The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for October paints an upbeat picture of the employment landscape. Key highlights include steady hiring rates and a low, consistent number of layoffs. Encouragingly, a significant drop in job openings aligns with the expected slowdown in labor demand in the current economic climate. This decline brings job openings to a post-pandemic nadir, mirroring trends observed in Indeed's job posting data, after previous discrepancies.
The Federal Open Market Committee is set to wrap up its December meeting next week. Predictions point towards a maintained fed funds rate, bolstered by favorable labor market and inflation data. A notable aspect is the low quits rate in recent times, easing wage growth pressures – a factor under close scrutiny by the Federal Reserve in its anti-inflationary efforts.
This week's JOLTS report sheds light on the upcoming November payroll report, bridging data from October to capture mid-month activities. Following a robust September, job growth in October showed moderation, and this trend is expected to persist. The latest JOLTS data suggest a job gain of around 240,000 for October, which seems to contradict the expectation of slower growth but is acknowledged for its inherent volatility compared to monthly employment reports.
Exploring Regional Labor Market Tensions
Our analysis reveals that labor market tightness varies regionally. Over the past year, job openings have generally trended downwards across the U.S. census regions, though at differing rates. The Northeast, Midwest, and West have seen the most significant declines, reaching lows not seen since the early recovery phase of March 2021. The South, while also experiencing a decrease in openings, still posts a 34% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels, in contrast to smaller increases in other regions.
Indeed's Job Postings Index, a precursor to the monthly JOLTS report, echoes this regional trend. This index, based on a seven-day moving average of open positions on Indeed, shows a high correlation with Bureau of Labor Statistics data across regions. The South remains the most resilient in labor demand, with a less pronounced decline in job postings since their peak.
The quits rate, a key indicator of labor market tightness, has reverted nationally to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a normalization of the labor market. Regionally, the picture varies. Despite high job openings, the West has seen a dip in its quits rate below pre-pandemic averages, while the Midwest and the South report slightly higher rates. The elevated quits rate in the South notably contributes to the U.S.'s accelerated wage growth and inflation rates.
The October JOLTS report, indicating a decrease in job openings and quits rate, is a positive sign for the Fed's monetary policy effectiveness. However, a regional perspective shows the central bank's job is far from over, particularly in cooling the South's labor market to achieve the 2% inflation target.
U.S. Consumer Sentiment in Perspective
There's an intriguing disconnect in the U.S. between subjective evaluations of the economy and concrete economic data. Survey-based 'soft' data, reflecting public sentiment, contrasts starkly with 'hard' data such as job growth and spending levels. This dichotomy has become a hallmark of the post-pandemic U.S. economy.
For instance, consumer sentiment surveys like the University of Michigan's indicate a perception of economic distress that doesn't align with the actual economic indicators. This gap is also evident in business-focused surveys like the ISM Manufacturing Survey and the NFIB Small Business Confidence Index. These surveys show a significant divergence between 'hard' components (like hiring plans and inventories) and 'soft' components (like business outlook and expectations).
Various theories attempt to explain this sentiment gap, with political polarization and changes in information consumption patterns being key factors. The omnipresence of news, often skewed negative, and the influence of social media and internet use are reshaping public perceptions, often overshadowing real economic performance.
Looking ahead, understanding consumer psychology is crucial for a comprehensive grasp of the economy. While sentiment measures retain their importance, their context and interpretation may need reassessment, focusing more on personal circumstances than broader economic judgments. This approach could offer a more accurate reflection of the economic landscape and guide better policy and business decisions.
Global Economic Outlook: A Week Ahead
In the coming week, the U.S. economic focus will shift from labor to inflation and Federal Reserve policies. The upcoming CPI release and FOMC meeting are anticipated to reflect a continuation of current trends, with inflation expected to moderate and the fed funds rate likely to remain unchanged. Key data releases will include small business surveys, retail sales, and industrial production.
Europe's economic outlook features the U.K.'s GDP growth estimate and unemployment rate, with the Bank of England's interest rate policy in focus. The euro zone's industrial production data and trade balance will also be key indicators to watch.
In the Asia-Pacific region, China's fixed-asset investment growth and Japan's business sentiment, as measured by the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey, will be in the spotlight, along with New Zealand's GDP growth data.
Source: Loan Analytics, Moodys
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