EconomyLabor
Finding a Job Is Taking Longer After Layoffs
Laid-off U.S. workers face longer job searches as a cooling labor market strains unemployment benefits and household finances nationwide.
—5 min read
Tag
#Labor Market
52 articles
Economy
Layoffs Are Rare, but Finding a New Job Takes Longer
With only 29,000 jobs added in September, unemployed Americans are taking longer to find work as benefits run out before paychecks resume.
—6 min read
Economy
U.S. Job Openings Slip to 7.1 Million as Labor Market Cools
U.S. job openings slipped to 7.1 million in August, missing forecasts for a third month as quits fade and layoffs stay low.
—5 min read
EconomyTechnology
AI's Effect on Workers Shows Up in Wages, Not Jobs
New wage data suggests AI is compressing pay rather than cutting jobs, hitting lower earners hardest even as unemployment holds steady.
—6 min read
Employment
China Adds 11 New Professions, 23 Job Types to National List
China releases 11 new professions and 23 job types in its 8th batch since 2019, targeting digital economy, green energy, and modern services.
—4 min read
Economy
China's Eighth Batch Adds 11 New Professions, 23 Job Types
China's eighth batch of occupational classifications adds 11 new professions and 23 job types, prioritizing digital, green, and modern service sectors.
—4 min read
Economy
US Job Openings Rise to 7.3 Million, Labor Market Steady
U.S. job openings ticked up to 7.27 million in July, signaling a sturdy labor market despite higher costs and cautious hiring.
—4 min read
Technology
Bill Gates Proposes 'Human Reserved' Jobs to Protect Workers
Bill Gates calls for reserving certain jobs for humans and taxing AI to protect society from artificial intelligence's impact on the workforce.
—5 min read
EconomyLabor
Flexi-Jobs Expand to New Sectors as Security Sector Surges
Belgium's flexi-job system expands beyond traditional sectors, with security and surveillance leading growth thanks to the festival season.
—5 min read
Economy
Five Economic Takeaways: Inflation, Spending, and Trends
This week's economic data reveals key trends in inflation, consumer spending, grocery prices, and gas costs affecting American households.
—5 min read
EmploymentEconomy
China's 100-Day Recruitment Drive Offers 80,000+ Jobs
China's 100-day recruitment campaign generated over 80,000 job opportunities across four industry sectors, part of broader efforts to boost employment.
—5 min read
EmploymentEconomy
Flanders Sees Lowest Job Vacancies in Six Years
VDAB records lowest monthly job vacancies since May 2020 as Flemish labor market cools, with 13% fewer offers over the past year.
—4 min read
EconomyEmployment
Belgian Graduates Struggle to Land Permanent Jobs
New data shows 20% fewer young Belgians under 25 secure permanent jobs in their first year, as economic stagnation and AI reshape the labor market.
—6 min read
Economy
US Job Openings Slip to 7.4M, Labor Market Resilient
US job openings fell to 7.36 million in June, but the labor market remains resilient amid the Iran war and Hormuz closure, with layoffs staying low.
—5 min read
Economy
Belgium's Titres-Services Lose 3,000 Jobs in One Year
Belgium's titres-services system lost nearly 3,000 household help jobs in one year as price hikes, tax deduction cuts, and teleworking reshape the sector.
—5 min read
PoliticsHealthcare
Flexi-Jobs in Healthcare Stall as Gennez Withholds Funding
Belgium's flexi-job expansion to healthcare faces uncertainty as Minister Gennez withholds funding, leaving care providers in limbo.
—4 min read
EconomyEducation
Record 392,000 Flemish Students Working This Summer
A record 392,000 Flemish students worked in 2025, earning €1.35B. See data per municipality, best sectors, and the shift to year-round work.
—4 min read
EconomyChina
China Adds 6.95 Million Urban Jobs in H1 2026
China added 6.95 million urban jobs in H1 2026 with 5.2% unemployment. Stable figures mask deeper shifts as Beijing navigates AI and youth employment.
