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☆ I floundered in white-collar jobs until I found my calling as an electrician in my 40s
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Rachel Hoobing, a 50-year-old electrician in San Francisco. I found it very stressful and decided to leave in May 2012 and apply for an electrician apprenticeship. In 2015, I got my electrical trainee card, which meant I could do some non-union work as an electrician. I applied for an electrical apprenticeship with a union in 2016, when I was 43, and started the following year. AdvertisementI work for a union as an electricianI became a union electrician at the end of my five-year apprenticeship in 2021.

Persons: —, Rachel Hoobing, I'd, wasn't Organizations: Service, Business, Jobs Corps, Department of Labor, Job Corps, Home Depot Locations: San Francisco, arborists

☆ Here's everything you need to know about Friday's big jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. labor market may have cooled some in July, as a gradual slowdown in the economy and Hurricane Beryl are expected to have taken some of the steam out of hiring. Still, even if the Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls report for July, to be released Friday at 8:30 a.m. "You're seeing just modest on-the-margin weakness in the labor market that [isn't likely to] spiral out of control into a negative feedback loop." Citigroup projects an even lower number — 150,000 on payrolls and a tick higher in the unemployment rate to 4.2%. Should the unemployment rate keep climbing, it could raise fears that the so-called Sahm Rule is in danger of being triggered.

Persons: Hurricane Beryl, nonfarm, Mike Reynolds, Dow Jones, Goldman Sachs, Beryl Organizations: Amerant, Hurricane, Labor, Federal, department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Citigroup Locations: Florida, Sunrise , Florida, The U.S, department's, Texas, Houston

☆ Productivity Surges 2.3%, Beating Forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Talmon Joseph Smith | More About Talmon Joseph Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A highly productive economy generally means businesses and workers are operating efficiently, making more money in fewer hours. In the second quarter, production was up 3.3 percent, while hours worked rose 1 percent. Productivity, at a basic level, is calculated as a simple ratio: the total amount of output an economy produces per hour worked by its labor force. No, but the impact on productivity data in those quarters was deeply negative. For now, most analysts say artificial intelligence is having only a nascent influence on overall productivity.

Persons: “, Skanda Amarnath, ” Organizations: Federal Reserve, of Labor Statistics, U.S Locations: U.S, Europe, America, A.I

Ms. Harris told The Washington Post in 2019 that she had long been comfortable with her racial identity. Ms. Harris joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority for Black women, at Howard University, a historically Black university. Ms. Harris failed California’s bar exam on her first attempt in July 1989, according to her autobiography, and received a letter in November that she had failed, “to my utter devastation.” While she did not address her subsequent exams in the book, Ms. Harris was admitted to the bar in June 1990. Mr. Trump is taking outsize credit. It is also worth noting that Mr. Trump did not request the increased funding that the schools received.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Abraham Lincoln, Said, I’ve, ”, Ms, “, Obama ”, ” Mr, Harris’s, Said “, California’s, —, Lyndon B, Johnson, Biden Organizations: Wednesday, National Association of Black Journalists Convention, National Association of Black Journalists, Washington Post, Indian American, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Howard University, Black Law, Association, University of California Hasting College of Law, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Examiner, San, H.B.C.U.s, Democrats, Democratic, Republicans, Civil, Mr, Black Americans, Congressional Research Service, The New York Times, of Labor Statistics, New York Times Locations: Chicago, Indian American, California, San Francisco, American, Black, Los Angeles, Asian, The California, ”

☆ Private payroll growth slowed to 122,000 in July, less than expected, ADP says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Private job growth slowed further in July while the pace of wage gains hit a three-year low, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Companies added just 122,000 jobs on the month, the slowest pace since January and below the upwardly revised 155,000 in June. Several sectors reported net losses on the month. The ADP report comes two days before the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Services releases its nonfarm payrolls count, which, unlike the ADP tally, includes government jobs. The two reports can differ substantially, with ADP overshooting the BLS estimate of 136,000 for private payrolls in June.

