The Workscape Podcast

As the elves are busy crafting toys and wrapping gifts, the Workscape Podcast is getting ready to close the 2021 chapter. And what a year it’s been! We are (thankfully?) approaching the end of the unpredictable rollercoaster that was the 2021 labor economy, and your hosts are happy to announce that unemployment numbers are now back to what they were pre-COVID. But don’t unbuckle your seat belt just yet, we’ve still got plenty of data points to share with you. And in this episode, we’re even...

Want to avoid a hefty fine of $14,000? In this special edition of the Workscape podcast, Marissa Campbell makes a quick appearance to explain how INLOCH helps companies comply with Biden’s new COVID-19 employer mandate, which requires all employers with 100+ employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require a negative test result weekly. Tune in to this short Workscape episode to learn more about the controversial topic of vaccine mandates and what they could mean for...

Will Biden’s vaccine mandate cause a surge in self-employment? How will the economy manage during the Holidays? And can you guess which age group represents the largest gap in return to work? Hint: it might not be the one you think. Your favorite recruitment podcasters are back with another episode of ‘’So What? Who Cares?’’. After briefly discussing the supply chain issues currently affecting the nation, Michael O’Dell and Ron Hetrick go over the usual labor participation rates & BLS...

The last 18 months have made workers of all levels re-evaluate their lives and their careers. Concepts such as reskilling, upskilling, and work-life balance have recently gained in popularity. In a job market fraught with talent scarcity, many employers are now enhancing their EVP with education assurance benefits, and that’s exactly what Allison Salisbury came to discuss. With Guild Education, large firms are able to provide their employees with various opportunities ranging from...

As we are entering the last quarter of 2021, what can we expect the job market to look like in the coming months? This episode will give you a good picture of the power September has over the speculations for the rest of the year. In addition to discussing the monthly BLS reports and predictions, Michael O’Dell and Ron Hetrick dig even deeper into the causes and consequences of unemployment in the U.S. today. And by "deeper", we mean all the way down to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Curious...

What’s a living wage as opposed to a minimum wage? What are the benefits of facilitating previously incarcerated people find work? And what does it mean for a company to adopt a ‘’remote-first’’ culture? Is that what we call a ‘’distributed company’’? In this new Workscape podcast episode of a different kind, Michael O’Dell sits with Rachel Kim and Katie Evans, both VPs at Wonolo, and discuss how their company became a reference and inspiration in terms of quality of life at work. Learn...

It’s back-to-school season and the boys are here to discuss current labor force participation rates and unemployment rates. How do these vary across industries, generations and education level? How are Covid measures and the Delta variant affecting state economies? And how correct were Michael and Ron’s job openings predictions from last month? Find out on this So What? Who Cares? episode of the Workscape podcast.

July 2021 numbers: In this month's episode of "So What? Who Cares?" Michael chats over the phone with economist and friend Ron Hetrick from EMSI, to discuss the current state of the US labor market. July saw a surprisingly high number of jobs added, exceeding our duo's predictions from last month. How can we explain such a rise in just a few weeks? Ron presents several potential reasons, and they might not all be related to a post-pandemic context... Michael and Ron also discuss the...

June 2021: In this month's episode of "So What? Who Cares?" Michael and Ron discuss the June 2021 unemployment numbers and the labor shortage currently gripping the nation. They look at the differences in work attitudes with different generations and possible predictions for when people may return to work in a post-covid market. NPR article on millions of workers quitting PressHerald article on Maine hiring bonuses US Chamber of Commerce on covid workforce crisis

In this month's episode of "So What? Who Cares?" Michael and guest economist Ron Hetrick discuss the May 2021 employment numbers and the effect of the labor shortage on the housing market and the fast food industry. While on a beach trip with his family, Michael witnessed what seems to be a significant shift in restoration recruitment. He shares his experience with us here. Michael and Ron also initiate the debate on modern drug testing in the process of recruitment. Controversial examples...

In this month's segment of "So What? Who Cares?" Michael and guest economist Ron Hetrick from EMSI discuss the April 2021 BLS report numbers and give you an update on how many new jobs are open out there in the US. Michael and Ron discuss what consequences the unemployment benefits the government provided during the pandemic, has in today's context. Finally, did you know that video games took an important part in the definition of the labor landscape nowadays? It might not be for the reasons...