—5 min read
Economy
China's Unemployment Fund Posts Deficit as Claims Surge
China's unemployment insurance fund recorded a 9.13 billion yuan deficit in 2025 as benefit payments surged 34.2%, straining the social safety net.
—4 min read
Economy
China Youth Jobless Rate Falls to 14.9% in June
China's youth unemployment fell for a third straight month to 14.9% in June, but remains above last year's level as graduates enter the workforce.
—5 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium's Flexi-Jobs Under Fire Over Job Displacement Study
Belgian ministers clash over flexi-jobs as new study shows they may displace regular jobs in hospitality, raising fiscal sustainability questions.
—5 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium's Flexi-Job System 'Spiraling Out of Control'
Belgian Budget Minister Van Peteghem warns flexi-jobs are undermining social security as record numbers and an IMF debt warning fuel reform debate.
—4 min read
Social PolicyPolitics
Belgium's Unemployment Reform: Older Workers Bear the Brunt
Belgium's unemployment reform disproportionately hits older workers in the 4th exclusion wave. Experts don't fully understand why, sparking debate.
—5 min read
SocietyEconomy
China Adds 12 New Occupations in Digital and Green Sectors
China's MOHRSS proposes 12 new occupations spanning AI, green energy, digital twins, and traditional crafts, reflecting labor market evolution.
—4 min read
EconomyEducation
No Degree, €5,921/Month: How One Extra Study Year Paid Off
A Belgian solar panel installer earns €5,921/month without a higher education diploma. One extra year of technical study proved a golden investment.
—4 min read
EconomyUnited States
US Adds Just 57,000 Jobs in June as Hiring Slows Sharply
The US economy added 57,000 jobs in June, well below expectations, as the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2% and wage growth trailed inflation.
—5 min read
TechnologyEconomy
AI Is Reshaping the Economy. Measuring It Is Another Story.
Economists struggle to measure AI's economic impact as massive investment coexists with near-zero measured productivity gains, echoing the Solow Paradox.
—5 min read
Economy
Belgian Salaried Employment Stagnates as Flexi-Jobs Surge
Economist Philippe Defeyt reports salaried employment in Belgium grew just 0.7% over three years, with flexi-jobs masking a deeper decline in regular jobs.
—4 min read
EducationEconomy
China Guides 12.7 Million Graduates Through Job Market Shift
As 12.7 million Chinese graduates enter the workforce, Beijing rolls out policies to address structural skills mismatches in an AI-driven economy.
—4 min read
TechnologyEconomy
AI Freezes Entry-Level Hiring More Than It Cuts Jobs
Peking University research shows AI is freezing entry-level hiring more than cutting jobs, proposing an AI Employment Compensation Fund for workers.
—5 min read
Domestic Policy & Economy
China Unveils 15th Five-Year Employment Priority Plan
China's State Council issues the 15th Five-Year Employment Plan (2026-2030), targeting unemployment below 5.5% and 35% skilled workers.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium Expands Flexi-Job System to All Sectors from July 1
Belgium's flexi-job system expands to all sectors July 1. Workers earn up to €18,440 tax-free. Critics warn of social costs and job displacement.
—5 min read
EconomyBelgium
Student Work Surges in Belgium: 650,000 Now Hold Jobs
New ONSS data reveals nearly 650,000 Belgian student workers, a 25% increase in a decade. Critics warn reform is displacing regular jobs.
—6 min read
EconomySocial Policy
China Unveils Five-Year Plan to Tackle Youth Job Crisis
China's State Council issues a sweeping employment strategy for 2026-2030, targeting youth unemployment, AI disruption, and structural labor mismatches.
—5 min read
EconomyEmployment
Teens Face Tough Summer Job Search as Jobless Rate at 14.7%
Teen unemployment hit 14.7% in May 2026 as inflation and competition from older workers create one of the toughest summer job markets in decades.
