Executive Recruiters See Market Stability in Today’s Jobs Report Figures

February 1, 2019 – Employers added 304,000 jobs last month as the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.0 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released this morning. Wall Street analysts had expected an increase of about 165,000. The January gain is the 100th consecutive month of job growth. The number of unemployed people currently stands at 6.5 million.

Many were concerned that January’s results would contain some “noise” due to impact from the 35-day partial government shutdown. However, the BLS said in a statement, “There were no discernible impacts of the partial federal government shutdown on the estimates of employment, hours and earnings from the establishment survey.” This is consistent with trends from other significant government shutdowns: Headline unemployment rates during the 16-day shutdown in 2013 and the three-week-long shutdown from the end of 1995 to early 1996 were not impacted by those respective government shutdowns.

“During the time it takes to get the postponed economic indicators back on schedule and allow greater confidence gauging economic strength, the Fed will continue to lean heavily on the performance of the labor market,” said Sam Bullard, managing director and senior economist for Wells Fargo Securities.

Where Job Growth Occurred

• Employment in leisure and hospitality rose by 74,000. Within the industry, job gains occurred in food services and drinking places (+37,000) and in amusements, gambling, and recreation (+32,000). Over the year, leisure and hospitality has added 410,000 jobs.
• Construction employment rose by 52,000 in January. Job gains occurred among specialty trade contractors, with increases in both the nonresidential (+19,000) and residential (+15,000) components. Employment also rose in heavy and civil engineering construction (+10,000) and residential building (+9,000). Construction has added 338,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
• Employment in healthcare increased by 42,000 in January. Within the industry, job gains occurred in ambulatory healthcare services (+22,000) and hospitals (+19,000). Healthcare has added 368,000 jobs over the past year.
• Over the month, employment in transportation and warehousing rose by 27,000, following little change in December. In January, job gains occurred in warehousing and storage (+15,000) and among couriers and messengers (+7,000). Over the year, employment in transportation and warehousing has increased by 219,000.
• In January, retail trade employment edged up by 21,000. Job gains occurred in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores (+17,000), while general merchandise stores lost jobs (-12,000). Employment in retail trade has shown little net change over the past 12 months (+26,000).

Top 5 Reasons Why the Job Market will Flourish in 2019
Many observers say that the pace of growth, with an average of more than 200,000 jobs created each month, is unsustainable. Some are even predicting a recession before 2020. But that is far from inevitable, according to a new report by ZipRecruiter, authored by labor economist Julia Pollack.

• Mining employment increased by 7,000 in January. The industry has added 64,000 jobs over the year, almost entirely in support activities for mining.
• Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up over the month (+30,000) and has increased by 546,000 in the past 12 months.
• Employment in manufacturing continued to trend up in January (+13,000). Over-the-month job gains occurred in durable goods (+20,000), while employment in nondurable goods changed little (-7,000). Manufacturing employment has increased by 261,000 over the year, with more than four-fifths of the gain in durable goods industries.

Related: The Top 10 Emerging Talent Trends for 2019

• Employment in federal government was essentially unchanged in January (+1,000). Federal employees on furlough during the partial government shutdown were counted as employed in the establishment survey because they worked or received pay (or will receive pay) for the pay period that included the 12th of the month.
• Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including wholesale trade, information, and financial activities.

Search Consultant Weigh In

Mark HuYoung, managing partner of NorthWind Partners, said: “Unmitigated U.S. job growth for the past 32 quarters is an amazing byproduct of this strong economic cycle we’ve enjoyed, and, barring any number of factors that most of us have no real control over, such as a market decline, reverse quantitative easing effects, downward shifts in government spend & trade, national security threats, etc., I don’t see unemployment taking a major step backward,” he said.

“Although I laud the overall growth and prosperity of the labor market, it has caused a tremendously disproportionate fulcrum in supply vs demand in the private equity arena where NorthWind has a significant footprint and it’s likely the same challenge my peers are finding across many sectors.”

Employers Look to Continue Hiring Plans
U.S. employers are expecting hiring to pick up in the fourth quarter, with 22 percent of employers planning to add staff, according to the latest “Employment Outlook Survey,” released today by ManpowerGroup. Employers in all U.S. regions and industry sectors are looking for headcount to grow.

“We see a great number of firms that are compelled to fight the hyper-competition for deal-proven portfolio company leadership, middle management, and skilled labor with their wallets but, for those who aren’t engaging in the bidding war, and succeeding, it is largely because they’ve developed investment optimization playbooks to attract talent that are more comprehensive than during the crest of previous economic cycles,” Mr. HuYoung said. “We are finding smart C-suite leaders largely prefer to work with sponsors who have a demonstrable track-record of creating value through operational improvement and strategic platform enhancement than being granted a large remunerative package and no resourcing to fix a company that is way behind schedule on aligning with a deal thesis.”

“Even with financial market jitters and what has become an increasingly vitriolic and zero accomplishment political front, we see the employment markets – at least through the lens of our search practice and our verticals, being relatively stable to actually quite strong,” said Brian Clarke, founder and managing partner at Kensington International.

Related: The Global Recruiting Sector is in Growth Mode, But Challenges Loom

“Large cap clients/companies are continuing to both invest in and upgrade talent in key positions (especially those directly impacting the bottom line) and our PE practice – especially in industrial and healthcare services – is picking up right we’re it left off in 2018 – very strong. Overall, we do not see the markets slowing really and remain bullish,” he said.

“The number of applicants for unemployment rose last week and it is the highest it’s been since 9/2017, but still low so most workers are enjoying job stability,” said Margaret-Ann Cole, president of Crenshaw Associates. “At this point, our business reflects that stability.”

“There haven’t been huge layoffs and we continue to see companies searching for the right talent especially at the senior executive level,” she noyted. “I don’t think we have seen the full extent of the impact of the recent government shutdown on private sector.”

Related: Economic Climate Creating Challenges for Recruiters

“Unemployment and labor participation rates are projected to decline in 2019 into 2020, said John Uprichard, CEO of Find Great People. “Regardless of a shift in the economy, the demand for critical and specialized skill sets will be much greater than the availability of talent. This is going to force organizations to diversify their recruitment strategies, and look at candidates through the same lens in which they look at customers.”

“As specialists in the life sciences and healthcare industry, the demand for executive level talent far outweighing the supply,” said Robert Hennessy, CEO of The Hennessy Group. “The unemployment rate in the life sciences industry is at a historic low and those companies slow to realize and accept this new reality must now play catch-up as the talent train leaves them behind.”

For some companies trying to develop new therapies, he added, “launch new products, and/or expand into new markets ahead of competitors, their lack of awareness in the labor and talent markets may cause irreparable damage to their companies. The problem is more acute in certain geographic biopharma hubs. Companies have been stealing from one another in areas like Boston and San Francisco. The more progressive companies which need new leaders to support their growth are being more flexible with virtual offices, satellite offices, compensation and sign-on bonuses.”

“Many Americans pursue a career with the government because it provides job security, but as today’s numbers show, with the recent five-week long shutdown, more workers are turning to the gig economy to pay their bills on time,” said Rebecca Henderson, CEO of Randstad Sourceright.

“As the possibility of another government shutdown approaches, some of these workers may find that they prefer the flexibility the gig economy provides,” she added. “And for employers facing the tightest labor market in years, the rise in white collar gig workers can help fill gaps in their workforce.” 

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media