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Jobs End Year on Strong Note But Signs of Slowing: More than 4.5 million jobs were added to the economy throughout 2022, and December finished with 223,000 jobs being added to the payrolls, which beat some economists' predictions. The unemployment rate ticked down again to 3.5 percent, the lowest of the pandemic recovery. December represented the fewest added jobs number of the year, and was about 50 percent lower than December 2021. The top sector for hiring was Education and Health (78,000 jobs) followed by Leisure and Hospitality (67,000 jobs). February and July 2022 were the best months of the year, although jobs have seen a steady slide since the July peak.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mercedes-Benz Announces Rollout of Charging Network: It was a busy week at the Consumer Electronic Show this past week in Las Vegas, as EVs continue to be the project du jour for many OEMs. The German automaker was also in on the action as it revealed plans for its widescale, high-power charging network, starting with North America, followed by Europe, China, and other markets. The company says that the North American network is scheduled for completion by 2027, representing more than 400 hubs with 2,500+ high-power chargers located close to motorways, major intersections, and metropolitan areas.
The OEM says that charging hubs will be complete with food outlets and restrooms situated nearby, and facilities will be equipped with surveillance cameras and other measures to provide a safe and secure charging environment at all times. The network will be open to all electric vehicle brands, but Mercedes-Benz customers will enjoy special benefits, such as the ability to reserve a charging spot.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
NLRB Poised for Enhanced Workers’ Rights in 2023: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced its intention to crack down on companies that are misclassifying employees as independent contactors (ICs) in the coming months. Reuters is reporting that the NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo is eyeing the overturning of decisions made during the Trump administration that tended to favor businesses, in order to “protect workers’ rights” and “make it easier for workers to unionize.” Abruzzo also issued a memo in October concerning electronic surveillance of workers: The memo describes various technologies that are increasingly being used to closely monitor and manage employees such as those that record workers’ conversations and track their movements using wearable devices, cameras, radio-frequency identification badges, and GPS tracking devices. Employers may use this data to manage employee productivity, including disciplining employees who fall short of quotas, penalizing employees for taking leave, and providing individualized directives throughout the workday. She’s urging the NLRB Board to consider measures that would protect employees from such so-called intrusive or abusive technology.
Sources: NLRB, Reuters
[01.10.23]
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade organization representing more than 300 air carriers worldwide, announced that the air travel recovery continued through November 2022, based on data from the airlines.
According to the report, total traffic worldwide in November 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 41.3 percent compared to November 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 75.3 percent of November 2019 levels.
Domestically, US traffic is essentially back to pre-pandemic heights as it climbed 5.0 percent in November compared to November 2021, pushing it to 99 percent of the November 2019 level.
Asia-Pacific airlines had a 373.9 percent rise in November traffic compared to November 2021, which was the strongest year-over-year rate among the regions. Capacity rose 159.2 percent and the load factor was up 35.9 percentage points to 79.2 percent.
Although the results were overall positive, IATA Director General Willie Walsh expressed some frustration with the recent negative testing requirements for Chinese travelers potentially hampering industry gains.
“Traffic results in November reinforce that consumers are thoroughly enjoying the freedom to travel. Unfortunately, the reactions to China’s reopening of international travel in January reminds us that many governments are still playing science politics when it comes to COVID-19 and travel. Epidemiologists, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and others have said that the reintroduction of testing for travelers from China can do little to contain a virus that is already present around the world. And China’s objections to these policy measures are compromised by their own pre-departure testing requirements for people traveling to China. Governments should focus on using available tools to manage COVID-19 effectively—including improved therapeutics and vaccinations—rather than repeating policies that have failed time and again over the last three years,” said Walsh.
The full report can be viewed here.
Visit iata.org for more information.
[01.10.23]
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Bus transportation provider Express Air Coach (EAC) has announced that they are now offering pickup points at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign to shuttle students to O’Hare International Airport. The Lafayette, Ind.-based company also offers shuttle service multiple times daily to O’Hare from Purdue University; West Lafayette, Ind.; Portage, Ind.; Hammond, Ind.; Michigan City, Ind.; and Elgin, Ill.
Express Air Coach shuttle service
“We have been providing shuttle service to O’Hare from Purdue University for 18 years, and we are excited to expand our service in Urbana-Champaign from a weekend service to Purdue to a daily O’Hare shuttle service,” says EAC President Paul Davis. “We have many years of experience offering airport shuttle services to university students from O’Hare.”
Davis says that EAC will initially offer a modest schedule to determine market demand and interest in the service. As demand grows, EAC will expand its schedule accordingly.
“This will be an express service with limited stops to achieve our goal of delivering passengers to O’Hare in under three hours. We look forward to providing a safe, convenient, low-cost option that will deliver you to your terminal at O’Hare,” says Davis.
“We feel this new service will be a great option to get to O’Hare in a convenient, quick, affordable and direct manner without having to deal with airport parking and transfers,” Davis adds.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shuttle will pick up at Altgeld Hall and the Armory. Reservations will be required for confirmed travel and can be made and paid for in advance at expressaircoach.com.
Visit expressaircoach.com for more information.
[01.10.23]