The job market last year was solid, with employers hiring at a strong clip, unemployment remaining low and more workers trickling back into the workforce. Labor force participation dropped off sharply in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic for reasons such as early retirements or people not working due to fears of contracting Covid.
The supply-side surprise has been positive news on labor and productivity.
US inflation is down considerably from a four-decade high reached nearly two years ago.
The US inflation is down considerably from a four-decade high reached nearly two years ago. The job market last year was solid, with employers hiring at a strong clip, unemployment remaining low and more workers trickling back into the workforce. Labor force participation dropped off sharply in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic for reasons such as early retirements or people not working due to fears of contracting Covid. The supply-side surprise has been positive news on labor and productivity.
Kyle Clark has been job hunting for about 6 months and has applied to over 250 jobs with no success.
Clark moved in with his parents in Tennessee after fruitlessly job hunting in the Portland, Oregon area.
A large share of employees are jittery about getting laid off.
Accuracy
Companies are warier about hiring amid high interest rates and wages. Workers are vying with more job candidates for fewer openings, forcing them to send in more applications.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in its portrayal of the job market. While it states that the nation added a booming 353,000 jobs in January and that hiring is slowing across the board, it fails to provide any context for these claims or explain how they relate to the experiences of individuals like Kyle Clark and Cheyenne Barton who are struggling to find work. The article also uses sensationalist language such as 'losing my mind' which exaggerates the situation and creates a false sense of urgency.
The tally so far: About 250 applications. 14 positive responses. 12 interviews. No job offers.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research as a source of information about hiring slowing across the board.
> Kyle Clark has applied for over 250 jobs and received no job offers, which is evidence of inflammatory rhetoric used to create an emotional response in readers.
> Cheyenne Barton graduated with two degrees but has not yet landed a job, which is evidence of the author's use of informal fallacies such as false analogy.
Bias
(75%)
The article highlights the struggles of job seekers despite high employment numbers. The author uses anecdotes to illustrate how difficult it is for individuals to find work in their desired field. Additionally, the author mentions that companies are hesitant to hire due to high interest rates and wages, which could be seen as a form of monetary bias.
Cheyenne Barton graduated with one degree in biomedical sciences and another in computing technology and software development but is now looking for 'really any job'
Companies are warier about hiring amid high interest rates and wages
Kyle Clark has cast an ever-widening net in his search for a new position
Appcast's eighth annual Recruitment Marketing Benchmark Report found that the U.S. economy is on track to achieve a soft landing, avoiding a recession in 2023 while high interest rates and market forces cooled inflation
The labor market remained strong with low unemployment and increased labor supply, but employer demand for workers decreased as interest rates rose and economic outlook became less certain
Labor supply rebounded significantly in 2023 due to an increase in the female and immigrant workforce, leading to a reduction in turnover and ending of the Great Resignation
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that the U.S. economy is currently on track to achieve the Federal Reserve's goal of a 'soft landing.' However, this statement contradicts other information provided in the article which states that high interest rates and market forces cooled inflation but did not prevent a recession in 2023. Secondly, the author claims that labor supply experienced a significant rebound last year due to an uptick in both the female and immigrant workforce. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that these groups were previously underrepresented in the labor force when they are not mentioned anywhere else in the article. Thirdly, the author claims that talent acquisition teams will be able to stretch their budgets further due to a larger supply of job seekers and reduced turnover. However, this statement is also misleading as it implies that these factors directly contribute to lower costs for employers when they are not mentioned anywhere else in the article.
The author claims that labor supply experienced a significant rebound last year due to an uptick in both the female and immigrant workforce. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that these groups were previously underrepresented in the labor force when they are not mentioned anywhere else in the article.
The author claims that the U.S. economy is currently on track to achieve the Federal Reserve's goal of a 'soft landing.' However, this statement contradicts other information provided in the article which states that high interest rates and market forces cooled inflation but did not prevent a recession in 2023.
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author is an employee of Appcast, a company that provides recruitment marketing solutions and is mentioned several times throughout the article. Additionally, the Federal Reserve's goal of a soft landing and its efforts to cool inflation through interest rates are also discussed.
The author mentions her employer, Appcast, multiple times in the article.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article discusses recruitment marketing benchmark report and Appcast which are products offered by a company called HROToday. Additionally, the article mentions Federal Reserve's goal of a soft landing and interest rates cooling inflation which could be seen as financial ties to those entities.
The author is an employee of HROToday, a company that offers recruitment marketing benchmark report and Appcast.
The job market is currently tight and competitive for entry-level job seekers and recently unemployed professionals.
<br>Employers are getting pickier about who they hire and less generous with what they offer.<br>
Employees had the upper hand in the job market a few years ago, but that balance of power has shifted back to employers. <br>
The economy has slowed down since then, causing the job market to deteriorate slowly.
Accuracy
Employers are getting pickier about who they hire and less generous with what they offer.
Employees had the upper hand in the job market a few years ago, but that balance of power has shifted back to employers.
<br>The economy has slowed down since then, causing the job market to deteriorate slowly.<br>
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the tightening job market as a challenge for individuals when in reality it's a result of systemic issues such as high interest rates and economic slowdown caused by COVID-19. Secondly, the author uses emotional manipulation to make listeners feel like they are struggling with finding jobs when in fact many people have been able to find work during this time. Lastly, the article presents itself as a personal finance podcast for Millennials and Gen Z but does not provide any specific advice or strategies on how these groups can navigate the job market.
The author uses emotional manipulation by stating that entry-level job seekers and recently unemployed professionals are struggling to land a job, making listeners feel like they too may be facing this challenge. However, data shows that unemployment rates have been steadily decreasing since the pandemic began.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The article discusses the challenges faced by job seekers in a tightening job market. The author uses language that portrays entry-level job seekers and recently unemployed professionals as struggling to land jobs. This is an example of disproportionate number of quotations reflecting a specific position.
You see an online job posting that's perfect for you. You polish up your resume. Send it in. Follow up and wait.
, The fluctuation in job availability has impacted various fields, causing people to feel uncertain about the field they're entering.
There are resources available at UMass Boston to assist with navigating a post-pandemic world and choosing the best career path. These include The Academic and Career Engagement and Success Center (ACES), Focus 2 website, and Handshake.
Accuracy
The rise in remote work is a significant change that many UMass Boston students desire and look for.
The US inflation is down considerably from a four-decade high reached nearly two years ago.
America's job market last year was solid, with employers hiring at a strong clip, unemployment remaining low and more workers trickling back into the workforce. Labor force participation dropped off sharply in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic for reasons such as early retirements or people not working due to fears of contracting Covid.
The supply-side surprise has been positive news on labor and productivity.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses the potential impact of a larger pool of American workers on inflation. The author cites supply chain disruptions and labor shortages as factors contributing to high inflation in recent years. They also mention that America's job market has been strong with low unemployment rates and an increase in labor force participation, which could help slow down inflation further.
America’s job market last year was solid, with employers hiring at a strong clip, unemployment remaining low and more workers trickling back into the workforce.
