The first quarter of the year is almost over, and the job market is still doing very well.
Express surveyed business owners, decision makers, and human resource professionals about the overall hiring trends in their markets and how they impact their hiring decisions.
Optimism for a strong 2019 continues into the second quarter as recession concerns remain low for the year.
Forty-one percent of survey respondents said their employment markets are “trending up” in the second quarter of 2019, and only 11% forecast a downward trend in employment activity. Additionally, 95% of respondents reported that they do not currently live in an area in recession and do not expect the country to enter into a recession within the next year. However, it is notable that nearly half (48%) said they foresee a recession within the next two years.
The top segments hiring in the second quarter of 2019 include:
- General Labor (Industrial): 39%
- Skilled Labor (Industrial): 33%
- Administrative/Office Clerical: 18%
- Accounting/Finance: 8%
- Engineering: 8%
Segments creating the most NEW positions in the second quarter include:
- Marketing: 52%
- Information Technology: 71%
- Engineering: 56%
- Accounting and Finance: 50%
- Skilled Labor: 45%
- Administrative/Office Clerical: 36%
The labor shortage shows no signs of stopping. Businesses must be willing to compete on wages.
In what’s beginning to sound like a broken record, recruiting skilled talent continues to be a challenge for businesses as 77% of survey respondents say it’s either “Somewhat Difficult” or “Very Difficult” to recruit for and fill open positions. Compensation factors represent some of the top reasons businesses say applicants turn down job offers, including lack of advancement opportunity, lack of benefits, and low pay. According to the survey, 35% of respondents expect wages to increase over the next three months.
Pay range for non-management, skilled positions:
- Less than $50,000: 65%
- $51,000 – 75,000: 31%
- $76,000 – 100,000: 3%
- $101,000+: < 1%
Pay range for non-management, un-skilled positions:
- Federal Min. Wage $7.25/hr.(U.S.): 2%
- $7.26 – 10/hr.: 10%
- $11 – 15/hr.: 66%
- $16 – 20/hr.: 14%
- $20+/hr.: 3%
