Double-Shot Tuesday For Cowbell

Worker shortages looms.

NYT sub-hed: Major Corporations, Social Workers Hardest Hit

A new survey finds shortages of qualified workers are problems in the U.S. and around the world.

The employment firm Manpower Inc. surveyed 33,000 employers in 23 countries and found that 44 percent of U.S. employers and 40 percent worldwide are having trouble filling positions because of a lack of suitable talent.

Well, they'll just have to train them, won't they?

Thanks to SWOOD.

And, even better:

Leading Economic Indicators Jump to Record High in January

A key forecasting gauge of the U.S. economy posted its biggest jump in seven months in January, rising to a record in a good sign for second-quarter growth, the Conference Board said on Tuesday. The 1.1 percent gain in the index of leading economic indicators marked the fourth straight monthly rise, the private New York-based research firm said. It trounced financial market expectations of a 0.6 percent climb and followed an upwardly revised 0.3 percent increase in December.

The leading index, which measures a basket of economic indicators ranging from unemployment benefit claims to building permits, is intended to forecast economic trends up to six months ahead.

...

Many economists are expecting rebuilding efforts in the hurricane-hit U.S. Gulf region to give economic growth a fillip in the next few months.

...

The January surge in the index matched a 1.1 percent increase logged in June 2005, the private research group said.

The coincident index, a barometer of current economic activity, rose for a fifth straight month, climbing 0.2 percent after rising 0.2 percent in December. The lagging index gained 0.7 percent after a 0.1 percent December dip.

posted by Ace at 03:13 PM

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