Hudson Highland Group News Release (02/23/12)

Hudson Highland Group Inc. has announced financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011. The company earned revenue of $222.7 million for the fourth quarter, an increase of 1.7% over the fourth quarter of 2010. Net income of $3.3 million compared with net income of $1.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. Revenue for the full year was $933.7 million, an increase of 17.5% from 2010. Net income of $10.9 million for the year compared with net loss of $4.7 million in 2010.

In 2011, Hudson Americas delivered one of its best-performing years, with gross margin increasing 29% compared with 2010. Temporary contracting gross margin for Hudson Americas increased 60 basis points to 22.2% in 2011.

Analysts International Corp. News Release (02/23/12)

Analysts International Corp. has announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011 ended on Dec. 31, 2011. AIC reported fourth quarter revenue of $27.1 million as compared with 2010 fourth quarter revenue of $25.3 million. AIC reported a 2011 fourth quarter net income of $1.3 million as compared with a 2010 fourth quarter net income of $0.9 million.

For fiscal year 2011, AIC reported revenue of $109.1 million compared with $106.7 million in fiscal year 2010. The net income for fiscal 2011 was $3.3 million, compared with a net loss of $0.5 million in the prior year. The fiscal 2011 net income included restructuring charges related to severance and office closures of $0.8 million. Excluding these charges, the company’s net income was $4.1 million in fiscal 2011.

RCM Technologies News Release (02/22/2012)

RCM Technologies Inc. has reported that for the 13-week period ended Dec. 31, 2011, its revenue was $35 million and its net income was $1.1 million. These figures compare to revenue of $36.4 million and net income of $1.1 million for the 13-week period ended Dec. 31, 2010. During the 52-week period ended Dec. 31, 2011, the company’s revenue was $143.8 million, down from $162 million during the prior 52-week period. Its net income was $4.3 million, down from $5.8 million for the previous year.

Inavero News Release (02/23/12)

Portland, OR-based satisfaction research firm Inavero, an ASA corporate partner, announced its 2012 Best of Staffing award lists on Feb. 23, presented in partnership with ASA corporate partner CareerBuilder. The Best of Staffing lists recognize staffing firms that receive remarkable reviews from their clients and the people they help find jobs.

“The staffing industry continues to play a key role in helping to revitalize the economy,” says Eric Gregg, Inavero’s founder and chief executive officer. “Staffing firms give growth-minded organizations a more flexible alternative to recruiting their own employees, letting both the employee and employer determine if the fit is right for a more permanent position. … The Best of Staffing lists are a resource for businesses and talent who are trying to find staffing firms that provide exceptional service.”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (02/23/12)

Employers took 1,434 mass layoff actions in January involving 129,920 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mass layoff events in January increased by 50 from December, while the number of associated initial claims decreased by 15,728.

The manufacturing sector accounted for 25% of mass layoff events in January. The temporary help services industry had 13,692 mass layoff initial claims for the month.

Wall Street Journal (02/24/12) Jeff Bater; Tom Barkley

The number of U.S. workers applying for unemployment benefits remained unchanged last week, but the four-week average is dropping—an indication that the U.S. jobs market is gradually improving. Still, the unemployment rate is likely to stay high through 2012. The Federal Reserve anticipates modest economic growth through the rest of the year. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Feb. 23 that the number of workers drawing unemployment benefits for more than a week fell by 52,000 to 3,392,000 in the week ended Feb. 11.

CNBC News (02/23/12) Patti Domm

During the week ending Feb. 18, jobless claims held steady at 351,000, and continuing claims dropped by 52,000. Barclays Capital economists predict that 225,000 nonfarm jobs were added in February, and the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.1%. Although claims are improving, Credit Suisse economist Jonathan Basile says the unseasonably warm winter may be responsible, especially given that more construction jobs have opened at a time of year when layoffs are common. “I think we’re going to have to get through March, April, and May data to sort out whether this strength in jobless claims is a weather phenomena or a fundamental move,” he says.

Wall Street Journal (02/24/12) Shelly Banjo

Legislation that would make it illegal for companies to discriminate against the unemployed are being considered in more than 12 states, as the percentage of the long-term unemployed has exceeded 40% since December 2009, the highest rate since 1948. Connecticut is considering a bill that would make the unemployed a protected class. Measures proposed in California and Florida would fine companies $1,000 and as much as $10,000, respectively, per violation for discriminating against the unemployed in job postings or hiring decisions. Brookings Institution senior fellow Gary Burtless says companies are wary of hiring people who have been out of work for long periods due to concerns about their skills eroding over time or reasons other managers have not hired them.

Workforce (02/23/12) Roberto Ceniceros

Companies in New York state pay almost five times more in workers’ compensation insurance premium assessments than do companies in other states, according to a report by the Workers’ Compensation Policy Institute. Many states fund their workers’ compensation systems through surcharges on employers, but the average premium assessment among 32 states that impose them is 4.2%. In contrast, companies in New York state pay assessments totaling 20.2% of their premiums, according to the report, “Workers’ Compensation Assessments: The Hidden Tax Confronting Employers and Taxpayers.” Meanwhile, companies in Minnesota, the state with the next highest assessment, pay an 8.9% premium assessment.