By Patricia Cohen
New York Times, Nov 4, 2016
The government, delivering the last major snapshot of the economy before Election Day, reported on Friday that employers added 161,000 workers in October, a performance that suggested a healthy outlook for the months ahead. The official unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent, from 5 percent. And average hourly earnings rose 2.8 percent year over year, a level not reached since 2008. ...
“It has been tough to hire good people,” ... said Scott Nash, the founder and chief executive of Mom’s Organic Market, which operates 17 grocery stores between Virginia and New Jersey and employs more than 1,000 people. Mr. Nash offers a starting wage of $12 an hour, significantly above the mandated minimums in the areas where his stores are. He said he planned to hire an additional 200 workers, from cashiers to managers, over the next 12 months. ...
Uncommon Goods, an online retailer located in Brooklyn, plans to add hundreds of temporary employees to its 170-person work force by the end of the year, said Dave Bolotsky, the founder and chief executive. Over the next year, he expects to create 20 to 30 full-time positions, with a starting wage of $14 an hour. “If you can pay above market rate, it’s a sign of appreciation or respect,” said Mr. Bolotsky, who supports an increase in the mandated minimum wage. ...
Copyright 2016 New York Times