Source: The Conference Board | ||||
More than 40 percent of employers have taken steps to help employees deal with higher gas prices this year, up from 25 percent in 2005, according to a poll on HR.BLR.com and Compensation.BLR.com.
The combined results of this year’s poll on the two sites show that 43 percent of employers have tried at least one tactic to assist employees in response to higher has prices.
By contrast, just 25 percent of respondents to a similar HR.BLR.com poll conducted in 2005 said they had taken one or more steps to help employees with rising gas prices.The 2008 survey, which included a total of 436 respondents, found that 57 percent of employers had yet to take any action to help employees in response to higher gas prices.
Higher gas prices can affect employers’ recruitment and retention efforts. In a previous poll by Compensation.BLR.com, for example, 31 percent of HR professionals reported that an employee had left their company because of rising gas prices in the past 12 months.
A recent poll by Robert Half International had found that among employees whose commute has been affected by higher gas prices, 30 percent said they were looking for jobs closer to home. Twenty-five percent of respondents said they were seeking higher compensation to offset higher commuting costs.
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Posted in Workforce Statistics
Tagged Age of Labor Force, Attracting Candidates, College, Recruiting, Retention, Workforce Metrics
