August Employment Expectations Take Dramatic Dive A continually soft labor market is expected to be even weaker in August 2008 than a year ago, with hiring expectations, recruiting difficulty and new-hire compensation all down sharply in manufacturing and service sectors, according to the latest SHRM/Rutgers LINE survey report. Read this article

Recent Webcasts Best of Times, Worst of Times: Recruiting in a Down Economy May 2008 View this webcast now Turning Reference Checking into an Effective Assessment Tool May 2008 View this webcast now The Evolution of Recruiting the Retail Workforce April 2008 View this webcast now

Staffing Management News June Mass Layoffs Highest Since 2003, DOL Reports The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 1,643 mass layoffs in June--the highest level of layoffs for that month since 2003. The associated initial unemployment claims reached the highest level since 2002. Education, not Age, Biggest Influence on Older Workers’ Training Engagement A new AARP national survey has found that workers age 50 and over are satisfied with employer-based training programs offered to them, and they participate in those programs in large numbers. Feds Reaping Benefits of Wireless Internet Access A new survey of federal government IT executives and teleworkers finds that a majority of respondents believe wireless Internet is secure and wireless technologies significantly boost productivity and business continuity benefits. Take Charge of Executive Recruiting Definitely not a fan of executive recruiters, author Joseph Daniel McCool contends that they promote personal career advancement over organizational needs, mangle corporate brands and send executive pay through the roof. Using Internet Information To Screen Job Candidates Not Advised While the Internet has revolutionized the recruiting function, using the web for screening and verification purposes as part of the background screening process has many drawbacks. More Staffing Management articles

More Employment News House Leader Determined To Extend ‘E-Verify’ by 10 Years (SHRM Global Focus Area) ‘New Collar’ Workers Gravitate to Hourly Career Positions (HR News) DOL Faulted on Enforcement of Wage and Hour Laws (HR News) Telecommuting Becomes Succession Planning Tool (HR News) Federal Minimum Wage Set for Second Stage of Increase (HR News) GAO: E-Verify Can’t Eliminate Identity Fraud (HR News)

SHRM Research SHRM Symposium on Human Capital Analytics The executive summary of the SHRM Symposium on Human Capital Analytics contains input from more than 20 senior-level practitioners, academics, consultants and members of all three SHRM boards. Key themes highlighted: How human capital analytics are being used in organizations today. Limitations of current usage and barriers to more-relevant applications that drive organizational decisions. Barriers and emerging roles for human capital analytics over the next five years. Read this report now

Discussion Areas Participate in the conversations your colleagues are having on the Recruiting & Staffing discussion area. Join a discussion now

Salary Survey Directory The war for talent and proliferation of pay information are increasing pressure on HR offices to have and use accurate, up-to-date market pay information, to share it with managers and employees and, at times, to defend its use while refuting incorrect or inferior data. Knowledge of and skill in selecting and using compensation surveys are required. This directory will assist HR professionals in locating, using and aging salary survey data; adjusting salaries to account for cost of living differentials; and avoiding antitrust issues related to compensation benchmarking. Salary Survey Directory

SHRM Testing Center SHRM has partnered with online testing provider pan to offer its members a cost-effective, web-based system that is ideal for the distribution, analysis and administration of professional tests and assessments. More than 400 valid, reliable tests from more than 50 publishers are available online and searchable by name, type or publisher. To review or administer available tests, click here.