US job growth remained steady in April, the Labor Department reported, with the US economy adding 428,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remaining near its pre-pandemic low. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% month over month and 5.5% year over year as the labor market remains tight.

With so many workers expecting flexibility from their employers, remote working hours have shifted almost overnight from a once-rare benefit to a minimum requirement for job seekers. Now, with the price of living quickly escalating, pay increases have become a priority in the past few months among those searching for a new job.

Make happiness a priority by taking short mental breaks to focus on happy thoughts and training your brain to notice what brings you joy, writes Irene Becker. "Happiness comes from our heart; it starts by training our brain to recognize and emphasize what the heart already knows," Becker writes.

Employees working for small businesses have largely been left out of the 401(k) retirement savings scene, with only 12% of companies that employ fewer than 100 people offering the plans. However, a report by Human Interest showed that up to 85% of small-business staff members participated when a plan was offered to them.

Employers must make a concerted effort to build a diverse workforce and may need to change their thinking to get it right, writes Shane Paladin, CEO of Siteimprove. Paladin offers four strategies employers can use, including removing mandates for college degrees and building a leadership pipeline from within.

Have any of you experienced this phenomenon? How did you handle it? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.