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Va. had fewer job openings in October
Virginia had 308,000 job openings in October, the largest drop in openings among U.S. states, as well as 108,000 quits, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data released Dec. 17. In September, Virginia had a record-setting 336,000 job openings, but in October, openings declined by 28,000, […]
Trucking on: How truckers are battling historic labor shortage
RICHMOND — From hand sanitizer and vaccines to groceries and toilet paper, truck drivers are trucking through the COVID-19 pandemic despite a historic labor shortage. Many industries moved workers home during the start of the pandemic, but truckers worked “to meet the needs of this country.” “The trucking industry has stepped up and delivered through […]
2021 LABOR/EMPLOYMENT LAW Q&A
Laurie L. Kirkland Blankingship & Keith PC, Fairfax Title: Principal Other legal specialties: Commercial litigation Education: Bachelor’s degree, Harding University; law degree, George Mason University Spouse: Joshua B. Isaacs Children: Daughter Norah, 6 months Recently read book: Having loved “The Giver,” by Lois Lowry since middle school, I recently discovered that it was the [...]
Newsroom unions urge Lee to reject Alden’s offer
A dozen Lee Enterprises newsroom unions, including three in Virginia, wrote an open letter to company management Monday, urging Lee to reject Alden Global Capital’s purchase offer of approximately $144 million. “Alden has cut their staffs at twice the rate of competitors, resulting in the loss of countless jobs,” the letter reads. “They’ve fostered unhealthy […[...]
Va. had record 328,000 job openings in September
Virginia had 328,000 job openings in September and 123,000 quits, 4,000 fewer quits than the April 2021 peak, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data released Nov. 19. The September job openings number set a record previously set in July, when there were 320,000 openings. The […]
Hampton Roads State of the Region report shows slow recovery
The Hampton Roads region is slowly recovering from pandemic-spurred economic distress but has lost a large chunk of its workforce, according to Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis & Policy’s 2021 State of the Region Report released Tuesday. Hampton Roads’ labor force and individual employment levels peaked in February 2020, only to be […]
NoVa biz leaders optimistic about recovery
Northern Virginia businesses are optimistic about economic recovery but are feeling the effects of labor shortages, according to the 2021 Northern Virginia Workforce Index released Wednesday by Northern Virginia Community College and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Fifty-one percent of employers said that they felt “somewhat optimistic” and 24% felt “very optimistic” abo[...]
The Great American Labor Shortage
At Dough Boy’s Pizza, summer typically brings a steady stream of job applicants seeking work at one of the restaurant’s three locations on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. But “this year, it’s next to nothing,” says owner George Kotarides. For Kotarides and other restaurant owners, a season that had been anticipated as the triumphant closing act […]
Labor market recovery slowed during early February
Labor market recovery slowed during the week of Feb. 7 through Feb. 13, according to Virginia Commonwealth University and Arizona State University economists. Between early January and early February, employment held constant at 68.6%, which is 5.2% lower than it was in February 2020, according to the Real-Time Population Survey conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University […]
Va. initial jobless claims remain high
Initial jobless claims filed last week were essentially unchanged compared with the previous week, but remain high compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to figures released Thursday by the Virginia Employment Commission. During the week ending Jan. 30, 18,177 Virginians filed initial unemployment claims (compared to 18,312 from the week prior). “Elevated levels in recent weeks […[...]
COVID-19 workplace safety, health rules become permanent Wednesday
Permanent COVID-19 workplace safety and health rules take effect Wednesday in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced, including standards that require all public-facing employees to wear masks as well as requiring businesses to provide ready access to hand sanitizer and regular common workspace cleaning. The rules range from appropriate personal protective equipment to sanitation, social distancin[...]
Rolls-Royce to pay $135K to resolve hiring discrimination dispute
Reston-based Rolls-Royce North America Holdings Inc. has agreed to pay $135,000 in back wages and interest to 26 female applicants who were not selected for machine operator positions at its Prince George County aircraft component manufacturing facility. The payments were the result of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor‘s Office of Federal Contract […]
