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☆ A national shortage of construction workers is driving high home prices. The industry is struggling to fill the gap.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Eliza Relman | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Fewer construction workers means less — and slower — residential construction, which in turn leads to higher home prices, according to a 2023 report from researchers at the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Builders and infrastructure projects are in desperate need of all kinds of construction workers, but especially skilled tradespeople. Simonson said that allowing more immigrants into the country to fill construction jobs is crucial. Making the industry more appealing to womenBoushey pointed out that the share of women in the overall construction industry has climbed. The construction industry is also at a disadvantage because most workers can't do manual labor until they retire.

Persons: —, Ken Simonson, Kit Dickinson, Dickinson, Ben Brubeck, Maja Rosenquist, Mortenson, we've, Simonson, Brubeck, Rosenquist, Joe Biden, Franklin D, Roosevelt, Heather Boushey, Biden, Boushey, she's Organizations: Service, Associated Builders and Contractors, Business, Associated, Contractors of America, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin - Madison, ADP, —, Builders, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, Economic Advisers Locations: president's, America

☆ Domino’s know its customers are tired of tipping. So it’s trying to encourage more tipping
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Domino’s launched a promotion that rewards customers with $3 off a future online delivery order for every $3 or more they tip a Domino’s delivery driver. Domino’s “You Tip, We Tip” deal runs through mid-September. “Domino’s wants to say ‘thanks for the tip’ by tipping you back.”The promotional strategy serves several purposes for Domino’s. Tip fatigue is a problem for both Domino’s delivery drivers, who make a meaningful portion of their income from tips, and Domino’s business model. Domino’s delivery drivers’ pay is linked to tips.

Persons: Domino’s, Tip, “, ”, “ Domino’s, Kimberly Whitler, RJ Hottovy, “ It’s, ” Domino’s, Jayaraman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Domino’s, University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Locations: New York, Florida

☆ Exclusive: 11x, a London-based AI startup that builds automated digital workers, is raising money from US fund Benchmark
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Callum Burroughs | Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

11x, a London-based AI startup that creates automated digital workers, has raised funding from US investing giant Benchmark Capital. The company aims to provide businesses with "digital AI workers" that can complete repetitive and mundane tasks to free up employees to focus on other things. The startup has raised a Series A round of funding, led by US fund Benchmark, four sources familiar with the discussions told Business Insider. Related stories11x's deal was led by Benchmark general partner Sarah Tavel, who will join the startup's board. The startup created a digital sales worker named Alice and plans to release several other digital workers in the future.

Persons: Hasan Sukkar, Sarah Tavel, Uber, Alice, Slack Organizations: Benchmark, Business, US, Bessemer Venture Partners, Twitter, Benchmark Capital, Google, Project A, Ventures, Tiny Ventures, LinkedIn Locations: London, Syrian, Europe, Syria

☆ Former Google workers fired for protesting Israel deal file complaint claiming protected speech
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Dozens of former Google workers filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday after they were fired or placed on administrative leave last month for protesting the company’s cloud-computing contract with Israel’s government. We are confident in our position and stand by the actions we’ve taken.”Last month’s protests involved employee sit-ins inside Google’s offices in New York City and Sunnyvale, California. No Tech for Apartheid said last week that 50 Google employees were terminated in connection with the protests. The group claimed that some of the workers fired were “non-participating bystanders” and not actively involved in the workplace activism. But affected workers say they should not have been fired for protesting the company’s actions.

Persons: “, Thomas Kurian, ”, Zelda Montes, Benjamin Sachs, Kestnbaum, that’s, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, ” Pichai, Googlers, –, Catherine Thorbecke Organizations: New, New York CNN, US National Labor Relations Board, Tech, Apartheid, Google, CNN, “, Labor, Industry, Harvard Law School, Hamas Locations: New York, New York City, Sunnyvale , California, Sunnyvale, Israel, Gaza, America

☆ Frustrated South Koreans Blame President in Standoff With Doctors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jin Yu Young | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Eun Sung injured her right thumb in a fall in March and needed surgery to fix a torn ligament. But scheduling one has been difficult even though she lives in one of the most developed nations in the world, South Korea. For more than two months, South Korea’s health care system has been in disarray because thousands of doctors walked off the job after the government proposed to drastically increase medical school admissions. But one thing has changed: Public opinion has turned against the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol. A majority of respondents in a recent poll said that the government should negotiate with the doctors to reach an agreement quickly or withdraw its proposal.

