December 7, 2012

BLS: Staffing Adds Jobs in November

Published December 07, 2012 ■ Announcement

Seasonally adjusted employment data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that staffing employment increased by 18,000 jobs from October to November (up 0.7%). In a year-to-year comparison, temporary help employment for the month was 7.7% higher than in November 2011. Over the previous 12 months, the temporary help industry has added an average of 15,200 per month to the economy.

Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that the staffing industry added 9,800 jobs (up 0.4%) from October to November. On a year-to-year basis, there were 6.7% more staffing employees in November than in the same month in 2011.

“It is still a tough employment market, but for job seekers, December is one of the best times of the year to look for work,” says Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “There’s a lot less competition, and companies with money in their budgets for new staff in 2013 are interviewing right now.”

Overall U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 146,000 jobs in November. Since July, the economy has added an average of 158,000 jobs per month—a slightly higher average rate than the 146,000 seen in the first six months of the year.

Employment growth was mostly driven by new job creation in retail trade (+53,000), professional and business services (+43,000), and health care (+20,000). Nearly 42% of employment growth in professional and business services may be attributed to job creation in temporary help services.

Employment declines in the economy were mostly noted in construction (–20,000) and manufacturing (–7,000). Employment in other major industries, including mining and logging, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and government, showed little change from October to November. “Hurricane Sandy did not substantively impact the national employment and unemployment estimates for November,” said BLS acting commissioner John M. Galvin.

The overall U.S. unemployment rate edged down, dropping 0.2% to 7.7%.

Ortoli | Rosenstadt: What Exactly Is a Seller Responsible for When Selling Its Staffing Firm?

Buyers of a business generally expect sellers to be responsible for certain liabilities relating to when the seller owned its business—a concept mergers and acquisitions professionals refer to as indemnification. Indemnification is one of the most heavily negotiated, and potentially most significant, provisions of a purchase agreement, and understanding the terminology common to such agreements is essential when negotiating a deal. Attorney Paul Pincus of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP explains what sellers are liable for, how a seller’s liability may be limited, and how buyers may seek to fund potential indemnity claims.

Read the full story

HCA’s Parallon Buys Texas Staffing Company

Published December 07, 2012 ■ Headline News

The Tennessean (12/06/12) Getahn Ward

HCA’s Parallon Business Solutions has purchased health care staffing firm Martin, Fletcher. Parallon offers support services to hospitals and other health care providers, while Martin, Fletcher offers temporary physician staffing. Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Read the full story

Monster Employment Index Rises 7% Year-Over-Year

Published December 07, 2012 ■ Headline News

Monster Worldwide Inc. News Release (12/07/12)

Monster Worldwide, an ASA corporate partner, reports a 7% gain in the Monster Employment Index during the year-over-year period ending in November, with the retail trade sector leading the way with a 16% growth rate. Double-digit growth was also reported in the real estate and rental and leasing (14%), construction (13%), transportation and warehousing (13%), and administrative, support, and waste management (12%) sectors. The top-growth occupations are health care practitioners and technical (23%), architecture and engineering (22%), personal care and service (20%), legal (18%), and life, physical, and social science (14%). Positive annual growth was recorded in 26 of 28 metro markets, with the highest growth rates in Los Angeles (21%), Houston (20%), Chicago (18%), Atlanta (16%), and Dallas (15%).

Read the full story

2013 ASA Staffing Law Conference—What Will You Learn?

Published December 07, 2012 ■ ASA for You

The political balance of power in Washington did not shift as a result of November’s elections, but the regulatory and legislative environment for staffing firms is sure to change in the new year. What will federal departments’ enforcement agendas be? Where will Congress and state legislatures focus their efforts in the year ahead?

You can get expert advice on these questions and other legal issues that affect the staffing industry at the 2013 ASA Staffing Law Conference, May 7–8 in Washington, DC. It’s designed to benefit staffing company owners, executives, and managers; certified staffing professionals; human resource professionals; and staffing industry lawyers.

Visit americanstaffing.net/lawconference for more details, including hotel information and a preliminary agenda.