Quebec employers group worried ‘political’ immigration debate will hurt jobs

The latest spat between Quebec and Ottawa over immigration is based on politics and not the reality of the labour market, says the head of a major employers group. “In some ways, it’s deplorable,” said Karl Blackburn, president and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec. His comments come as Quebec Premier François Legault … Read more

Lengthier job hunts for recent graduates could be major factor in unemployment rate

Nearly a year after graduating from Carleton University with a degree in engineering physics, Surya Nareshan is still struggling to find employment. Nareshan, who lives in Ottawa, has applied for dozens of positions since May — mostly in software engineering and optics. While he’s made it through multiple rounds of interviews, including elaborate proficiency testing, he hasn’t yet found … Read more

Some consumers, businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy, say BoC surveys

The Bank of Canada says business and consumer sentiment improved during the first quarter of the year, despite higher interest rates still putting a drag on the economy. The central bank on Monday released its business outlook and consumer expectations surveys, which showed increased optimism as people expect interest rate cuts are nearing. Although firms … Read more

ILO report: India needs more employment intensive growth and good quality jobs, says ILO

India needs to make its growth and production more employment intensive while improving the quality of jobs, the International Labour Organisation said in its recent report done in association with the Institute for Human Development. Outlining the five most critical policy issues that need intervention at the national and state levels for addressing the decent … Read more

This layoff could have been an email. Is there a good way to lose your job as a remote worker?

Is there a good way to lay off a remote worker?  Four years after remote work became the norm for a huge section of the labour force, it appears some companies are still struggling with the etiquette of letting someone go virtually. And amid a gradually cooling labour market and mass layoffs in several sectors, such as media and the tech industry, it’s … Read more

U.S. inflation up 0.3% in January, Fed still expected to cut interest rates this year

U.S. consumer prices increased more than expected in January amid rises in the costs of shelter and health care, but it likely won’t change expectations that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates in the first half of 2024. The consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.3 per cent last month after gaining 0.2 per cent in December, … Read more

CMA Research Reveals Insights into UK Labour Market Competition and Power

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Microeconomics Unit has released a report offering an in-depth analysis of the UK labour market. This research, the first major study from the unit established in 2022, aims to contribute essential insights into the dynamics of competition, employer market power, and their impact on workers. According to a government … Read more

McDonald’s eyes record global expansion in coming years, with more focus on delivery

McDonald’s is expecting to go through a growth spurt. The Chicago-based burger giant wants to establish thousands of new locations around the globe in the next few years, aiming to have 50,000 locations operating by 2027. That’s up roughly 25 per cent from more than 40,000 McDonald’s locations in operation today. The company says its anticipated expansion would represent the … Read more