American Staffing Association (04/16/15) Cynthia Poole

Economic activity continued to expand across most regions from mid-February through the end of March, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s latest report on regional economies (known as the “beige book”). In most districts, labor market conditions remained stable or continued to show modest improvement. Companies in many districts reported having difficulty finding skilled workers, especially in professional and business services and the information technology sectors.

Staffing firms reported mixed demand, with some noting difficulty finding workers to fill orders—in part due to inclement weather. In some districts, staffing firms reported a pickup in the number of job openings and placements, but demand abated in some cities. Wage pressures were moderate across most of the country, but contacts in some districts reported that wages increased to attract skilled workers for difficult-to-fill positions.