Initial jobless claims down to 190K last week | Study: Employers take positive view of microcredentials | How to design effective evaluations for a remote workforce
Initial jobless claims reached a seasonally adjusted 190,000 last week, falling by 2,000 from the prior period. "There's no doubt that the labor market is still extremely strong, but because labor supply has been such an issue, the rise in unemployment claims might be muted compared to past business cycles," said Boyd Nash-Stacey of Prevedere.
A study from UPCEA and Collegis Education found that most employers view microcredentials in a positive light when they are included on a potential candidate's resume, with 76% of respondents saying it demonstrates an employee's willingness to develop skills, 63% noting that it shows initiative and 56% saying it indicates that the employee remains current in specific subject areas. A smaller number of respondents cited concerns, such as the quality of education or validating credentials or that credentials or training were incorrect or irrelevant.
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A significant percentage of older Americans do not have a nest egg, with US Census Bureau data showing that 47% of men and 50% of women between the ages of 55 and 66 have nothing saved for retirement. Tips for people in this situation include working longer and delaying taking Social Security until age 70.
Building an inclusive culture means emphasizing "we" over "they" in both thinking and communication, and dialing back a drive for authenticity that may lead to behavior that could be divisive, says leadership coach and author Sally Helgesen. "I think a little less emphasis on authenticity and a little more emphasis on what is professional in the situation would help us with communication across a range of divides," Helgesen says.
Deeper learning means understanding more than the basics of a subject but also knowing the ideas and structure that serve as its foundation, writes Isabel Bozada-Jones, a deeper learning coordinator for Reynoldsburg City Schools in Ohio. In this commentary, she talks about why deeper learning is critical to effective professional development and draws on examples from her own experiences leading teacher training programs.
My uncle Sonny and I were chatting earlier this week, catching up on what’s happening in each other’s lives. I filled him in on some changes at home and work and how I was navigating my new norm. I could hear him chuckling on the other end of the line.
“Welcome to the world of chaos, sweetheart,” he said and I knew he was smiling. Nothing much rattles my uncle. He’s weathered a lot in his 77 years -- a college football career, parenting, marriage, running a consulting business, nursing his wife through her bout with cancer. He is comfortable in the storms of pressure and uncertainty.
Lean into the challenges, he advised me. “Chaos brings opportunity, sweetheart,” he said. “Most people will focus on the chaos. Don’t do that -- you focus on the opportunity. Where’s the growth? What new fun things are happening in your market? Talk to people on the ground. Gather intelligence. You’re in an environment of excitement. Use your creativity to find new market opportunities, to solve problems. But also keep your eye on the big picture.”
Uncle Sonny’s words flickered through my head as I read today’s stories about the labor market, how employers view microcredentials, and the issues people are facing with their mental health and retirement funds. Change and disruption are swirling about us and it can be disorienting. It can paralyze decision making and cause you to be overly cautious about mistakes and new directions. That’s human. That’s fair.
But eventually we have to move. We have to make decisions. We have to learn new skills, take on new roles. We have to risk. We have to make mistakes. We have to recover.
We have to endure. It’s the only way to not just survive but, more importantly, grow.
And speaking of mistakes, I made one yesterday in this column, when I referenced Derek Carr’s career with the Oakland Raiders. It should have been the Las Vegas Raiders. My apologies for the error.
How do you navigate the world of chaos? How do you encourage your teams during storms of uncertainty and disruption? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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