Persons: Dow Jones, Nela Richardson Organizations: FedEx, Broadway, Companies, ADP, Federal, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Services Locations: New York City, Midwest

☆ Americans aren't spending like they used to, and it's forcing a reckoning for companies from Starbucks to Whirlpool
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewShoppers are slowing down spending on everything from burgers to dishwashers, and that's bad news for a growing number of companies. While inflation has since cooled, Americans are still stuck with higher prices for many of the things they buy. Shoppers are slowing down food spending — even at grocery storesThe spending slowdown has hit restaurant chains, which have launched new deals to get customers in the door. Over the past two years, income growth has helped consumer spending beat expectations, Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe said in a note on Monday. One bright spot in consumer spending: Cruises, which are seeing record demand.

Persons: —, McDonald's, Burger, Taco, Jefferies, ETIENNE LAURENT, Laxman Narasimhan, It's, Dirk Van de, Van de, Andrew M, Watterson, Michael Liersch, Wells, Corey Tarlowe, Horacio Villalobos, dreuter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, PepsiCo, UPS, Business, Shoppers, Burger King, Taco Bell, Starbucks, Getty, Walmart, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unilever, Whirlpool, Airlines, Jefferies, Costco Locations: Pellegrino, North America

☆ Fed Chair Powell: Labor market data is ongoing normalization of labor market conditions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFed Chair Powell: Labor market data is ongoing normalization of labor market conditionsFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell addresses the media after the FOMC decides to leave interest rate unchanged.

Persons: Powell, Jerome Powell Organizations: Labor

☆ The Problem With the Natural Childbirth Movement - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The natural-parenting movement, like the anti-vaccine movement, relies on our forgetfulness about what life was like before the innovations that it denounces. Also like the anti-vaccine movement, the natural-parenting movement is a reaction to very real failures in our medical system, which has more than earned people’s distrust. Natural parenting has since been thoroughly secularized, but it still preaches something akin to spiritual transcendence through female sacrifice. Even if you distrust the natural-parenting movement, its pressures are hard to escape. If the natural-parenting movement really cared about children, it would do some introspection about how often it makes their parents miserable.

Persons: I’d, “, ”, who’ve, thrall, It’s, Carla Cevasco, don’t, —, Amy Tuteur, Dick, Read, Ina May Gaskin, William Sears, God, Emily Oster, Long, Gaskin, who’d, saccharine condescension Organizations: World Health Organization, OB, Harvard Medical, Leche League, Daily Locations: British, Leche

☆ Not finding your dream job? Asking yourself these questions can help open up your search
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

If you're currently in that position, don't overlook every job that seems out of line with your current pursuits. Sometimes even an opportunity that seems a bit off your path "is a bridge" to where you want to be in the future, says Jasmine Escalera, career expert at My Perfect Resume. Before you even begin your job search, "I think the most important thing to start with is self-reflection," says Escalera. This kind of thinking could ultimately help you widen your search and find opportunities in open roles you hadn't considered. That will help you find roles in your job search you may not have considered but that could help you develop in the right way.

Persons: Jasmine Escalera, hadn't, Dan Space, who's Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Electronic Arts

☆ America's demand for skilled electricians is entering a boom cycle
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Every year, nearly 10,000 electricians either retire or change careers, but only about 7,000 new ones enter the field. "We're benefitting from a generation that's looking past high school and is not seeing a career going through the traditional four-year college pathway. Contributing to that shift are high school guidance counselors like Steve Schneider, who has advised students for 28 years, currently at Sheboygan South High School in Wisconsin. It offers high school students hands-on training alongside workers from local companies, introducing them to skilled trades and other occupations, which can lead to an apprenticeship after graduation. Among LATTC's 12,000 students, 4,600 are currently enrolled in electrician training, he said, adding that tuition is around $1,000 a year.

Persons: —, David Long, They're, Adrian Sauceda, We've, Sauceda, Thayer Long, IEC's Thayer Long, Steve Schneider, Schneider, Kohler, NECA's David Long, Bill Elarton, Selig, Alan Marzullo, Marzullo, NECA's Long Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, National Electrical Contractors Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Independent Electrical Contractors, IEC, Sheboygan South High School, Rockline Industries, Inspire Wisconsin, NECA, Electrical Training Alliance, Department of Labor, Los Angeles Trade, Technical College, Syracuse University's College of Professional Studies, Consortium, Micron Technology, Local, Micron Locations: U.S, Wisconsin, Sheboygan, America, Clay , New York

