September Jobs Slow as Wage Growth Holds
The government shutdown has frozen the official BLS employment report and other crucial datasets, increasing reliance on high-frequency, private data such as ADP, Challenger and Indeed.
While job postings have moderated across many sectors, this shift reflects a recalibration rather than a crisis. Employers are taking a more measured approach to hiring, which can create space for more strategic placements and long-term workforce planning. For new entrants, including recent graduates and those early in their careers, this environment encourages a focus on skill-building and targeted job searches that align with evolving industry needs. Although mobility has slowed, it also signals a period of consolidation during which companies are reassessing their roles and talent strategies. This can lead to more thoughtful hiring decisions and better alignment between candidates and opportunities.
If you’re responsible for driving employee engagement and performance, you already know that recognition is a powerful tool. But how do you build a recognition budget that’s impactful and aligned with your company’s overall strategy? Our eBook, Best Practices for Building Employee Recognition Budgets, dives into that question, and offers a practical roadmap to help you build a recognition program that delivers measurable results.
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Cooling Jobs Market in August Fuels a Stable Growth Path
The August labor market report reflects a cooling U.S. economy, with job creation slowing to 22,000, levels reminiscent of the early pandemic recovery. While this marks a deceleration from July, it also signals a potential turning point where the labor market may be stabilizing after months of volatility. Amid signs of economic stagnation, the modest job gains suggest resilience in key sectors and offer policymakers a clearer view of where targeted support may be most effective moving forward.
Employee optimism is increasingly vital in today’s workplace, especially as trust in institutions continues to decline. Our latest research brief, What Makes Employees Optimistic About Their Future with Your Organization?, highlights how optimism shapes employee engagement, productivity and retention, offering data-driven insights into what drives employees to feel positive about their future with an organization.
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