labor

More Employers More Are Likely to Hire in Second Quarter

The nation's employers are slowly becoming more positive about the economy, with a greater number of businesses planning to add jobs in the second quarter and fewer planning layoffs, according to a new survey released Tuesday by Manpower. Among the more than 18,000 employers polled in its latest survey, Milwaukee-based Manpower found 16% of companies expect to increase staff levels during the three-month period that begins April 1, up from 14% during the first quarter. Meanwhile, just 6% of employers expect to lay off workers, a decline from 10% during the first three months of the year.

Highest U.S. Underemployment Rates: Illinois, California and Michigan

Unemployment has been slipping, according to a new U.S. Labor Department report Friday. But what about underemployment? According to a new Gallup poll released Friday, national underemployment averaged 19% last year, and Illinois, California and Michigan had the highest rates.

Former Northwest Employees Sue Delta Over Pay Discrepancy

A half-dozen Delta Air Lines flight attendants sued the carriers for what they say is discrimination in the form of smaller profit-sharing paychecks for former Northwest Airlines employees, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

The Best and Worst Job Markets in the U.S.

North Dakota topped Gallup's list of best places to find jobs last year, followed by other states rich in natural resources, such as South Dakota and Alaska. Meanwhile, Nevada, New Jersey and California were the worst states for job hunters.

People@Work: Wisconsin Picks the Wrong Scapegoat for Its Budget Woes

The notion that somehow public workers' pay packages are breaking the state budget just don't hold up. These workers' entire compensation package -- salary, health care, pensions, etc. -- make up a tiny fraction of Wisconsin's spending.

State Governments Are Just Adding to Labor's Woes

American labor unions have been in decline for a half-century now. About the only large unions still growing have been those in the public sector. Until now. Cash-strapped states are attacking unions where it hurts by trying to strip them of the right to collectively bargain.

The New 65 Is 70: Retirement Age Shifts Upward

Almost a quarter of Americans and Canadians say they expect to work past the age of 70, and 6% say they'll likely retire after their 80th birthday -- two years longer than the nations' life expectancy. That's according to a recent Nielsen survey, and it's not just a North American trend.

Public Opinion of Unions Remains Near Quarter-Century Low

U.S. public opinion of labor unions rose slightly in the past year, though remains far below 2007 levels, as Americans continue to question organized labors' effect on U.S. productivity, according to a Pew Research report released Thursday.

Illegal Immigrants: Moving to America's Center

Illegal immigrant populations are shrinking in New York, Florida and the Mountain West state as undocumented workers relocate to states that offer more promise of finding work, such as Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. And overall, the drop in immigration has stabilized.

Approval Ratings Rise for Obama and Congress

Approval ratings for both President Barack Obama and Congress have reached their highest levels in more than a year, according to a Harris Interactive poll released Monday.

People@Work: Construction Job Growth Is Slowly Rebuilding

New forecasts show that the worst may be over for the construction industry, which was hit harder by the Great Recession than any other sector, as construction projects slowly resume. Some 27% of construction firms say they plan to add staff this year, while only 20% plan to cut jobs.

Why Jobs are Essential to the Economy

Americans who are unemployed or underemployed are three times as likely to fall behind on their bills as those who are fully employed, according to a Gallup Poll released Tuesday.

Well-Educated Women Pay a High Price to Have Kids

Highly skilled women will lose about a quarter of a million dollars, or as much as a third of their lifetime earnings, by choosing to have a child, making the prospect of raising a family a far more expensive one for college grads than their less-educated counterparts, a new study shows.

United Auto Workers Push to Unionize Foreign-Owned U.S. Auto Factories

The United Auto Workers union has been bleeding members, with fewer than 400,000 at the end of 2009. With a purportedly more collaborative attitude, the group plans to unionize foreign auto manufacturers with factories in the U.S.

QE2 Continues: Fed Finds Some Economic Improvement

The U.S. economy has strengthened, but not enough for the government to pare down its bond-buying program, according to the latest Fed minutes. In late 2010, investments rose and the job market improved -- but the housing market remained depressed.