Since Harris kicked off her presidential campaign, there’s been a string of good news for the US economy. Harris will have Biden’s mostly strong economy to run on. By June 2021, Biden’s sixth month in office, the nation’s inflation rate jumped to more than 5%. After the Federal Reserve hiked interest rate hikes to a 23-year high to stamp out inflation, the economy — eventually — started to run at a slower pace. The Biden administration canceled $168 billion in student loan debt for 4.8 million Americans.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Harris, there’s, Biden’s, —, hasn’t, Evan Vucci, Eros Hoagland, Getty, Lina Khan, Jonathan Kanter, Stocks Organizations: CNN, White House, House, Federal, Trump, Biden, Federal Reserve, Gross, Commerce Department, of Labor Statistics, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, AFL, National Labor Relations Board, United Auto Workers, Union, AP Relief, American, ARPA, Medicare, University of North, Hill, Apple, Google, Federal Trade Commission, Department, FTC, Activision, Big Tech, Justice Department, Fed Locations: Ukraine, Van Buren Township , Michigan, University of North Carolina, America, Valley, Silicon Valley

☆ Ron Insana: How investors ought to prepare their portfolios for November’s elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Ron Insana | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The GOP, under presidential candidate Donald Trump, could seek to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In the abstract, one can argue that tax cuts and deregulation are good for business. However, further unfunded tax cuts would add to the nation's deficits and debt. He has also pushed for raising the corporate tax rate to 28%. Currently, that rate is at 20%, plus a 3.8% net investment income tax for high earners.

Persons: we've, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, Eisenhower, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden Organizations: GOP, Wall, United, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Observers, White, Trump, Biden, Federal Reserve Locations: Washington ,, United States, U.S, America

☆ The South's economic boom is masking a harsher reality. It still has several of the poorest states in the nation.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In June, the financial services company WalletHub ranked the 50 states and DC across three categories: economic activity, economic health, and innovation potential. The Economic Policy Institute pointed to low minimum wages and unionization rates in Southern states as two factors keeping pay down. Of course, workers in some Southern states earn less than others. Using US Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the analysis highlighted the average annual wages across US states as of 2022. Only two Southern states — Louisiana and West Virginia — were among the eight US states that saw their populations decline between 2022 and 2023.

Persons: —, Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, Chandra Childers, it's, West Virginia — Organizations: Service, West Virginia —, of Columbia, WalletHub, Business, South :, Workers, Economic Policy Institute, Southern, Economic, Economic Innovation, Peterson Institute for International Economics, of, of Labor Statistics, Institute, Texans, Dallas Fed Locations: Southern, Delaware , Maryland, Virginia, West, South, South : Mississippi, West Virginia , Arkansas , Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia , Arkansas , Alabama, South Carolina, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Nashville, Midwest, Mississippi, Hawaii, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, South : Texas, Florida, North Carolina , Georgia, Tennessee, — Louisiana, West Virginia

As tourists savored icy granitas under hibiscus trees and swam in the cool Mediterranean Sea, in the farmlands of Southern Sicily, among hillsides so scorched they resembled desert dunes, a farmer watched recently as his cows headed to the slaughterhouse. After months of drought, he didn’t have any water or food to give them. “It’s devastating,” said the farmer, Lorenzo Iraci Sareri, as tears fell on his tanned face, lined by 40 years of labor pasturing cows. “I have never seen something like this.”Parts of Southern Italy and other Mediterranean regions, including Greece and the southeastern Spain, are experiencing one of their worst droughts in decades. It is particularly devastating, experts say, because the lack of rainfall has been made worse by the higher temperatures caused by climate change.

Persons: ”, Lorenzo Iraci Sareri Locations: Southern Sicily, Southern Italy, Greece, Spain

☆ A millennial who's been looking for a job for over 4 years says his degrees have offered little value: 'I can't get anything even at minimum wage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Andy Kiersz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He's even expanded his job search to restaurant and retail jobs — e.g. AdvertisementHesmondhalgh shared why he thinks his job search has been so challenging and what he plans to do moving forward. AdvertisementIdeally, he'd land a job in journalism — the field he has two degrees in. He thinks he's struggled to land journalism roles because most of the positions he's looked at require three to five years of formal newsroom experience, and he doesn't have that. Going forward, Hesmondhalgh said he plans to continue his job search for as long as necessary.

