October 15, 2014

ASA Skills Gap Index Introduced to Track Trends in Hardest-to-Fill Jobs

Published October 15, 2014 ■ Announcement

The American Staffing Association premiered the ASA Skills Gap Index, which tracks the number of hardest-to-fill occupations in the U.S., during Staffing World^®, the association’s annual convention and expo. The index identified 207 occupations as hard to fill, and a Top 10 list of most difficult positions to fill was released.

“The ASA Skills Gap Index quantifies the severity of the skills shortage in America,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “These new U.S. skills gap data will be used by economists, journalists, government officials, and, most important, staffing firms as they work with clients to develop workforce solutions and devise effective talent acquisition strategies.”

The skills gap index was developed by ASA using the hiring indicator developed by ASA corporate partner CareerBuilder. It measures the level of difficulty (on a scale of one to 100) to recruit for a specific occupation based on demand, supply of active candidates, and total population working in it. ASA will update the index quarterly.

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.

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Producer Prices in U.S. Decrease for First Time in a Year

Published October 15, 2014 ■ Headline News

Bloomberg (10/15/14) Shobhana Chandra; Victoria Stilwell

Producer prices fell 0.1% in September, for the first time since August 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Seventy-one economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast an increase of 0.1%. According to DOL, the decline was propelled by lower fuel costs. The core measure, which does not include fuel and food costs, was unchanged.

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Empire State Manufacturers Saw Modest Increase in Business Activity

Published October 15, 2014 ■ Headline News

Federal Reserve Bank of New York (10/15/14)

New York manufacturers saw a modest increase in business activity, according to the October 2014 Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The headline general business conditions index fell 21 points to 6.2, signaling that the pace of growth slowed significantly from last month. The employment index rose 7 points to 10.2, pointing to an increase in employment levels, while the average workweek index fell to a level just below zero, suggesting that hours worked held steady.

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Going Out on a High Note—Staffing World Ends Today

Published October 15, 2014 ■ ASA for You

Staffing World 2014, the ASA annual convention and expo, concludes today at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in metro Washington, DC.

Today’s educational sessions began with several Immersion Programs, including the critically important panel discussion “Affordable Care Act Countdown: Final Checklist,” facilitated by ASA general counsel Ed Lenz.

The expo hall will be open until 3 p.m. today, and educational sessions continue until 3:30 p.m.

At the closing general session, winners of the ASA Care Awards will be honored before attendees hear from keynote speaker Robert B. Tucker. The evening—and the convention—winds down at 7 p.m. when Staffing World attendees celebrate at the Grand Finale, featuring entertainment by the Fab Four. The Grand Finale is sponsored by Essential StaffCARE.

Follow all the Staffing World action on the Staffing World website, on Facebook, and on Twitter @staffingtweets. Search for the #staffingworld hashtag to read about attendees’ thoughts, see photos, and more.

Reminder: This Is the Nonmember Version of Staffing Today

Published October 15, 2014 ■ ASA for You

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