Responding to EEOC’s Criminal History Guidance—ASAPro Webinar Next Month

Headline News

ManpowerGroup Reports 3rd Quarter 2012 Results
ManpowerGroup News Release (10/19/12)

ManpowerGroup today reported that earnings per diluted share for the three months ended Sept. 30 were 79 cents compared with 97 cents in the prior year period. Net earnings in the quarter were $63.1 million compared with $79.6 million a year earlier. U.S. revenues declined by 8%, 7% on a same day basis, from the same period in 2011. U.S. permanent recruitment fees were up 7% over the prior year.

Revenues from the U.S. totaled $760.8 million for the quarter, compared with $828.9 million reported for the same period in 2011. Operating profit for the U.S. stood at $24.5 million for the quarter, compared with $32.1 million for the same quarter in 2011. Revenues from the U.S. totaled $2.26 billion for the nine months ended Sept. 30, compared with $2.37 billion reported for the same period in 2011. Operating profit for the U.S. stood at $39.1 million for the nine-month period, compared with $68.0 million for the same period in 2011.

“We are entering a prolonged period of soft economic conditions,” says Jeff Joerres, ManpowerGroup chairman and chief executive officer. However, he noted that the secular changes that have been driving growth are still occurring. “Companies are relying on the agility model and using us as a large part of that.”

Robert Half International Reports Third-Quarter Financial Results
Robert Half International News Release (10/18/12)

Robert Half International Inc. reported net income of $57.7 million on revenues of $1.03 billion for the third quarter ended Sept. 30. The $1.03 billion in revenues is a reported 5% increase over last year. On a same-day constant currency basis, U.S. temporary and consultant staffing revenues were up 11.4% and permanent placement revenues were up 16.7%. For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011, net income was $107.3 million on revenues of $2.80 billion.

“For the ninth consecutive quarter, U.S. staffing revenues saw double-digit, year-over-year growth rates,” says Harold M. Messmer Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Robert Half. “In addition, global operating income grew by 31% with higher gross margins.”

Seek Careers/Staffing Acquires Minnesota Firm
Milwaukee Business Journal (10/18/12) Jeff Engel

Grafton, WI-based Seek Careers/Staffing Inc. has acquired Minnesota-based Brigham Group Staffing. Brigham has branches in Bloomington, MN, and Baldwin, WI. Jennifer Brigham, founder and chief executive officer of the Brigham Group, will serve as Seek’s vice president of marketing.

Seek now has 13 physical branches and three virtual offices in Wisconsin and one branch in Minnesota. Seek services include staffing candidates in administration, light industrial, and skilled trades.

The Hidden Indicator Pointing to Bad News for Jobs
Washington Post (10/19/12) Neil Irwin

Temporary employment is one of the better predictors of what the job market will do in the months ahead, and recent trends in the category point toward even slower job creation in the final months of the year than the sluggish hiring that has been evident through 2012 so far. Since 1990, the change in temporary employment over a three month period has a 77% correlation with overall job growth in the ensuing three months. Temporary help employment has flattened out in the last two months, even declining by 2,000 jobs in September. In the first six months of the year, by contrast, the sector added an average of 21,000 jobs a month. If the historical relationship holds up, the weak growth in the third quarter would predict that overall job growth in the final three months of 2012 will be only 72,000 jobs a month.

ASA for You

Has the guidance recently issued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about employers’ use of candidates’ criminal history left you wondering about how to comply? Don’t miss the ASAPro Webinar “How Employers Are Responding to the EEOC’s Criminal History Guidance,” Thursday, Nov. 1, 3–4 p.m. Eastern time. During this program, Gerald L. Maatman Jr., Esq., and Pamela Q. Devata, Esq., of Seyfarth Shaw LLP will tell you what information you should consider when making employment decisions, how staffing companies are following EEOC guidance, and which steps you can take to comply with the regulations.

ASAPro Webinars are $295 for nonmembers and qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. Join ASA and enjoy ASAPro Webinars for FREE.