October Sees Return of Private Sector Job Growth
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 Reuters.
Despite a challenging backdrop and another month of the government shutdown, October’s gain of 42,000 private sector jobs signals a hopeful shift in labor market momentum. This marks the first positive movement since July, suggesting that employers may be regaining confidence and beginning to stabilize after months of uncertainty. Steady wage growth of 4.5% year-over-year further reinforces this resilience, indicating that businesses remain willing to invest in talent and maintain competitive compensation, even amid cautious hiring trends.
In September, the HRO Today Association hosted another installment of its Third Thursday webinar series, featuring insights from Jeff Gelinas, President of Employee and Consumer Engagement & Incentives and Darren Findley, President, Recruitment Solutions of Engage2Excel. The session explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the HR landscape and what it means for the future of work.
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Employee recognition remains one of the most effective ways to boost engagement, morale and retention. However, as today’s workforce spans five generations, from Traditionalists to Gen Z, organizations are realizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer effective. Each generation brings different values, expectations and styles of communication to the workplace, including how they prefer to be recognized.
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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.
