| BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : DECEMBER 6, 1999 ISSUE | ||||||||
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| COVER STORY
Tactics for the Tight Labor Market PRODUCTIVITY By getting more efficient, companies can get the work done without hiring more people. Productivity growth is up a strong 2.5% this year. LONGER HOURS On average, workers are putting in 260 more hours a year than a decade ago--many without overtime pay. LAYOFFS Companies have laid off more workers so far this year than any time in the 1990s. They are frightening people about asking for raises by getting rid of of costly senior staff who can be replaced with cheaper, younger hires. VARIABLE PAY Some 70% of companies offer stock options and bonuses, says Hewitt Associates. This enables them to lure and keep talent without locking in big salaries. TEMPORARY WORKERS Companies can get work done without adding to their costly permanent staff. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the number of temporary workers have soared 50% between 1996 and 2006. IMMIGRANTS Without them, a lot of businesses say they would have to turn off the lights. But unions complain that immigrants are stealing their jobs. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP |
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 RELATED ITEMS The Wild New Workforce COVER IMAGE: The Wild New Workforce TABLE: Tactics for the Tight Labor Market CHART: The Jobless Rate Has Fallen...But Raises Remain Modest...As Incentive Pay Rises TABLE: Wage Growth Is Slowing for Most Industries The Hidden Costs of Stock Options TABLE: They Do Have a Price CHART: Stock Certificates in Your Pay Envelope The Labor Pool: Why Greenspan Is Worried CHART: The Fed's Favorite Labor Market Statistic INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online | |||