—4 min read
Social & LaborPolitics
Flemish Government Mandates Anti-Bias Tests in All Sectors
The Flemish government will require practical anti-discrimination tests across all labor sectors starting December 2026, bypassing employer opposition.
—4 min read
EconomyEducation
Student Work in Belgium Surges 58% Between 2017 and 2024
Student work in Belgium surged 58% from 2017-2024, outpacing regular employment. A Planning Bureau study examines financial pressures and academic impacts.
—4 min read
EducationEconomy
China Launches '100-Day Sprint' for Record 12.7M Graduates
China's Education Ministry launches a '100-Day Sprint' to boost employment for 12.7 million graduates, with 5M+ job postings and anti-fraud measures.
—4 min read
Society
Foreign Name Bias Worse in Jobs Than Housing, Study Finds
A Belgian meta-analysis of 463 studies finds job applicants with foreign-sounding names face 29% fewer positive responses than local peers.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
US Adds 172,000 Jobs in May as Labor Market Rebounds
The US added 172,000 jobs in May, far exceeding expectations. But strong hiring complicates the Fed's inflation fight as new Chair Kevin Warsh prepares.
—4 min read
EconomyEurope
Record Quarter Million Belgians Now Working as Flexi-Jobbers
A record 261,868 Belgians worked as flexi-jobbers in 2025, up 14% from 2024. The tax-free scheme faces praise and criticism as expansion looms.
—4 min read
Economy
172,000 Jobs Added in May, But Young Graduates Left Behind
The U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May, beating expectations. But with underemployment at 43%, a separate crisis is unfolding for young graduates.
—7 min read
EconomyJobs
US Private Sector Adds 122,000 Jobs in May, Beats Forecasts
The US private sector added 122,000 jobs in May, exceeding forecasts. ADP report shows broad-based hiring gains across industries and business sizes.
—4 min read
EconomyWorkforce
Remote Work, Not AI, Is Sidelining Recent College Graduates
New research from the NY Fed finds remote work, not AI, is the primary driver of rising unemployment among recent college graduates.
—5 min read
TechnologyLabor
45% of Employers Now Distrust AI-Generated Cover Letters
Nearly half of Belgian employers no longer trust cover letters due to AI-generated content, a new survey reveals, exposing a major perception gap.
—4 min read
EconomyUnited States
US Jobless Claims Rise to 215,000; Layoffs Low Amid Iran War
Weekly US jobless claims rose to 215,000, but layoffs remain historically low despite economic uncertainty from the Iran war and rising oil prices.
—5 min read
TechnologyEconomy
OpenAI CEO Admits AI Costing Fewer Jobs Than Feared
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says AI is displacing fewer jobs than predicted, admitting 'I’m glad I was wrong' about white-collar job losses.
—5 min read
TechnologyEconomy
AI Drives Two-Way Shift in China's Labor Market, Survey
A new Zhaopin survey shows AI is creating and destroying jobs in China simultaneously, with AI hiring surging 12x while vulnerable roles shrink.
—6 min read
HealthSociety
576,000 Belgians on Long-Term Sick Leave: A Nation in Crisis
Over 576,000 Belgians are now on long-term sick leave. A new demographic analysis reveals who they are, what ails them, and why the crisis is deepening.
—5 min read
SocietyPolitics
Social Fraud Reports Hit Record High in Belgium
Belgium records 7,873 social fraud reports in 2025, a historic high. Critics warn the surge promotes distrust, while the government defends it.
—4 min read
EconomyLabor
Flemish Workers Earned €2,895 Monthly, Gender Gap Narrows
Statistics Flanders data shows the average Flemish worker earned €2,895 net per month in 2024, with the gender pay gap narrowing to €371.
—4 min read
EconomyLabor
Highly Qualified Youth Struggle to Find Jobs in Belgium
Despite rising education levels, highly qualified young Belgians face growing job market difficulties as employers reject overqualified candidates.
—5 min read