December capped a year of strong job growth as employers added 312,000 positions, beating expectations for year-end hiring by a wide margin. In total, more than 2.6 million new jobs were created in 2018, compared to about 2.2 million the year before.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following sectors created the most jobs last month:
- Education and health services: 82,000 jobs added
- Leisure and hospitality: 55,000 jobs added
- Professional and business services: 43,000 jobs added
- Construction: 38,000 jobs added
- Manufacturing: 32,000 jobs added
Unemployment edges up to 3.9 percent
The national unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent in December, from 3.7 percent the previous month.
The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers who are 25 or older decreased slightly to 2.1 percent. In November, the unemployment rate for these highly sought-after workers was 2.2 percent.
What employers need to know
Here’s an important question to consider now that the new year has arrived: How able is your company to compete for top talent in 2019? Yes, competition has been fierce for skilled talent — and it remains so. But there may be other factors affecting your firm’s hiring efforts.
Common challenges include:
- Failing to offer a compensation package that is competitive enough
- Overlooking the importance of talking up the unique aspects of your organizational culture, which can often be a make-or-break factor in hiring
- A hiring process that is too long and complicated
- Job postings that are bland and boring — or overly specific (thus potentially deterring candidates who meet the core requirements from applying)
Many in-demand professionals are beginning to look for new jobs right now — energized by the start of a new year. Don’t miss this opportunity to show them why your company could be exactly what they’re searching for. You also may want to consider tapping a reputable staffing firm whose recruiting specialists can help you cover more ground and move fast to engage top candidates.
