"This could be the most competitive job market we've ever experienced. As the market continues to gain momentum in many sectors and unemployment remains at a 17 year low, it's time for employers to up their game in pay, benefits, and perks to attract and retain top talent." - Joanie Courtney, EmployBridge Chief Marketing Officer and President, Professional Division

1. WorkforcePerspectives
August 2018 BLS Report Insights
by Joanie Courtney
Based on July BLS Data

2. Labor Market Highlights
157,000
Number
of jobs
added in
JULY
Unemployment rate
edges down to
3.9%
3.6 Million
Voluntary
Quits
17 YEAR
HIGH
Open Jobs Exceed Number of Job Seekers for the
First Time in Recent History
62.9%
Labor Participation
Rate Holds at
6.6 Million
6.3 Million
Job Seekers
Open Jobs

3. Unemployment
Rate
3.9%
Job
Gains:
157,000
Points of Interest:
• Goods-producing sector added 52,000, while service producing sector added 118,000.
• Strong gains in Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Professional and Business Services (up 51,000).
• While overall jobs declined in Transportation & Warehousing primarily due to the transit sector,
demand for drivers and warehousing personnel continues to exceed available workers.
Construction
Manufacturing
Natural Resources & Mining
Transportation & Warehousing
Financial Activities
Leisure & Hospitality
HealthCare & Social Assistance
Professional & Business Services
33,500
51,000
37,000
3,800
5,000
40,000
19,000
Retail Trade 7,100
GOODS-PRODUCING
SECTOR 52,000
SERVICE-PROVIDING
SECTOR 118.000
1,300

4. Unemployment
Rates
4.2%
JULY 2018
JULY 2018
JULY 2017
JULY 2018
JULY 2017
Manufacturing
Construction
Financial Activities
3.4%
4.9%
6.3%
2.3%
2.3%
JULY 2018
JULY 2017
JULY 2018
JULY 2017
JULY 2018
JULY 2017
Information Services
Professional & Business Services
Transportation & Warehousing
4.2%
4.3%
4.1%
4.6%
4.5%
6.2%
JULY 2017

5. Workforce Confidence on the Rise
Record Numbers Quit to Seek Better Jobs
Consumer
Confidence
at
17YEAR
HIGH
Hourly Pay
GREW
$0.07
in July
to $27.05
• As the economic outlook remains strong, confidence
among the U.S. Workforce is rising.
• For the first time in recent history, there are more open
jobs than job seekers.
• Telling of the current employment market, 3.56 million
people voluntarily quit their jobs in May – the highest
number in 17 years.
• Labor data is bearing out CEOs’ concerns: The biggest
threat to their business is the availability of key skills
according to a PWC study.
• Employers should expect continued upwards pressure on
wages and the need to offer training and recognition to
attract and retain talent in this highly competitive market.
77%
Biggest Threat
to US Business
of CEOs say finding
key skills

6. Are Your Ready for the Tightest
Labor Market in Decades?
Here are the four secrets to winning the labor you need
in single-digit unemployment rates.
#1. Hire Right.
Take a hard look at hiring requirements – especially
those that may knock-out capable people from the very
start. We see many companies today relaxing their hiring
requirements regarding education, years of work
experience and even background screening, to focus on
what they need to get the job done versus what they
want.
Ask yourself: Do you have a GED or high school diploma
criteria? Is it relevant for all the jobs in your facility? Did
you know there are 10.5 million workers in the U.S. with
less than a high school diploma?

7. #2. Pay Fair.
Because of short supply wages are
correcting, more rapidly in certain
markets and sectors, such as
manufacturing.
Ask yourself: Do you know how large
the available applicant pool is in your
city or area? How many competing jobs
are available? What is the going rate for
the skill you’re hiring?
.
#3. Act Fast.
Job applicants are accepting job offers
at an accelerated pace. With 96%
already employed, companies that
don’t quickly move applicants through
the screening and hiring process -- may
be limiting themselves to hiring from
the bottom 1% or less of available
workers.
Ask yourself: Does your current hiring
process take too long from the time a
candidate is identified to the day they
start? Is your onboarding process
successful at helping to get new hires
productive quickly?
In today’s environment, if you haven’t done a competitive wage assessment
customized to your local market in the last three months, you may be at a serious
recruiting disadvantage. Planning ahead will allow you to extend offers more
nimbly, giving you a leg-up on the competition.

8. #4. Treat Well.
Turnover is costly, especially in a tight labor
market that may not offer an abundance of
available, high-performers. Retaining
employees becomes more important than
ever. In addition to offering competitive
wages, skills training, mentoring and
flexible work schedules, will help employers
better retain and engage employees, and
can also help tap into new applicant pools,
such as college students or semi-retirees.
Ask yourself: Are your HR policies regarding
PTO and absenteeism having their desired
affect? Is there an effective system for
recognizing solid performers early-on? Are
you able to clearly define for employees
and candidates why it is great to work for
your organization?
For more tips and intelligence on winning
talent in today’s tight market, contact your
local RemX workforce expert at
1.888.481.3375 or visit www.remx.com.

9. emX
Joanie Courtney
EmployBridge CMO & President, Professional Division
As an employment industry expert, Joanie is often called
upon to discuss the job market, careers, and workplace
trends, and for insight on the talent supply and demand
cycles that impact U.S. employers. She is frequently featured
as a keynote speaker at industry conferences, and her
commentary on the employment market has been featured
on media outlets such as Fox Business Network, Associated
Press, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, PBS, The Wall Street Journal,
U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes.
Watch Joanie’s latest Labor Report TV news segment, go to
https://youtu.be/Il2RTamUTrI
About RemX
RemX is the professional staffing division of EmployBridge, a $3 billion staffing organization with more than 600
offices in the U.S. and Canada. For nearly two decades, RemX has specialized in the recruitment of office
support, finance and accounting, contact center, information technology, and engineering professionals. Using
its proven “Exact Match” methodology, RemX matches qualified talent with the right job opportunities on a
temporary, contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire basis.