Daniel Altman, Instawork Chief Economist
Recent Posts
How will Columbus's workers ride out its manufacturing slump?
Key takeaways
- The revival of manufacturing employment has stalled in the greater Columbus, Ohio area.
- Weekly earnings and hours for manufacturing workers have dropped by roughly half.
- Rapid growth in the logistics industry offers these workers an opportunity to earn extra income until demand and jobs in manufacturing return.
Is the hotel business peaking as travel slows down?
Key takeaways
- Bookings for hotel shifts are down year-on-year in several major metropolitan areas
- Hourly pay is increasing in areas where hospitality employment hasn't kept up with rising demand
- Lower-skill roles have seen the biggest increases in pay for flexible work at hotels
When is wedding season? Depends where you are!
Key takeaways
- Wedding season varied broadly depending on geography and climate in 2022.
- Milder temperatures brought peaks of activity in the spring and in October.
- Northern metro areas had the latest and longest wedding seasons, though rainy Seattle tailed off in October.
After a big boost, where does the Louisville job market go?
Key takeaways
- The Louisville metropolitan area's emphasis on goods-related industries was a boost early in the pandemic.
- Jobs involving non-durable goods are still growing throughout the local supply chain.
- Gaps in staffing for services are expected to persist.
Monthly Labor Market Report: More evidence of labor market cooling
Every day, the Instawork platform handles thousands of transactions involving businesses and hourly professionals, generating a huge amount of data on hourly pay as well as other aspects of the labor market. This report summarizes some of the major trends in demographics, roles, and worker constraints in regions across the United States.
With labor in short supply, St. Louis offers workers more spending power
Key takeaways
- A geographical shift of population within the St. Louis area may be turning into an overall decline.
- The impressive rebound in employment early in the Covid-19 pandemic has stalled.
- With a tight labor market in the area, pay has kept ahead of inflation, unlike the national average.
Where will Baltimore find the workers it needs?
Key takeaways
- The Baltimore labor market has tightened sharply as people have left its workforce.
- Average wages in the area have not kept up with inflation, making it more difficult for businesses to fill staffing gaps.
- Flexible work with pay above the minimum wage is helping workers to deal with inflation while supplying the extra hours businesses need.
Flexible workers are increasingly crucial to warehouse labor
Key takeaways
- Warehouses are anticipating more normal business conditions in 2023.
- They are more confident about attracting and retaining staff, and they are also using more flexible workers.
- The performance of flexible workers has improved across a variety of metrics.
Monthly Labor Market Report: Labor market cooling and new survey data
Every day, the Instawork platform handles thousands of transactions involving businesses and hourly professionals, generating a huge amount of data on hourly pay as well as other aspects of the labor market. This report summarizes some of the major trends in demographics, roles, and worker constraints in regions across the United States.
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