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ASA Skills Gap Index Lists the Most Difficult Jobs to Fill in the U.S.

Published December 16, 2015 ■ Announcement

The American Staffing Association’s Skills Gap Index identified the hardest-to-fill occupations in the U.S. for the third quarter of 2015, with the 10 most difficult being

1. Podiatrists

2. Photographic process workers and processing machine operators

3. Occupational therapists

4. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

5. Psychiatrists

6. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

7. Internists, general

8. Physical therapists

9. Speech-language pathologists

10. Occupational therapy assistants

During the past quarter, podiatrists, psychiatrists, general internists, and forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists moved into the top 10 list of hardest-to-fill positions, displacing family and general practitioners, microbiologists, surgeons, and nurse practitioners—nonetheless the top 10 list is still dominated by the health care sector.

“Businesses are turning to staffing and recruiting firms to source new talent and for information on strategies to better retain top talent,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “With more than five million unfilled job openings in the U.S. today, the ASA Skills Gap Index is an important tool for firms to use to ensure that they are setting wages at competitive levels based on current skills shortages and regional market conditions.”

The ASA Skills Gap Index was established by the American Staffing Association, using a hiring indicator developed by ASA corporate partner CareerBuilder. Learn more at americanstaffing.net.

U.S. Industrial Production Down 0.6% in November

Published December 16, 2015 ■ Headline News

Wall Street Journal (12/16/15) Jeffrey Sparshott; Kate Davidson

Industrial production declined for the third consecutive month in November, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Industrial output declined a seasonally adjusted 0.6% from October and was the steepest decline since March 2012. Capacity utilization fell from 77.5% in October to 77% in November and reached the lowest level in two years. Prior to the 2007-09 recession, capacity use generally topped 80%.

Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast industrial production would decline 0.2% in November and capacity utilization would fall to 77.4%.

Manufacturing output was flat in November. Mining output declined 1.1% in November and was down 8.2% from a year ago. Output in the utilities sector dropped by 4.3% in November, due to warm weather.

Read the full story

Federal Reserve Poised to Mark the End of an Era

Published December 16, 2015 ■ Headline News

Wall Street Journal (12/15/15) Jon Hilsenrath

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s likely decision today to raise short-term borrowing costs will mark the end of an era of zero interest rates. Low rates, by encouraging investment and spending, helped spark an economic expansion now 78 months old, longer than all but four expansions ever recorded. The jobless rate, at 5%, is half its recession peak and half where the rate in Europe remains. Output and income growth have been disappointing, however, and after-tax incomes adjusted for inflation have expanded at a 1.8% annual rate in this expansion, slower than the average rate of 3.3% during the previous three.

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Reminder: This Is the Nonmember Version of Staffing Today

Published December 16, 2015 ■ ASA for You

Because your firm is not an ASA member, you are receiving the nonmember version of Staffing Today, which excludes the Legal Watch and Trends and Research sections.

Join ASA today and start reaping the many benefits of membership, including the full version of Staffing Today, free ASA webinars for professional development, and more.

ASA membership matters. There is no better time to become a member—join ASA today for 2016 and your firm will receive the remainder of this year for free.

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ASA Staffing Today is published by the American Staffing Association, with news abstracts copyrighted in 2024 by Smithbucklin of Washington, DC, and all other content copyrighted in 2024 by ASA. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

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