Employment expert discusses new findings about “job switching” among young people

“Job switching” is a fast-moving trend which has changed the face of the American workplace.

“Gone are the days of retiring after 50 years with a gold watch,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “A new study has found that job-switching continues to rise, particularly among Millennials and those working in the tech industry.”

Wilson says that “job-switching” is the result of employees seeking greater learning opportunities and increased pay. “Today’s young workers aren’t afraid to leave a well-paying, suitable job, which makes them different from former generations. And, research shows that this willingness to try new things pays off, especially when you are young: New research shows that workers who spend 2-3 years at their first job end up earning more money over their lifetime than workers who spend 4 or more years in the same role.”

The employment trends expert says that becoming complacent could stagnate an employee’s growth, as well as keep them from learning new skills and networking with new people.

“A person who shows up to the same office every day for years is probably not going to be greeted by opportunity very often,” says Wilson. “On the other hand, workers who are willing to put themselves out there and keep their skills sharp could find that their tenacity pays off.”

So, what should employers do to keep employees from bailing?

“Make sure that you are offering your employees more than just a paycheck. Along with room for advancement, offer your employees continued learning seminars and educational opportunities. Allow them room for creative control where possible, and help tease out their hidden skills and abilities.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employment trends expert explains new findings and whether humans should fear being replaced by A.I.

A new study suggests that previous findings regarding job automation predictions might have been way off. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says that fears over artificial intelligence stealing jobs might be overstated.

“The findings from the OECD are helping to reassure some workers who feared that they were going to be replaced by robots in the next 20 years,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “These researchers are now saying that previous numbers were overstated and did not take into account different types of jobs which fall under the same name and title.”

In other words, says Wilson, previous studies regarding job automation may have been too broad. In fact, when it comes to considering the risks of artificial intelligence’s impact on the workforce and our economy, Wilson says we need to break down the numbers as much as possible.

“The fact remains that earlier findings show that fast-food workers could be at serious risk of losing their jobs to robots in the next several years. Another recent study found that each new robot added per 1,000 workers causes wages to drop in the surrounding area by around 0.25 and 0.5 percent,” says Wilson. “We can clearly see that in specific industries, the impact of automation cannot be overstated.”

Wilson says minimum wage hikes could also make robots the preferred option for employers. “Robots don’t need raises,” he says. “They don’t need healthcare or sick days. For employers who are looking down the barrel of ever-increasing business costs, robots are a cost-saving option in the long-run.”

The employment trends expert also points to a new study which highlighted the fact that Seattle workers lost $129 a month on average after the city’s minimum wage was increased to $15.

“Higher wages sound like a boon for employees, until you realize that employers simply cannot keep pace with these increased costs,” says Wilson. “As a result, they cut staff, limit hours…and consider new technology like automation to replace workers. This is just the beginning of a very disturbing new trend which could lead millions to end up out of work.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employment trends expert breaks down the numbers from Friday’s jobs report

After a pleasantly shocking jobs report on Friday, employment experts are now saying that the United States is at ‘full employment.’ But, what does this mean for Americans, and are the numbers really as good as they seem?

“February’s jobs report is a solid sign that our economy is getting stronger,” says Rob Wilson, president of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “Not only were 313,000 jobs added in a variety of low, middle, and high-wage industries, but we also saw an influx of hundreds of thousands of people rejoining the job market. This is huge news, as there had been fears that our workforce was depleted and that many Americans were simply opting to not seek employment.”

However, the employment expert explains that some people might be misled by the news that America is now at ‘full employment.’

“Full employment does not mean that every American has a job,” says Wilson. “Full employment is a term that economists use to describe optimal employment, when unemployment is at the lowest possible level without causing an unhealthy rebound of inflation in which employers have to compete too intensely for workers and bump up wages too quickly.”

In other words, our current economy is one that is optimal for both workers and employers.

Wilson says, “2018 is already off to an incredible start. We have added an average of 276,000 jobs a month, compared to 182,000 in 2017, and this growth shows no signs of stopping.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employment expert explains why more workers are freelancing…but is it a good idea?

