July 2021 Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey

  Note: Survey responses were collected from July 6 to July 12. Manufacturing activity in the region continued to expand this month, according to firms responding to the July Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The indicators for general activity, shipments, and new orders all declined but remain elevated. The firms continued to report increases in employment and […]

Labor Shortage Remains a Challenge for Small Businesses as Inflation Increases

National Federation of Independent Business (07/13/21) Small business owner optimism is rising as the economy opens up, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB optimism index increased 2.9 points in June to 102.5, the first time the index exceeded 100 since November 2020. Seven of the 10 index components improved and three […]

Outdoor, Multi-Employer Hire Event

In search of a new job opportunity? Join us this Thursday for our Hire Event! Outdoor, Multi-Employer Hire Event Thursday, July 15 10:00 am – 1:00 pm NCWorks Career Center of Forsyth County 2701 University Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC LJVM Coliseum Parking Lot   Can’t make the event? Apply online here and we’ll help find the […]

Pay Rate, Location, Culture Among Top Reasons Temps Accept Assignments: SIA Report

Pay rate is the most important criteria temporary workers use to decide whether to take an offered assignment, according to a report by Staffing Industry Analysts. However, other factors also matter. “With the labor market as tight as it is right now, staffing firms will need to not just match candidate to assignment but sell […]

Job Openings Rise to Record, Underscore Hiring Difficulties

Bloomberg (07/07/21) Pickert, Reade; Rockeman, Olivia The number of job openings climbed to 9.21 million in May from a downwardly revised 9.19 million in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is a new record high. The number of hires decreased to 5.93 million in May from 6.01 million, while the hires […]

Strong Business Activity Growth Rounds Off Best Quarter in PMI Survey History

IHS Markit News Release (07/06/21) June data indicated a further marked upturn in business activity across the U.S. service sector, supported by a substantial rise in client demand, according to IHS Markit. Business confidence in the outlook also improved to the second-highest in seven years. Rates of output and new order growth eased from May’s […]