Labor Markets Briefs

The US Congress is currently locked in discussions on continuing to fund Federal government operations and whether to either raise or suspend the debt ceiling. We have been here before, and it has always worked out—with more or less pain along the way. Indeed, Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the Federal government through December 3, 2021. What if come December, we find ourselves on the brink once again? Also, what happens if we hit the public debt ceiling?

Comment on August Jobs Report by Gad Levanon, Head of the Labor Market Institute, The Conference Board. Today’s jobs report reflected the effects of both the COVID-19 Delta variant and the severe labor shortage in the US labor market.

Commentary on July US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Report

Comment on June Personal Income & Outlay data and the Q2 2021 Employee Cost Index – Erik Lundh, Principal Economist, The Conference Board & Gad Levanon, Vice President, Labor Markets, The Conference Board

Commentary on June U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Report by Frank Steemers, Senior Economist, The Conference Board

Three new reports suggest that labor shortages are becoming more extreme, having material implications for labor market recovery and short-term inflation prospects.

Commentary on today’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Report by Frank Steemers, Senior Economist, The Conference Board

Despite still-elevated unemployment rates, and 8.2 million persons waiting to be added to payrolls, labor shortages are back. As large segments of the economy continue to open at the same time, and labor supply is constrained, these shortages are likely to remain for the better part of 2021.

The number of jobs in in-person services is still well below prepandemic levels, but the recovery is underway