The amount of people relying on freelance gigs for their sole salary has increased steadily in recent years. By 2021, over 9 million Americans are expected to be part of the country’s ‘gig economy,’ in which workers cut ties with companies and work for themselves. And, President Trump’s new tax reform could hasten and increase this growth, but what impact could that have on workers and company growth?

“There is a provision in Trump’s tax law which will allow sole proprietors (including freelancers like Uber drivers, graphic designers, consultants, etc.) to deduct 20 percent of their revenue from their taxable income,” explains Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, an employment-solutions firm based in Chicago, IL.

Wilson explains that this tax provision could add up to thousands of dollars in savings each year. “In addition, this tax provision will be beneficial for bosses who are looking to save on payroll costs. By switching workers from salaried employees to contracted freelancers, they can save big…and workers will have less reason to complain, as they can earn more money under the new provision as well.”

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New Study Says Poor Health is Partially to Blame for America’s Unemployment

Employment numbers have been very encouraging lately, but a brand-new Gallup survey for the Center for Advancing Opportunity is cause for alarm. The survey found that the people who most need steady jobs (such as those living in impoverished neighborhoods) are actually still greatly behind the rest of the nation when it comes to employment. And, it turns out that poor health could be to blame.

“Low-income areas have an unemployment rate of about 10 percent, compared to our current national rate of unemployment, which is about 4 percent,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, and employment trends expert. “While we tend to blame factors like lack of job growth in these areas, this new Gallup survey has pinpointed a very surprising culprit: Chronic health issues and overall poor health. This can include things like diabetes, obesity, back problems, and cardiac concerns.”

According to the survey, about 30 percent of job-seekers in these areas say that they can’t find work or maintain employment due to their health issues.

Wilson says that this survey is important because it highlights where our country’s focus needs to be in order to help improve job numbers.

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Employment trends expert explains the shocking new numbers regarding jobs and automation

It was just announced that 375 million jobs may be automated by 2030. Those most at risk at being replaced by robots include those that work in fast-food and data collection and processing.

“If you work in a physical job that has a predictable environment, such as a fast food worker who takes orders, you are at risk of being replaced in the future,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “The same is true for people who work in low or mid-tier office jobs, such as data entry specialists, paralegals, and many more.”

Wilson says that we are already seeing signs of this in our fast-food restaurants and fast casual dining spots. “Places like Panera and Wendy’s are using kiosks and self-service tablets to simplify the customer experience and to make ordering even faster. The same is true for sit-down restaurants like Chili’s and Olive Garden. While many people enjoy the convenience of using a computer versus waiting for a server, it’s causing a great deal of concern for low-level employees and people who don’t have access to continuing education and job training.”

Wilson also believes that minimum wage hikes could make robots the preferred option for employers. “Robots don’t need raises,” he says. “They don’t need health care or sick days. For employers who are looking down the barrel of ever-increasing business costs, robots are a cost-saving option in the long-run.”

However, Wilson assures Americans that automation is far from a death knell for the economy. “Yes, automation is going to change the economic landscape, but it’s not going to turn the country into a dystopia run by robots. However, workers do need to make sure that they diversify their skills and become adept in many different functions, as robots (such as the automated burger flippers in fast-food joints) have limited abilities. It’s no longer enough to just show up and do your daily duties. A worker has to be engaged, present and connected to their fellow workers and their customers, as this human connection is something that a robot can never achieve.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.

Employment trends expert explains the latest jobs numbers and what they mean moving forward

Over 260,000 jobs were added in October. But, what does this latest jobs report mean for the average American?

“Last week’s numbers were quite encouraging,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert. “Even with hurricanes and other major natural disasters across the country, the job market continued to stay strong and show positive growth.”

Wilson says that this latest report suggests that the American economy could be in the strongest place it has been in recent years. “Jobs have been growing for a while now,” says the employment trends expert. “But, we were always quick to caution Americans that it could be a blip. At this point, I think it is now safe to say that this is not an anomaly: the employment market is finally recovered and resilient once again.”

The employment trends expert points out that October’s numbers are the highest in more than a year, “Additionally, unemployment has not been this low since Clinton was in office,” says Wilson. “And, other indicators (like consumer spending) are also very heartening.”

For more on this topic, please contact Rob Wilson at rwilson@thewilsoncompanies.com.