Persons: Eun Sung, ”, Sung, Yoon Suk Locations: South Korea, Seoul

☆ I left my $90K job to take care of my mom full-time. Now I make less than minimum wage.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jane Ridley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Alma Valencia, who once earned $90K in fashion, cares for her mom with dementia for $17.50 an hour. She is part of the "sandwich generation," simultaneously caring for her mom and her children. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . It made sense because we wanted the best for her — and our family struggled to afford full-time, outside help. I was stretched thin as a so-called "sandwich generation caregiver."

Persons: Alma Valencia, —, Mom —, Amelia, Daniel, texted, Alma Valencia I'd, Juan, Caregiving, what's, I've, I'm, Mom Organizations: Service, Social Security, Alma, Business Locations: California, Valencia, San Francisco

The one person we know of so far who has tested positive for infection (a mild case) was a Texas dairy worker. Agricultural workers have always been an underprotected population for zoonotic diseases, including influenza viruses of animal origin. So far, bird flu testing of this cohort has been woefully inadequate. The exact number of dairy workers and other people who have so far been tested for H5N1 is not publicly available at the federal level. There is no excuse to continue only limited testing of this vulnerable population.

Persons: — Organizations: for Disease Control Locations: United States, Texas, slaughterhouses

☆ Google says immigration rules are making it hard to hire top AI talent
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Google wants the US to change immigration rules to help it hire AI talent. The company said its need for AI roles will "increase significantly" in the coming years. AdvertisementAs the AI wars heat up, Google says immigration rules must change if the US is to attract the talent needed to stay ahead. AdvertisementConsequently, companies have cut back on offering to put employees on US green card tracks. Amazon recently suspended new green card sponsorships until the end of 2024.

Persons: — Organizations: Google, US Department of Labor, Service, Department, Software Engineer, Research, Department of Labor, Companies, Amazon Locations: PERM

☆ A millennial couldn't afford the Mounjaro weight-loss drug so he started secretly working 2 remote jobs. He's on track to make $166,000 this year and says he's lost 45 pounds.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A millennial in California is secretly working a second remote job so he can afford weight-loss drugs. AdvertisementLast August, George decided he wanted to try to work a second remote job — and not tell his employers he was job juggling. He was able to afford Mounjaro and said he's dropped 45 pounds — from 220 lbs to 175 lbs — since he started taking it in October. AdvertisementAfter a roughly monthlong search, he started his second job and was able to afford Mounjaro. Are you working multiple remote jobs at the same time and willing to discuss details about your pay and schedule?

Persons: Zepbound, —, George, Eli Lilly, he's, George hasn't, it's Organizations: Service, FDA, Nordisk's Ozempic, Business Locations: California, Mounjaro

☆ Fisker employees are fixing some customers' cars with parts from the company's vehicle 'graveyard,' sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewFisker employees have been taking parts off pre-production vehicles and existing inventory to fix some customers' cars, according to several people familiar with the issue. Business Insider also viewed several photos of Fisker Oceans with missing parts that sources say were used for customer vehicles. A spokesperson for Fisker told Business Insider the information was false. Related stories"Every day was a fire drill of what car has this part that I need," a former employee told BI. Business Insider viewed an email exchange between a Fisker employee and Burrell that showed the employee offered to fix Burrell's car using a part off another Fisker car.

