US job openings dropped to 10.3 million in October from 10.7 million in September, according to a Labor Department report that the Federal Reserve is closely watching to gauge how its inflation-fighting policies are performing. "The labor market is cooling (what the Fed wants) but it is far from cold," said Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets.

Private companies added 127,000 jobs to their payrolls for November, well below the 239,000 positions reported in October and the smallest gain since January 2021, according to ADP. The number also fell below the Dow Jones estimate of 190,000.

Employers can help reduce staff members' financial stress and support their peace of mind by offering financial wellness education and resources through the workplace. A survey report from TalentLMS found that retirement planning, investment programs and emergency savings topped the list of offerings in which respondents were interested, with 78% saying employer-based financial wellness support was important to them, and 61% saying they were more likely to stay in their current positions if such resources were available.

Diversity in STEM fields is critical to mitigate the potential for bias based on gender, race and other factors, writes Calvin Mackie, founder of the nonprofit STEM Global Action, which promotes STEM education for underserved students. In this commentary, Mackie points to reports that have shown that tools and technologies developed without diversity of humans in mind, such as pulse oximeters and seat belts, can be dangerous.

Performance reviews have not evolved with the workplace to acknowledge bias and to emphasize the influence of knowledge work, remote models and collaboration, writes Confirm CEO and co-founder Josh Merrill. Merrill describes how his company leverages data to address these gaps, using quick online surveys and questions such as, "Who at the company do you go to for help and advice?"

Read Pew Research Center's survey here.