This Week's Herman Trend Alert Talent Production and Attraction in 2015

The Herman Trend Alert June 11, 2008 Unemployment--the Numbers Behind the Numbers The latest jump in the United States unemployment statistics has finally prompted us to speak out about what is really happening in the US labor marketplace and what effects these changes will have on our trading partners around the globe. Last Friday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the unemployment rate is the highest since October 2004; this 10 percent boost was the biggest percentage point gain in 33 years. The Payroll Survey of employers is the basis for this increase. To its credit, the BLS does include in its notes: "in the establishment (payroll) survey, estimates for the most recent 2 months are based on substantially incomplete returns". This increase in unemployment continues to mask the real situation. Looking at the BLS' Household Survey, in the month of May, the national unemployment percentages among adult men and women were 4.9 and 4.8. At the same time, the rate for teenagers, ages 16 to 19 jumped from 15.4 in April to 18.7 in May, an increase of 21.4 percent. While part of this increase is due to high school and community college graduations, these new job seekers do not account for this huge increase. Rather, we believe that something else is happening. We believe that employers are holding on to their skilled, experienced workers and those with lower skill levels are considered more expendable and easier to hire back---as employees or contractors---when conditions improve. What these data reflect is that the US has a real problem with its under-resourced schools---schools that are either not engaging students enough to keep them there or preparing them for the job market. As a nation, we need to wake up to our workforce development challenges, including the lack of connection between employers and the community and technical colleges. For our friends abroad, these data also mask our critical skilled labor shortages that present real opportunities for them. Lacking the trained, skilled labor here will mean location of future facilities in places like Brasil and Southeast Asia, where there are pools of skilled workers, capable of handling work that US employees can not. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." IS YOUR EMPLOYER AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®? Our effective, onsite seminars, workshops, and consulting can help you get there. We offer 1-, 2-, 3-hour, and full-day programs to help you communicate what it takes to become an Employer of Choice® and inspire your folks to get it done. In the future, being an Employer of Choice® will not be optional. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 to arrange a no-obligation conference call. Email info@EmployerOfChoice.com for more information. Or order the electronic version of the Employer of Choice book on your desktop for only $17.80 @ http://hermangroup.com/store/books_all.html#2. EMPLOYERS AND JOBSEEKERS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS Advertise at or attend VetJobs Virtual Career Fairs. VetJobs, the top veterans' job board, and PSI, the premier diversity job fair producer, are teaming up to launch these VeteransCONNECT events. Early employer registration is now open with employer loading by February 15th. Candidate loading begins March 1st. They anticipate 25-30 employers and have an attendee goal of 2,000 skilled jobseekers. Promoted extensively, early registration for this event begins is open NOW. To register or request additional information, please contact VetJobs at 877-838-5627 or e-mail info@vetjobs.com; they will forward an electronic flyer right away. Employers: Mention the Herman Trend Alert to receive a Bonus. CALCULATE THE HIGH COST OF YOUR EMPLOYEE TURNOVER With our Bliss-Gately tool, you can calculate the many hard and soft costs, down to the last penny. Great for justifying your investments in retention! At only $249/computer or $999 for a 6-site license, it is a real bargain! Visit http://www.hermangroup.com/store/software.html to order yours today! Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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