Persons: —, Patrick Burrell, Burrell, Michael Crossen, It's, Crossen, Daniel Blinn, Fisker Organizations: Service, Business, Fisker, Technicians, La, Consumer, Consumer Law, BI Locations: La Palma , California, Palma, La Palma, California, Connecticut

☆ Highway collapse kills 19 people in southern China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Nineteen people have been killed after a highway collapsed in China’s Guangdong province on Wednesday, according to the country’s state broadcaster, CCTV. A section of the express highway connecting Meizhou City and Dapu City in Guangdong Province collapsed at around 2:10 a.m. on Wednesday, leaving eighteen cars trapped, CCTV reported. Southern China has been bombarded with heavy rain in recent weeks. Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse home to 127 million people, has seen widespread flooding, which has forced more than 110,000 people to relocate, state media reported, citing the local government. The floods have killed at least four people in Guangdong, including a rescue worker, state news agency Xinhua reported Monday.

Organizations: CNN, Xinhua Locations: China’s Guangdong, Meizhou City, Dapu City, Guangdong Province, Guangdong, Southern China, Hong Kong

☆ Private payrolls increased by 192,000 in April, more than expected for resilient labor market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Private payrolls increased at a faster than expected pace in April, indicating there are still plenty of tailwinds for the U.S. labor market, according to ADP. Companies with 500 or more workers showed the biggest gain in hiring with 98,000. In recent months, ADP has consistently undershot the Labor Department's count, though the numbers were fairly close in March. The department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that private payrolls increased by 232,000 for the month versus ADP's 208,000. Friday's report is expected to show growth of 204,000 in total nonfarm payrolls for April, down from March's 303,000, according to the consensus Dow Jones estimate.

Persons: payrolls, Dow Jones, Nela Richardson Organizations: ADP, Labor, department's Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: March's

☆ Perimenopause may spike risk of depression, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Now, a new study has quantified the risk of depression during the transition, known as perimenopause — showing that women in this stage are about 40% more likely to experience the mental health condition than premenopausal women. The authors conducted the study — which is a review of seven studies totaling 9,141 women — to provide an estimate for the risk of developing clinical, diagnosed depression or depressive symptoms at different menopausal stages. The authors didn’t find a significant difference in risk of depression for postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women. Badawy is now an associate graduate mental health worker at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust in London. And doctors should develop and maintain relationships with mental health providers to whom they can refer patients diagnosed with depression.

Persons: ”, Aimee Spector, ” Spector, —, didn’t, Stephanie Faubion, Penny, Bill George, Faubion wasn’t, Yasmeen Badawy, ” Faubion, Faubion, Rebecca Thurston, wasn’t, Thurston, “ Organizations: CNN, Disorders, University College London, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic’s Center, Women’s Health, Barnet, Haringey Mental Health, Trust, Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Lifeline Locations: United States, Australia, China, Netherlands, Switzerland, Minnesota, Enfield, Haringey, London

☆ Read the email Fisker sent to staff warning of layoffs if the company can't correct course
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewFisker warned employees on Monday that they could be laid off in two month and the company's facility could close if the company is unable to course correct. The company told staff it was bringing in a restructuring officer last week, according to a previous email viewed by BI. AdvertisementThree current employees told BI that everyone they had spoken to at Fisker said they had received the notice. Should this possibility materialize, the Company has an obligation to provide "conditional notice" that employees — including yourself — will be terminated on June 28, 2024.

Persons: —, Fisker, John DiDonato Organizations: Service, Business, BI, Worker, Fisker, Inc, Company Locations: Manhattan Beach , California, La Palma , California, Munich, Vienna, ____________

☆ McDonald's and other big brands warn that low-income consumers are starting to crack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Some of America's best-known corporations are saying their consumers are being pinched by inflation as prices continue rising. "Consumers continue[d] to be even more discriminating with every dollar that they spend as they faced elevated prices in their day-to-day spending." The consumer price index — a broad basket of goods and services — rose at an annual rate of 3.5% in March compared with the same month a year ago. And that tenacious 3.5% annual growth is souring economic sentiment: Even after a period of runaway inflation, prices don't actually fall. That's a problem for McDonald's and a host of other firms serving customers who are feeling sticker shock.

