Must-Read: Nick Bunker: How Intensely are U.S. Employers Looking for Workers?

Must-Read: Nick Bunker: How Intensely are U.S. Employers Looking for Workers?:

Recruitment intensity might have something to do with the overall health of the labor market….

Intensity drops during recessions and starts to move upward as the economy heals…. Think of it this way: If there are a lot more unemployed workers per job than companies are trying to fill then firms don’t have to work that hard to find good talent. But as the labor market improves, employers have to work harder to fill positions. This increasing desire to recruit workers amid improving economic conditions also leads to companies poaching workers from other firms. Hiring workers from other firms is how the job ladder works…. It’s another way to think about how a tight labor market and why periods of full employment can boost wage growth for workers. Making employers put a little bit more effort into finding workers might not be a bad thing.