• Due to inflation, employees will be allowed to contribute up to $22,500 in 401(k) plans in 2023, up from $20,500 this year. (Those 50 and older may contribute up to $30,000.) Here’s more information from OMA Connections Partner Roetzel.
• While Ohio’s statewide unemployment rate was 4% last month, this map shows the jobless rate varied from as high as 5.5% in Monroe County to as low as 2.5% in Holmes County.
• OMA Connections Partner Fisher Phillips has published this list of questions for employers to use (and avoid) when interviewing job applicants.
• To boost recruitment, several U.S. companies have launched free (or almost-free) college programs for frontline workers, according to reports.
• Political divisions will prevent Congress from taking up immigration reform in the lame-duck period after the election, according to Politico.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Labor has extended the comment period for its proposed rule on classifying independent contractors, moving the deadline from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13. 10/27/2022