Persons: Chris Kempczinski Organizations: Federal Reserve, Consumers, Conference Board, Fed

☆ Jim Cramer says GE Healthcare's unwarranted post-earnings plunge is a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Matthew J. Belvedere | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Jim Cramer has said repeatedly the Fed does not need to cut anytime soon. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Jerome Powell, Jim, Eli Lilly, Eaton, Lilly, We're, McDonald, —, Jeff Marks, Jim Cramer's Organizations: CNBC, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal, Fed, GE Healthcare, Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, TAP, Modelo, Corona, Web Services, Microsoft, Starbucks, Jim Cramer's Charitable Locations: China, Will

☆ Amazon’s advertising revenue jumps 24% in first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Amazon reported 24% growth in its advertising unit on Tuesday, the latest sign that the digital ad market is continuing its rebound. Ad revenue climbed to $11.8 billion in the first quarter from $9.5 billion a year earlier. Amazon reported $143.3 billion in total revenue for the period, up 13% from a year ago. Alphabet followed on Thursday, reporting ad revenue for the first quarter of $61.66 billion, up 13% from the year prior, with YouTube ad revenue jumping 21% to $8.09 billion. Snap shares rocketed 28% on Friday after the company reported a 21% increase in revenue to $1.19 billion, the strongest growth in two years.

Organizations: Amazon, Meta, YouTube Locations: New York

☆ Brexit border checks: Britain braces for less choice and higher prices on food imports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The new regime for food imports is perhaps the starkest example of the painful border bureaucracy that UK and EU businesses must contend with in the wake of Brexit. An additional cost of that scale will “significantly increase food prices and reduce choice,” the federation’s CEO Phil Pluck wrote in a letter to environment and food minister Steve Barclay earlier this month. But here too Brexit hasn’t helped, ending as it did the free movement of EU workers on whom British farmers had relied for decades. In addition to Brexit-related challenges, UK farmers have been squeezed by soaring input costs, including those of fertilizer, energy and labor. “I’m not hugely in favor of subsidies, I’m in favor of fair food prices,” Maddocks said.

Persons: Eddie Price, ”, Phil, Steve Barclay, Andrew Aitchison, Andrew Opie, “, Jack Bobo, “ It’s, Price, hasn’t, ” Tom Bradshaw, “ You’re, Chris Ratcliffe, Brexit, ” Philip Maddocks, I’m, ” Maddocks Organizations: London CNN, European Union, EU, Britain, Birmingham Wholesale, CNN, Chain Federation, British Retail Consortium, University of York, Food Systems, University of Nottingham, Birmingham Wholesale Market, Bank, National Farmers ’ Union, Bloomberg, Getty, PDM Locations: United Kingdom, Britain, France, Spain, artichokes, Italy, Birmingham, Dover, Port, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, North Africa, England, Sandwich, Australia, New Zealand, English, Shropshire

☆ A Utah couple accidentally shipped their cat in a Amazon box to California
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Sydney Bishop | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A not-so-micro discoveryBack in California, Hunter took her new foster to the vet. Boxed in before a trio of ‘miracles’“The box is Galena’s absolute favorite place to play in, and she’s pretty chill and happy when she’s in a box,” Clark told CNN. Courtesy Carrie ClarkUPS then ferried away the box, Amazon representative Alisa Carroll told CNN. Courtesy Carrie ClarkGalena will likely continue to be a massive box lover – hopefully without again taking off in one. “It’s a really, really easy procedure.

Persons: wasn’t, Brandy Hunter, ”, “, ” Hunter, Carrie Stevens Clark, Carrie Clark, Clark, of Jesus Christ, Hunter, Los Angeles –, ” Clark, Carrie Clark “, hysterically, Carrie, Matt Clark, Matt, ” Carrie Clark, it's, Carrie Clark UPS, Alisa Carroll, ‘, Carrie Clark Eight, “ We’re, Brandy, Galena, ” Amazon’s Carroll, Carrie Clark Galena, he’s Organizations: CNN, of Jesus, Facebook, Galena, Clarks Locations: California, Utah, Lehi , Utah, Galena, Jurupa Valley , California, Los Angeles, Jurupa Valley, crouched, Clark

☆ I went to Hawaii for the first time. My trip would've been better if I'd known these 5 things before I left.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Megan Dubois | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

We didn't really get stuck in much traffic on Oahu. Megan duBoisBefore leaving for Oahu, I'd heard from friends and read on social-media groups that getting around can be difficult. My fears of sitting in traffic for the whole week set in before I even stepped foot off the plane. In reality, my family and I never got stuck in gridlocked traffic over our six days on the island. We also found the drivers to be much more courteous than we're used to back in Florida.

