1. October 22, 2013
U.S. EMPLOYERS HIRED
A TOTAL OF
AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS
(ALL WORKERS)
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
FELL TO
148,000
$24.09
7.2%
WORKERS IN SEPTEMBER
2.1% ABOVE LAST YEAR
7.8% LAST SEPTEMBER
DELAYED JOBS REPORT SENDS MIXED SIGNALS
• Job growth was subdued in September, but unemployment continued to edge
down slowly, reaching its lowest point since 2008.
• The moderate pace of hiring suggests that even before the government
shutdown, employers were somewhat lacking in confidence.
• Too early to predict how much the recent policy battles in Washington will
affect the U.S. economy and its ability to create jobs.
Job creation in the U.S. cooled slightly in September, according to the BLS employment figures, which were released more than two
weeks later than normal due to the federal government shutdown. Employers added just 148,000 workers to their payrolls in
September, lower than expected and under the year-to-date monthly average of around 180,000 new jobs per month. Revisions to
the prior months’ employment gains were marginal, amounting to a net 9,000 more jobs in July and August.
(Continued)
NOTE: Next month’s employment figures will be released on November 8, rescheduled from November 1, due to the federal government shutdown.

2. Talent Market Monthly: October 22, 2013
September's employment figures are decidedly a mixed bag.
Although unemployment continues to trend downward,
employers still remain very hesitant to add significantly to
their payrolls. The pace of job creation has been frustratingly
modest, suggesting that the economy and perhaps the
policymaking climate need to improve in order for
organizations to regain real confidence in hiring.
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Total non-farm employment growth
Unemployment Rate (%)
Encouragingly, the unemployment rate continues to inch
downward, reaching a nearly five-year low of 7.2% in
September. The decrease in the unemployment rate also came
for the right reasons: an increase in jobs, rather than a dip in
the labor force. There are still 11.25 million unemployed
workers in the U.S.—a substantial figure, but more than a
million fewer than there were at the end of 2012.
U.S. MONTHLY EMPLOYMENT CHANGE AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Employment (000s)
Job creation was widely spread across industry sectors in
September. Construction industry hiring was strong, with
20,000 workers added, and more than 23,000 workers were
hired in the transportation and warehousing industry.
Employment in professional and business services was up
(+32,000), although gains were slightly lower than the sector’s
year-to-date average of 55,000 new jobs per month.
Unemployment rate
EMPLOYMENT OVERVIEW
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
Total non-farm employment growth
199K
176K
172K
89K
193K
148K
Private sector employment growth
157K
187K
194K
100K
161K
126K
Unemployment rate
7.5%
7.6%
7.6%
7.4%
7.3%
7.2%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
WORKING LONGER
Retirement is supposed to mean the end of a lifetime of working, a transition to
leisure after a long, productive career. But more people these days are working
well past the traditional retirement age. More than a quarter (27%) of the US
population ages 65-74 is active in the labor force today, a proportion that has
steadily risen since the early 1990s. Nearly 20% of people ages 70-74 are now
active in the labor force, up from 11% twenty years ago.
And these numbers will continue to grow. More than 80% of Americans say they
are likely to work in their retirement years, particularly those who are driven by
financial considerations. A third believe they will have to work until they are at
least 80 years old in order to live comfortably. The BLS predicts that by 2020,
one-fourth of the U.S. workforce will be over age 55.
Employers need to address the challenges and embrace the opportunities that
come with having an older workforce. Accommodating age-related physical
limitations, providing flexible work hours, adopting temporary or project-based
work options, and offering multi-generational training are some of the ways
companies can support older workers and begin to realize the full benefits of
having a more mature workforce.
An Equal Opportunity Employer ©2013 Kelly Services, Inc. W1093e. Kelly Services, Inc. makes no representation or warranty with respect to the material contained in this report.
Sources: HRE Online, 09.19.13; BLS; AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 10.2013