American Staffing Association (03/05/15) Cynthia Poole

Economic activity continued to expand from early January through mid-February, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s latest report on regional economies (known as the “beige book”). Employment levels remained stable or continued to grow in most districts and across a variety of sectors. Contacts in several districts noted strong labor demand and challenges filling a variety of skilled positions. Staffing firms reported mixed demand, with some noting difficulty finding workers to fill orders, in part due to inclement weather. Wage pressures were moderate across most of the country, but contacts in some districts reported increased wages to attract skilled workers for difficult-to-fill positions.