Persons: —, Roland Hesmondhalgh, He's, Hesmondhalgh, hasn't, he's, it's, he'll Organizations: Service, Florida Institute of Technology, Business, Georgetown, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Supreme, US Capitol Locations: Virginia, Washington, DC, Arlington , Virginia

☆ Why immigration is boosting the US economy, according to Nobel economist Paul Krugman
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewImmigration isn't taking jobs away from Americans — and it's actually great for the US economy, according to Nobel laureate Paul Krugman. The unemployment rate among native-born workers remains near a historical low US Bureau of Labor Statistics/Federal ReserveThe labor force participation rate among native-born workers has been on the decline, but among prime-age native-born workers, the labor force participation rate has actually been rising, Fed data shows. Advertisement"So the near stagnation of native-born employment isn't a demand-side issue, in which people aren't working because they can't find jobs. If we didn't have the immigrants, we wouldn't have the jobs," Krugman wrote. AdvertisementOther economists and strategists on Wall Street have said immigration could end up being a big boost to the economy.

Persons: —, it's, Paul Krugman, Trump, Krugman, they've, We've, There's, aren't Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Business, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US, of Labor Statistics, Fed, Congressional, Office Locations: America, Foreign

☆ Here's why you may get a smaller pay raise next year
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The typical worker will get a 4.1% pay raise for 2025, down from 4.5% this year, according to a new poll by WTW, a consulting firm. Job market was 'unbelievably robust'Worker pay in 2021 and 2022 grew at its fastest pace in well over a decade amid an "unbelievably robust" job market, Wisper said. "I'm not sure I'll ever see that kind of job market in my lifetime again," Wisper said of 2021 and 2022. Still high relative to recent pastWhile the typical 4.1% projected raise is smaller than that during the last pay cycle, it's "still kind of high" relative to recent years, according to Wisper. For example, the median annual pay raise had largely hovered around 3% in the years after the 2008 financial crisis, she said.

Persons: WTW, Lori Wisper, Wisper, Julia Pollak, I'm, they're, Pollak Organizations: Hinterhaus, Stone, Companies, Workers, ZipRecruiter, Finance Locations: U.S

☆ When you're job-seeking, don't think 'I have to send out 100 applications a week,' says expert—do this instead
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Altogether, 6.8 million people are out of a job, which means millions are currently looking for their next role. If you're job searching yourself, remember that sending out resumes is only part of the equation. Networking is "one of the most pivotal things you can do," says Jasmine Escalera, career expert at My Perfect Resume. That's because asking people in the field questions one-on-one "helps you understand, what are industry trends that I should be focused on?" It helps you understand, "how do I best market myself to be the individual who can do this job?"

Persons: Jasmine Escalera, you'll Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics

☆ Wages have outpaced inflation since 2020 but many consumers still feel burdened by prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( John Towfighi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewAmerican consumers have been frustrated by high prices over past years, but there's some good news: wages have outpaced inflation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, average hourly wages for most US workers have risen faster than the consumer price index, meaning income has maintained its purchasing power against rising prices. While wage gains have outpaced inflation, it can be difficult for consumers to feel the growth, and plenty of people still miss the "good old days" of lower prices. Since spring 2023, year-over-year wage growth for production and nonsupervisory workers has consistently been above inflation. While US consumers adjust to higher prices, strong wage growth should help ease affordability concerns, Krugman wrote.

Persons: —, Sarah Foster, Foster, Paul Krugman, Krugman Organizations: Service, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business, Michigan Ross, Economic Policy Institute, Federal Reserve, New York Times Locations: jtowfighi@businessinsider.com

☆ 39% of Americans worry they can’t pay the bills
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Many Americans regularly worry they won’t be able to make ends meet. Even higher percentages of Latino (52%) and Black (46%) Americans said they’re worried most or all of the time about making ends meet, according to the poll. More than half (55%) of those making less than $50,000 a year similarly worry about having enough money to meet expenses. Even higher percentages of Latinos (52%), Black Americans (44%) and those under the age of 45 (47%) say they’ve taken extra work. Others say they’ve cut back on driving (41%) and they are taking on credit card debt to afford necessities (37%).

