Late-Summer Hiring Surprise: August Job Growth Defies Expectations As summer comes to a close, the job market has delivered a welcome surprise. Economist forecasts called for a modest gain of 53,000 jobs in August, but the economy delivered 162,000. Upward revisions to June and July data further confirm that the market is gaining traction […]
July’s national job creation numbers caught many economists off guard. While predictions pointed toward 115,000 new jobs, the economy added just 57,000. However, beneath the surface level “ping-ponging” of monthly statistics lies a much larger story about workforce demographics, local sector recovery, and changing hiring tactics. In his monthly chat with WDEL’s Peter MacArthur, Placers […]
The numbers are in, and the May jobs report completely defied expectations. Dropping a massive 172,000 new jobs against a predicted 85,000, the data suggests a resilient workforce economy. In his monthly chat with WDEL’s Peter MacArthur, Placers President Chris Burkhard noted that this forms a true three-month trend, marking the strongest stretch of […]
In his latest appearance on WDEL, Placers President Chris Burkhard breaks down the complex dynamics currently shaping the Delaware job market. With unemployment rising to 5.5%, Chris identifies a new trend called “job hugging”, where employees unnaturally hold onto roles due to a lack of confidence in finding new ones, paradoxically leading to fewer […]
In his latest interview with WDEL’s Peter MacArthur, Placers President Chris Burkhard offers a grounded perspective on the current employment landscape. While February’s loss of 92,000 jobs nationally (following a gain of 130,000 in January) may seem alarming, Chris suggests the market is simply “normalizing.” Key Insights for Delaware Business Leaders: The 5.2% […]
Chris Burkhard, President of Placers Staffing, joins WDEL host Peter MacArthur to break down the current state of the Delaware and national job markets in early 2026. In this interview, you will learn: – Why Delaware’s unemployment rate is now above 5% and what that means for the state’s economy. – How the […]
Placers Staffing President Chris Burkhard recently joined WDEL host Peter MacArthur to discuss the year’s significant changes in the labor market and offer timely advice for job seekers preparing for 2026. Chris highlighted three major themes defining 2025: the market’s shift from an employee-driven landscape to a more normalized and balanced one; the odd […]
Placers Staffing President Chris Burkhard joined WDEL’s Peter MacArthur to discuss today’s complex job market, where traditional metrics don’t tell the full story. The Numbers vs. Reality Disconnect While unemployment sits at a historically low 4.3%, seven out of ten Americans rate the job picture as poor. We’re currently losing more jobs than […]
Placers Staffing President Chris Burkhard joined Delaware Thursday to break down the current job market situation, addressing both the challenges facing job seekers and the strategic opportunities for businesses. Key Market Insights: Job Market Softening: The employment landscape has shifted dramatically since May, with job openings dropping to 7 million nationally. We’ve moved […]
Chris Burkhard, President of Placers Staffing, joined WDEL’s Peter MacArthur on August 7th to discuss major shifts in the job market, including the impact of AI, tariff uncertainty, and Delaware’s employment landscape. The job market took a notable turn in July, with hiring significantly below expectations (73,000 vs 100,000 projected) and Q2 numbers […]
