Category: Employment

The widespread shift to remote work following the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically altered urban transportation trends across the United States, according to a recent study by MIT researchers.

The study reveals a marked difference in the impact of remote work on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and mass-transit usage across the country.

“A 1 percent decrease in onsite workers correlates with a roughly 1 percent reduction in automobile miles driven, but a 2.3 percent drop in mass transit ridership,” says Yunhan Zheng SM ’21, PhD ’24, an MIT postdoctoral researcher and co-author of the study.

“This is among the first studies to establish the causal relationship between remote work and its effects on vehicle miles traveled and transit ridership across the U.S.,” adds Jinhua Zhao, an MIT professor and another co-author.

Continue reading… “Remote Work’s Impact on U.S. Urban Transportation Patterns”

Polyamory has been making headlines lately, but there’s another “poly” trend on the rise: “Poly-employment,” or the practice of working more than one job. A recent study by Deputy, a workforce management platform, reveals a significant increase in poly-employed shift workers, shedding light on this emerging trend.

While the concept of holding multiple jobs to make ends meet is not new, Deputy’s study indicates a notable surge in poly-employment from 2021 to 2023. The data, drawn from 120,000 shift workers across the globe, shows a doubling of poly-employed shift workers during this period.

Continue reading… “Poly-Employment: A Growing Trend in the Workforce”

While the labor market may be experiencing a cooling trend, a silver lining emerges for new-collar workers who are poised for promising opportunities. Coined nearly a decade ago by Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, the term “new-collar” refers to positions demanding advanced skills but not necessarily a college degree, offering lucrative salaries in the top half of the U.S. wage scale.

In 2016, Rometty emphasized the importance of relevant skills over a traditional college degree, stating, “New-collar jobs may not require a traditional college degree. What matters most is that these employees — with jobs such as cloud computing technicians and services delivery specialists — have relevant skills, often obtained through vocational training.” The appeal of a four-year degree has waned in recent years due to rising college costs and increased student loan burdens, prompting a reevaluation of the return on investment.

Continue reading… “New-Collar Opportunities: Navigating the Shifting Landscape of the Labor Market”

If you have a penchant for juicy office gossip, Glassdoor is the ultimate playground, offering delectable insights into company dynamics. Whether you’re just seeking entertainment or navigating the job market, Glassdoor’s anonymous employee reviews provide a fascinating window into the corporate world.

Beyond the scintillating executive roasts, Glassdoor’s 2024 Workplace Trends report, fueled by insights from over 55 million monthly visitors, delivers noteworthy takeaways.

Continue reading… “Glassdoor’s Workplace Gossip Unveils 2024 Trends: Gen Z Rise, Benefit Packages Decline, and Middle Management Misery”

MKs Aliza Lavie (L) and Manuel Trachtenberg pose with the robot “visitor” at a session of the Knesset Science and Technology Committee, February 2, 2016 (Knesset Spokesperson)

In a world increasingly driven by automation and robotics, new job roles have emerged that require skills that cannot be replicated by machines. According to a report in The Times of Israel, some of these positions include big data analysts, time hackers, and deep divers.

Big data analysts are responsible for analyzing large datasets to extract insights and inform business decisions. These professionals use statistical analysis and machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and trends in data.

Time hackers, on the other hand, focus on optimizing the use of time. These professionals use strategies and tools to help individuals and organizations better manage their time, increase productivity, and achieve their goals.

Continue reading… “New jobs for humans in robot era: Big data deep divers, time hackers, bio-meat factory engineers”

By Jane Thier

The average starting salary for college graduates is $55,000, but current college students think they’ll earn nearly double that amount from their first job out of school.

The students said they expect to make almost $104,000, according to a recent survey of 1,000 undergrads by real estate data company Clever.

The lofty expectations are a fairly new development. The class of 2019, for example, had expected to earn nearly $50,000 less, Danetha Doe, an economist at Clever, tells Fortune. “They’re asking for more, so they can enjoy the financial comfort other generations have been able to afford,” she says, though most students clearly are having to settle for far less.

Continue reading… “This year’s college grads think they’ll earn over $100,000 from their first job. In reality, they’ll make half as much”

By Vera Gibbons

Susana Boey has always been a hard-working high-achiever so when she took a job in corporate marketing at an international media company in New York City in 2015, she rolled up her sleeves and enthusiastically got to work.

Every day, the now 31-year old Boey would make the hour-and-a-half commute from her apartment in Washington Heights to midtown Manhattan, work through lunch, and stay well past 6 p.m. “If I could fit in anything after work, that was a bonus. Work was my life and I was very fulfilled living this way,” she said, until one day she wasn’t.

“The pandemic hit, budgets got cut, workloads got bigger, workdays got longer, and I got tired,” said Boey. “I wanted a different life.”

Boey quit last spring, becoming part of a movement that’s been dubbed the “Great Resignation.”

In August alone, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs. That’s the highest number on record since the government began collecting data 20 years ago.

Continue reading… “‘The Great Resignation’ is creating more entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and freelancers”

By Jennifer Liu

Women have born the brunt of job loss and negative career impacts over the course of the pandemic, due to a host of factors such as carrying the weight of caregiving responsibilities, as well as their overrepresentation in in-person jobs vulnerable to disruption during the Covid-19 crisis.

As a result, nearly half of all women say the pandemic has negatively impacted their career path, according to a MetLife survey of 2,000 U.S. workers conducted in September. Nearly 1 in 5 women say they’ve been pushed out of the labor force altogether.

One encouraging sign is emerging, however, which could signal greater economic recovery: 2 in 3 women who’ve been forced out of work say they plan to return, according to MetLife.

At the same time, U.S. employers are facing a talent crunch as Americans quit their jobs at record rates throughout 2021, in search of roles better suited to their needs and interests. As such, employment experts say businesses must turn their attention toward what kind of work environment and solutions they can provide in order to hire and retain more working women.

Women are overwhelmingly looking for increased flexibility (78%) and career progression opportunities (73%) in their current or future employer, the MetLife report finds.

The majority of women also say that it’s important their current or future employer provides economic incentives; tailored benefits; upskilling programs; and diversity, equity and inclusion programs in order for them to feel well supported in the workplace.

Continue reading… “Nearly 2 in 3 women who left the workforce during Covid plan to return—and most want to enter this field”