Employability in USA 2024: Prospects and Challenges

The employment situation in the United States has changed significantly in recent months, highlighting both challenges and opportunities in the labour market. In June, the unemployment rate was 4.1%, with around 6.8 million people out of work. This is an increase from a year earlier, when the unemployment rate was 3.6% and the number of unemployed was 6.0 million.

Among the different demographic groups, an increase in the unemployment rate was observed for adult women (3.7%) and Asians (4.1%). Meanwhile, other groups such as adult men (3.8%), teenagers (12.1%), whites (3.5%), blacks (6.3%) and Hispanics (4.9%) showed minimal changes. Of concern is the increase in the number of long-term unemployed, which now stands at 1.5 million, or 22.2% of all unemployed.

On the employment side, non-farm payroll employment rose by 206,000 in June, a figure similar to the monthly average of 220,000 over the past twelve months. The main contributors to this growth were government, health and social work and construction.

However, employability also faces problems related to employees' perceptions of their working environment. A recent study shows that around 32% of workers feel that their ideas are not valued by colleagues of a different age. In addition, 25% are concerned about their job security because of their age.

Mental health at work is another major challenge. Although the majority of workers (67%) have reported symptoms of burnout, such as lack of motivation and feelings of isolation, a significant number fear that talking about mental health issues could affect their career.

On the other hand, hiring expectations are optimistic, with 34% of US employers reporting strong hiring intentions for the second quarter of 2024. This is an increase of 4% from last year, indicating a small but positive change in the employment outlook.

As the US labour market evolves, it is essential that companies and governments implement policies that promote inclusion and well-being for all workers. Encouraging generational diversity and providing mental health support are critical steps to improving employability and job satisfaction in the country. With a combination of innovation, training and attention to the needs of workers, it is possible to build a more resilient and productive work environment.

To address America's employability challenges, it is essential that both workers and employers engage in creating inclusive and positive work environments. Let's act together to build a better work future for all!

References

American Psychological Association (2024). U.S. workers adjust to the changing nature of employment: Highlights from the 2024 Work in America survey. Recovered from https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2024

ManpowerGroup (2024) Q2 2024 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey Global Findings . Recovered from https://go.manpowergroup.com/hubfs/MPG_GLOBAL_EN_MEOS_Report_2Q24.pdf

United States of America Department of Labor (2024) Bureau of labor statistics . Recovered from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf