Kelly Services News Release (08/05/15)

Kelly Services Inc. reported revenue of $1.39 billion in the second quarter of 2015, down 1.8% (up 3.9% in constant currency) from $1.41 billion in the second quarter of 2014. Net earnings totaled $6.8 million, up from $2.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Included in the results of operations in the second quarter of 2014 are restructuring charges of $1.8 million. U.S. revenues were $924 million, an increase of 4% over 2014.

“I’m pleased to report that Kelly once again delivered strong operating leverage and improved returns,” said Carl T. Camden, president and chief executive officer. “On a constant currency basis, we grew second quarter revenue and held our expenses relatively flat, dropping more than half of our gross profit growth to the bottom line.”

AMN Healthcare Services News Release (08/04/15)

AMN Healthcare Services Inc. reported revenue of $350.1 million in the second quarter of 2015, up 40% from $250.9 million in the second quarter of 2014. The organic revenue growth rate was 24%, with the remainder from acquisitions. Net income totaled $15.9 million, up from $7.2 million in the year-ago quarter.

“The strong year-over-year organic revenue growth was across all staffing and placement business lines as well as our recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and vendor management system (VMS) businesses,” said Susan R. Salka, president and chief executive officer. “Demand for our health care staffing and workforce solutions are at very high levels as a combination of macroeconomic, demographic, and health care reform trends have driven stronger patient volumes and higher clinician turnover.”

Kforce Inc. News Release (08/04/15)

Kforce Inc. reported revenue of $337.4 million in the second quarter of 2015, up 11.4% from $302.8 million in the second quarter of 2014. Net income totaled $11.6 million, up from $5.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

“Secular drivers continue to be key factors in flexible staffing growth against the backdrop of a nontraditional economic recovery,” said David L. Dunkel, chairman and chief executive officer. “We are also seeing continued migration of traditional technology project-based work into statement of work opportunities as organizations look to reduce costs by utilizing a higher percentage of highly skilled contract technology resources.”

Conference Board News Release (08/05/15)

Online advertised vacancies rose 83,700 to 5.4 million in July, according to the Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine Data Series. The June supply and demand rate stands at 1.57 unemployed for each advertised vacancy, with a total of 3.0 million more unemployed workers than the number of advertised vacancies. The number of unemployed was 8.3 million in June.

“Demand has flattened over the past five months, with alternating monthly increases followed by decreases,” says Gad Levanon, managing director, macroeconomic and labor market research. “Overall, 2015 has shown moderate gains averaging about 38,000 per month, largely due to the very strong January and February increases.”

ADP Employment Report (08/05/15)

Private sector employment increased by 185,000 jobs from June to July, according to Automatic Data Processing. Payrolls for businesses with 49 or fewer employees increased by 59,000 jobs in July, half of the June number. Employment among companies with 50-499 employees increased by 62,000 jobs, down from 78,000 in June. Employment gains at large companies—those with 500 or more employees—increased sharply from June, adding 64,000 jobs in July, up from 34,000. Companies with 500 to 999 employees added 17,000 jobs after adding 28,000 jobs in June. Companies with over 1,000 employees added 47,000 jobs, almost eight times the weak 6,000 added the previous month.

Goods-producing employment rose by 8,000 jobs in July, after adding 13,000 in June. The construction industry added 15,000 jobs in July, down from 17,000 in June. Meanwhile, manufacturing added 2,000 jobs in July, after gaining 9,000 in June. Service-providing employment rose by 178,000 jobs in July, down from 216,000 in June.

“Job growth is strong, but it has moderated since the beginning of the year,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics. “Layoffs in the energy industry and weaker job gains in manufacturing are behind the slowdown. Nonetheless, even at this slower pace of growth, the labor market is fast approaching full employment.”

Reuters (08/04/15) Lucia Mutikani

New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.8% in June after a 1.1% decline in May, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Orders for transportation equipment increased 9.3% in June, thanks to a 65.4% increase in aircraft bookings. Orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft increased 0.7% in June, down from a 0.9% increase in May.

Wall Street Journal (08/04/15)

Netflix Inc. is giving new parents on its payroll up to a year of paid paternity or maternity leave. Netflix chief talent officer Tawni Cranz says the new employee benefit will give employees “the flexibility and confidence to balance the needs of their growing families without worrying about work or finances,” particularly because parents can return to work part time or full time and go back on leave as needed. The move could pressure other technology employers to improve their baby benefits in order to make their companies more appealing to potential employees.