ISM Employment Index spikes, Profiles International Emphasizes the Importance of Smart Hiring

Austin, Texas (Nov. 5, 2009) – As the economy takes a turn for the better and companies once again are hiring, Profiles International encourages employers to hire people who will help the company excel, not just to fill a job. This comes after the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released October Employment Index numbers yesterday. According to ISM’s data, eight manufacturing industries reported employment growth for October with an index of 53.1 compared to September’s index of 46.2. This is the first month of growth in 14 months. The ISM number is significant, because any number over 49.7 is typically consistent with the manufacturing employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

“An increase in manufacturing employment could mean that hope is on the horizon for other industries as well,” said Dario Priolo, Managing Director of the Profiles Research Institute. “In September, the jobless rate rose to 9.8 percent, which is the highest rate since June 1983. In addition, it was the 21st straight month of job declines, with a cut of 263,000 jobs. As companies become profitable again, we will see the employment rates increase.”

The ISM October data is much welcomed news after such dismal September numbers. According to SupplyExcellence.com, most economists expect the unemployment rates in the US to continue to climb through the end of the year, and a closer look at the ISM survey data for both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors certainly backs that forecast. In both cases, an index reading above 50 means that the sector is in a hiring mode, while a reading below 50 means that the jobs sector is declining.

“A strong staff and viable workforce is the greatest asset a company can have because it’s the biggest investment a company will ever make,” said Bud Haney, President and Co-Founder of Profiles International. “Poor hiring is a costly mistake that can compromise a company’s profitability. It is far better that companies view hiring as an investment. In so doing, they are more likely to consider which investments will reap the most return.”

On Friday morning, the BLS will release the jobs report for October. President Obama said Monday at the beginning of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) meeting, “We are just not where we need to be yet. We have got a long way to go.”

About Profiles International
Profiles International is the world’s leader and innovator in selecting and developing high-performance workforces. Profiles International does this through innovative human resource management solutions and a comprehensive suite of employment assessments that help companies worldwide gain a competitive advantage by selecting, hiring, retaining, and developing great talent. Profiles International is the preferred choice of many of the largest companies because of the quality of its products and services, and its consistent revalidation of its diverse collection of employment assessments. For more information about Profiles International’s suite of human resource management solutions, visit www.profilesinternational.com

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