Associated Press (06/01/12)

May’s hiring slowdown was broad-based, with half of the 10 major industry groups that the government tracks cutting jobs, while job growth slowed in two others. The hardest hit industry in May was the construction industry: it lost 28,000 jobs—the deepest cuts in two years. Economists say that may partly reflect payback from the mild winter. The leisure and hospitality industry also shed jobs, mostly because of cuts at casinos, museums, and amusement parks. Governments continued to cut workers, losing 13,000 jobs in May, more than the 10,000 shed in April.

Investor’s Business Daily (06/04/12) Jason Ma

The deteriorating global outlook appears likely keep future hiring weak in the wake of stalled job growth in May. Factory activity around the world is decelerating or contracting at a faster pace, threatening to drag down U.S. manufacturing and keep a lid on hiring this year. “The U.S. economy is slowing down because the global economy is slowing,” says Steve Blitz, chief economist at ITG Investment Research.

Conditions for more quantitative easing seem to be coming into place as growth stalls and inflation slips below the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 2% target. But just as Fed chairman Ben Bernanke was skeptical of the winter’s hiring spike, he is likely to be skeptical of the latest skid, says Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat (California) (06/03/12) Cathy Bussewitz

Experts say a jump in temporary staffing typically is the first sign of a recovering economy, and many companies that shed staff during the recession are now turning to temporary employees. However, Robert Eyler of Sonoma State University’s Center for Regional Economic Analysis says temporary jobs are being converted to permanent positions at a slower rate, as economic uncertainty makes employers hesitant to take on permanent employees and the benefits packages and training programs that come with them. In Sonoma County, CA, Nelson Staffing says more temporary employees are being hired in the wine industry, professional services, accounting, finance, tourism, and hospitality. However, fewer clerical jobs are available, and some health care firms are hesitant to hire permanent workers.