Adecco Talks: Healthcare growth, heat safety, and industries leading the jobs market

Recognizing heat safety as workplace incidents rise

July brought excessive heat to nearly every part of the country, and most recently, 140 million people in the Midwest and on East Coast were under heat alerts.

Heat waves have dominated this summer’s headlines, but now OSHA is joining the conversation. In hopes of preventing the thousands who become ill and dozens who fall victim to heat exhaustion every year, the agency recently announced plans to propose heat safety protections for US workers.

Heat illness stems from dehydration and elevated body temperatures, but it presents in symptoms as diverse as lightheadedness, nausea, cramps, and more serious issues like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

There are steps employers can take today to address excessive heat. Adecco’s Risk Management team recommends:

● Setting water consumption standards
● Monitoring hydration
● Providing shaded break areas as well as work sites, when possible
● Introducing acclimatization protocols for new and returning workers
● Creating clothing guidelines to prevent heat illness
● Implementing high heat and emergency response procedures

US worker deaths are rising

This comes at a time when fatal occupational injuries increased by 5.6% in 2022.

What can employers do to decrease workplace injuries?

● Identify and mitigate hazards
● Provide proper equipment and tools
● Develop and implement safety programs
● Conduct regular trainings
● Encourage reporting and feedback

At Adecco, our risk management team utilizes wearable technology and other tools to identify unsafe behaviors. Learn how our approach transformed a client’s high-risk worksite, reducing onsite claims by 55% and costs by 77%.

Demand in healthcare is rising

For months, healthcare has been one of the biggest drivers behind job growth.

There are many reasons why:

● The population over age 65 is expected to grow by 34.1% by 2036
● Predictions say that there will be on average roughly 193,000 job openings for registered nurses every year until 2032
● A February 2020 survey found that 85.3% of laboratory professionals reported burnout
● Resignations for healthcare workers reached 600,000 per month in May 2023

Thanks to more than 35 years’ experience in science and medical staffing, we know how challenging it can be to navigate. That’s in part why we made the strategic decision to rename our specialty team to Adecco Healthcare & Life Sciences staffing, so we’re better able to support your key industries.  

Learn more about Adecco’s Healthcare & Life Sciences staffing and how our specialized team can build a recruitment process tailored to your needs.

Additional trends we saw in June

● Job growth: In June, the US added 206,000 jobs, above most experts’ estimates. The unemployment rate rose to 4.1%, indicating some labor market slack
● Wage growth: In June, average hourly earnings rose by 3.9% year-over-year, the weakest gain since 2021, which is another indication of a softening in the labor market
● Labor force participation rate: The labor force participation rate slightly increased to 62.6% this past month, indicating more people are entering the job market
● Industry standouts: Healthcare, government and leisure, and hospitality sectors have been driving job growth this past year, catching up from pandemic-related job deficits

Consider your staffing needs met

Finance, retail, healthcare, and even marketing: Adecco has the specialized recruiters who can help you fill critical roles, whether it’s one or 100.

Learn more about the industries we support, and reach out today to connect with your dream team.