Persons: they’re, it’s, ”, Angela Russell, Russell, – they’re, Greg McBride, they’ve, McBride, who’ve, “ I’ve, Joe Biden, CNN’s Ariel Edwards, Levy, Dana Elobaid Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bankrate, Ohio, Walmart, SSRS Locations: New York, Ohio, Cincinnati

☆ The number of low-wage U.S. workers is dropping—but 23% still make less than $17/hr
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"As they continue to annually increase their minimum wages, the number of low-wage workers does go down," says Henderson. Similarly, many states hiked their tipped minimum wages — or did away with a tipped minimum altogether. 53% of tipped wage workers earn less than $17 per hourAll that said, there are still nearly 40 million workers making less than $17 per hour. Nationwide, more than half, 53% of tipped wage workers earn less than $17 per hour, according to the report. A third, 33% of Latin or Hispanic workers and 32% of Black workers earn less than $17 per hour, compared to 21% of white workers, according to the report.

Persons: Kaitlyn Henderson, Henderson, Workers aren't, Judy Conti Organizations: Federal, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, " Workers, Oxfam, Workers, Institute, National Employment Law, Bureau, National Women's Law, BLS, Agriculture, National Center, Farmworker Health, Census Bureau Locations: New York City, Washington, Maine, Oregon, EPI, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, North Carolina, Mexico, West Virginia

☆ Inflation, jobs and labor: The economy a new Democratic nominee will face
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The US economy added 206,000 jobs in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported July 5, a small dip from May’s tally of 215,000 jobs. Inflation rates are nowhere near the pandemic-era peak reached in June 2022, when US inflation hit 9.1%, its highest annual rate in more than 40 years. As of last month, annual inflation was 3%, down from 3.3% in May, according to the Consumer Price Index. But the legislation comes as some manufacturing jobs have also been cut due to outsourcing. Manufacturing jobs across the country have plateaued at 13 million employees after recovering from a sharp pandemic-related downswing in 2020, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Biden, Jobs, aren’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, Democratic, of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Fed, Consumer, Index, “ Companies, White House, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: New York, America, United States, China, Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico , Oregon, Texas

Like other consumer rates, mortgage rates are impacted in large part by what's going on in the economy. This allowed mortgage rates to drop as low as they did, with 30-year mortgage rates reaching an all-time low of 2.65% in January 2021, according to Freddie Mac. Because mortgage rates are still so high, some hopeful homebuyers have decided to wait for lower rates to start shopping for homes. Mortgage rates in 2024: FAQsWill mortgage rates go down in 2024? All consumer interest rates, including mortgage rates, should start to ease as soon as inflation slows further.

Persons: Homebuyers, homebuyers, what's, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, that's Organizations: Fed, Bureau of Labor Statistics, NAR, National Association of Realtors, CNBC, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Veterans United, Loans, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association Locations: Chevron

Here's what you can expect to spend:It depends: Key factors affecting costHome building costs can vary widely from one buyer to the next. The exact cost you'll pay will depend on:Location and land costsThe location you choose to build in can have a huge impact on your total building costs. While it varies widely, here's the average cost to build a house per square foot (nationally):The cost to build a house, per square footAccording to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of building a new home is $50 to $400 per square foot. The cost to build a house vs. buying depends on your market and the size and type of home you're looking for. If you're wondering how to estimate the cost of building a house off-hand, you can use online cost calculators and estimators.

Persons: HomeAdvisor, it's, You'll, They'll Organizations: HomeAdvisor, Labor, Chevron Locations: California, In Texas, Chevron

☆ The No. 1 factor to consider when investing in new clothes—anything else is a 'waste of money'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The idea is to have a streamlined closet with a limited number of basic clothing items you can mix and match. She says neglecting her personal style was one of the biggest mistakes she made while filling out her capsule wardrobe. "If you buy a piece of clothing that you don't wear often, that's a waste of money," she says. But regardless how much you spend, if it's not something you are going to wear, it's going to be a waste of money. Here are three tips to help you figure out your personal style and stop overspending on clothes.

Persons: Michela Allocca, Derek Guy, it's Organizations: of Labor Statistics, CNBC

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