Jobs & pay data
Jobs reports, unemployment, vacancies and wage growth from official and industry data.
12 briefs
Today · Monday 26 October
- United States·Policy & Law
Michigan unemployment system closes Nov. 2, employers must activate new accounts first
Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency will permanently shut down its legacy MiWAM system at 4:30 p.m. on November 2, with the replacement MiUI system's benefits functions going live on November 9; both systems will be unavailable in between. Employers must retrieve an eight-digit activation code from MiWAM before the deadline to set up a MiUI account, a step third-party administrators cannot complete for them. About 23,165 Michigan employers, roughly 10 percent, had not yet done so.
- Canada & Latin America·Research
StatCan: Older workers, non-permanent residents gain larger share of Canada's retail workforce
A Statistics Canada study released Oct. 21, 2026 found youth (15-24) made up 31.7% of retail staff in 2024, down from 35.5% in 2017, while workers 65 and older rose from 3.7% to 5.5%. Non-permanent residents' share nearly quintupled since 2017. Retail employed about 2 million in 2024; youth employment fell 48,000 in September with unemployment at 13.0%.
Yesterday · Sunday 25 October
- United States·News
Arizona IAM Members Ratify Raytheon Contract with 24% Average Wage Growth
IAM Local 933 members in Tucson, Arizona ratified a new five-year Raytheon contract covering 2,200+ missile- and defense-systems production workers. The deal includes 24% average cumulative wage growth, $3,000 signing bonus, $1,500 401(k) match, and $3,500 ammunition production bonus.
- China·Research
31 Provinces Release Average Wages; National Civil Service Exam Averages 85 Applicants Per Post
China's 31 provinces released prior-year average wage data. The national civil service exam averaged 85 applicants per position.
- China·Research
China's 31 Provinces Report 2025 Average Wage Data
China's 31 provinces reported 2025 average wage data: urban non-private units averaged 129,441 yuan (4.3% nominal growth); private units 71,590 yuan (3.0% growth). Twelve provinces' non-private units exceeded 120,000 yuan; eight provinces' private units surpassed 70,000 yuan. IT services led at 248,752 yuan.
Saturday 24 October
- United States·Research
US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to 199,000, Still Near Historic Lows
U.S. initial jobless claims rose 1,000 to 199,000 for the week ending October 10; the four-week average climbed to 198,500. Claims remain well below 220,000 historic lows, though hiring weakened—September nonfarm payrolls added just 29,000 versus 133,000 in August; unemployment rose to 4.2%.
- China·Policy & Law
Human resources authorities clarify that voluntary resignation can qualify for unemployment benefits in certain cases
China's human resources authorities clarified that workers can claim unemployment insurance benefits in certain cases of voluntary resignation. Eligibility criteria vary by local authorities.
- United States·Research
US ADP Private Payrolls Add Only 38,000 Jobs in August, Manufacturing Hiring Stalls
US ADP private payrolls added only 38,000 jobs in August, the slowest pace since January, below the forecast 48,000. Manufacturing lost 17,000 jobs; education/healthcare and leisure/hospitality posted gains. Private-sector base wages grew 3.2% year-over-year; low-wage worker wage growth has weakened for four years.
Thursday 22 October
- United States·Research
US initial jobless claims fall to 194,000, a three-month low
US initial jobless claims fell to 194,000 last week, marking a three-month low and approaching the lowest level in 60 years, according to the report.
- United States·Research
US weekly jobless claims fall to 194,000, near 57-year low
US initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 194,000 in the week ended October 17, below economists' forecast of 200,000, the Labor Department reported. The reading is close to the 189,000 level seen in mid-July, the lowest since 1969, indicating continued labor market resilience and low layoffs.
- United States·Research
US initial jobless claims fall by 6,000, unemployment rate holds steady
US initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 last week, while the unemployment rate held steady, according to Labor Department data cited in the report.
Wednesday 21 October
- United States·Research
Connecticut job openings jump 10.9% to 96,223 in September
Connecticut job openings rose by 9,985 positions (10.9%) to 96,223 in September, spanning all industry sectors. Employers added 1,400 payroll jobs and the labor force grew by 3,500 people, but unemployment held at 5.1%, tied for the nation's highest, with the labor force still down 50,800 from a year earlier.