On the positive side, on average, older workers (those aged 55 and over) show lower rates of unemployment; however, if unemployed experience longer durations of unemployment compared to their younger counterparts, according to a report on unemployed older workers. [i] In the final of our blog series on unemployment amongst American work groups, we explore the employment situation for older workers. Continue reading
AJE is Proud to Sponsor the TILG NC / SC ILG Regional Summit
Are you an Industry Liaison Group (ILG) member? Have you attended a regional event? If you are a federal contractor employer, HR or EEO manager, or anyone involved in compliance recruitment and employment issues, ILG meetings are must attend events. As part of our ongoing commitment to support ILG members, America’s Job Exchange is proud to sponsor the upcoming Triangle Industry Liaison Group (TILG) NC/SC ILG Regional Summit, March 12, 2013, Chapel Hill, NC. Continue reading
OFCCP Issues Directive 306 – Reinforces Best Practices on Use of Criminal Records When Making Employment Decisions
In its ongoing effort to enact policies that prohibit intentional discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, or other protected groups, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a new directive on January 29, 2013, Directive 306. Directive 306 cautions Federal Contractors to be mindful when making employment decisions based on criminal history records of job applicants. The Directive adopts the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records “best practices,” which outline how employers can avoid liability for discrimination based on the use of criminal records in employment. The EEOC is the Federal Agency that administers and enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Continue reading
Part 4 of our Unemployment Series – American Youths Continue to be Prone to High Rates of Unemployment
As we continue our series on unemployment, we take a closer look at American youths. Unemployment continues to impact all sectors of the labor market; however, its critical impact on American youths, or those aged 16 to 24, cannot be discounted. While overall employment has improved year over year (last reported at 7.9 percent in the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Jobs Report released for January 2013), young adults have not fared as well. [i] In fact, the unemployment situation for those in this age bracket has not improved, counter to the trend for the general population. Continue reading
OFCCP Announces Measures to Strengthen its Ability to Identify and Remedy Contractor Pay Practices
As of February 28, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced it will rescind two guidelines restricting its ability to investigate pay discrimination, specifically its ”Compensation Standards” and “Voluntary Guidelines,” initially implemented in 2006. [i] Continue reading
Part 3 of our Unemployment Series – Exploring the Disparity in Unemployment with African American Workers
During the past month we’ve taken a close look at the unemployment situation and its impact on vital labor sectors including veterans and disabled Americans. In part three of our series, we dissect the African American employment situation.
Like several diverse working groups, African American unemployment is higher than the national average, or at 13.8 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s January 2013 jobs report. [i] This is a full 75 percent higher than the national average, which currently stands at 7.9 percent. And while the national employment situation has improved over the past several years, down from a high of 9.1 percent in January 2011, African Americans have not enjoyed an unemployment rate of 7.9 percent since January of 2007 – which was still higher than white workers, who held an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent at the same time. [ii] Continue reading