Persons: Megan duBois, I'd, Ko Olina Locations: Oahu, Ko, Pearl, North Shore, Florida

☆ Worker pay rose more than expected in Q1 in another sign of persistent inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Employee compensation costs jumped more than expected to start the year, providing another danger sign about persistent inflation, while consumer confidence hit its lowest level in nearly two years. The employment cost index, which measures worker salaries and benefits, gained 1.2% in the first quarter, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. The Fed watches the ECI as a significant measure of underlying inflation pressures. State and local government workers saw their compensation costs rise 4.8%, down just narrowly from the same period in 2023. The Consumer Confidence Index slipped to 97, a decline of 6.1 points that was below the Wall Street estimate for 103.5.

Persons: Dow Jones, Dana Peterson, Peterson Organizations: Labor Department, Dow, Fed, Committee, Conference Locations: State

☆ Fisker warns staff they could get laid off in 2 months
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Fisker warned staff of potential layoffs in two months, according to 3 employees and an email viewed by BI. Fisker announced a 15% staff cut earlier this year. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFisker sent staff a notice on Monday telling them they could be laid off from the company in two months, according to 3 employees and an email viewed by Business Insider. AdvertisementThe three current employees told BI that everyone they had spoken to at Fisker said they had received the notice.

Persons: Fisker, —, Henrik Fisker Organizations: BI, Service, Business, Worker Locations: Manhattan Beach , California, La Palma , California, Munich, Vienna

☆ Is Driving for Uber Worth It? One Driver Says His Pay Is Declining.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A Cleveland Uber driver made over $109,000 in gross earnings last year but only took home $17,000. He said Uber driving has become less profitable but that he's not sure he can find a better job. AdvertisementGeorge, a full-time Uber driver in Cleveland, wants to quit his ride-hailing gig. In 2023, George made more than $109,000 in gross earnings as an Uber driver, according to documents viewed by BI. Many ride-hailing drivers, like George, are actively tracking their income and expenses to make sure driving is worth their time.

Persons: Uber, he's, —, George, haven't, isn't, he'd, that's, There's, He's Organizations: Service, Uber, BI, of Labor Statistics, BLS Locations: Cleveland, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Twin Cities

☆ A Cleveland Uber driver who made $109,000 in 2023 but took home only $17,000 shares the 3 reasons he can't quit ride-hailing: 'I continue to run into a brick wall'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A Cleveland Uber driver made over $109,000 in gross earnings last year but took home only $17,000. He said Uber driving had become less profitable but that he wasn't sure he could find a better job. AdvertisementGeorge, a full-time Uber driver in Cleveland, wants to quit his ride-hailing gig. Last year, George made more than $109,000 in gross earnings as an Uber driver, according to documents viewed by BI. But after Uber's commissions, car maintenance, gas, and miscellaneous driving expenses were accounted for, he took home roughly $17,000, about 16% of his gross earnings.

Persons: Uber, —, George, he'd, isn't, that's, There's, He's Organizations: Service, Uber, BI, of Labor Statistics, BLS Locations: Cleveland, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Twin Cities

☆ As a recent college grad, I've built my career from my childhood bed. I feel like I'm missing out on the professional world.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Eibhlis Gale-Coleman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I'm on the extreme end of the Gen Z remote worker movement; I've quite literally built my career from under my covers. It's comfortable, but I'm missing out on part of the professional world. I'm in a stronger financial situation because I've been able to stay outside London, and I've still made some genuinely wonderful long-distance connections. I've missed out on having that safety net that most professionals develop in the workplace. I've missed out on all the office dynamics, and there's no denying it; sometimes, staring at a laptop screen alone can feel like Groundhog Day.

Persons: —, I've, I'd, I'm, That's, It's, craves Organizations: Service, Business Locations: London

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