HR Roundup: U.S. Manufacturing Hiring Slows
- The long-anticipated cooling of the labor market seems to have begun as new federal data show 694,000 U.S. manufacturing job openings in February — the lowest level in two years (but still well above pre-pandemic levels).
- In February, manufacturing hires (422,000) were about 50% lower than a year earlier.
- The National Association of Manufacturers’ latest Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey finds 46.8% of respondents say their company offers flexible scheduling when possible, including a compressed workweek (29.7%) and the ability to swap or split shifts (12.2%).
- Pew says opponents of the four-day week — and even some supporters — question whether a one-size-fits-all approach would benefit all employees and firms.
- After recent action by the NLRB, OMA Connections Partner Calfee advises employers to consider the employee(s) at issue before offering severance agreements.
- Fisher Phillips has published its list of options for manufacturers seeking to hire foreign nationals.
- Gallup suggests three broad strategies to help employers address “psychosocial risks” at the workplace.
- Data show Americans 55 and older are the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. The Wall Street Journal reports some companies are recruiting older workers based on the premise that “age equals a stronger work ethic.”
In other news, obesity is keeping more than 32,000 Ohioans out of the workforce, according to a Buckeye Institute study. This as nearly half of Ohioans (46.7%) are considered obese, per a new analysis. 4/6/2023
