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October 7, 2024

Hiring in an age of uncertainty

There were a few data signals going into Friday’s blockbuster jobs report that many market watchers and economists missed. Layoffs, as measured by a rolling four-week average of initial jobless claims, hit their lowest level in more than a year and a half. August showed an uptick in job openings, a hint that companies were about to ramp up hiring. And September’s ADP National Employment Report suggested that a rebound in private-sector hiring was under way.
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July 19, 2021

MainStreet Macro: How much is too much inflation?

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

As inflation climbs -- businesses and consumers wonder what this trend means for economic recovery. In this episode of MainStreet Macro, ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson breaks down the three key relationships influencing inflation and overall economic health.
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July 12, 2021

MainStreet Macro: Special Edition- The glass ceiling just got harder to crack

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

Women’s job losses during the pandemic topped those of men for the first time in U.S. economic history. The “shecession” left millions of women pulled between work and new family responsibilities. As employees, women also were concentrated in industries hit hardest by social-distancing restrictions, such as retail and leisure and hospitality. At the ADP Research Institute, we wanted to know what happened to the women who stayed in the workforce during the pandemic year. Here are a few things we learned about women in the workplace during the pandemic.
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June 28, 2021

MainStreet Macro: Introducing ADP’s Quarterly Small Business @ Work Survey 

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

Main Street firms were forced to reduce headcount quickly during the pandemic. But thanks to a potent formula of government stimulus and sheer grit, small firms led the recovery from the worst of the downturn. A new quarterly survey from the ADP Research Institute might help. The Small Business @ Work Survey, which I’m pleased to introduce here, will take the ongoing pulse of their economy. Here are key findings from our inaugural report.
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June 21, 2021

MainStreet Macro: The Fed’s Role: Thermometer or thermostat? 

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

It came as a surprise to no one, anywhere, that the Fed left interest rates at near zero when the Board of Governors met for its regularly scheduled policy meeting last week. The twist in the announcement, though, was a hint that the Fed might raise short-term rates and lower monthly bond purchases sooner than it had suggested. Today we discuss what hats the Fed needs to wear to help Wall Street, Main Street and the overall economy.
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June 14, 2021

MainStreet Macro: Should MainStreet Care about Student Debt?

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

This month, students around the country will graduate from college, vocational schools, and high school after a year of learning like no other.  Well it’s almost like no other.  One constant of higher education before and after the pandemic has been its high price tag. U.S. students owe a whopping $1.7 trillion in combined debt. Outstanding student loans have skyrocketed 90% over the past decade. Should Main Street care about student debt?
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June 7, 2021

MainStreet Macro: Where are the workers?

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

Last week, the May jobs report captured the attention of economists, policymakers, Wall Street and Main Street. We know where the jobs are. This week, we answer the other question that has plagued us this year – where are all the workers?
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June 1, 2021

MainStreet Macro: The Economy Needs a Vacation–Yours

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial kickoff to summer. If you’re like me, yours looks like a combination of work and play. But this year, many Americans have had to postpone their usual summer planning. And many others are preparing to make do with less as states begin to revoke a federal unemployment benefit. On this weeks blog, we look at three ways of looking at this summer's labor outlook.
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May 24, 2021

MainStreet Macro: The Retail Remix

by Nela Richardson, Ph.D.

Last week we explained how to understand the economy in five easy steps. This week we focus on the most important indicator to watch – consumer spending. The great reopening has many of us dusting off our credit cards to shop (I’ll be honest, I never stopped). Yet the retail landscape is being transformed. Trends in place before COVID-19 accelerated during the pandemic and are remixing retail into the future.
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