Jobs numbers dropped in July, but Adecco VP expects a busy fall

Wondering whether or not a recession is coming is more agonizing than 10 years of will-they-won’t-they with Ross and Rachel.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s July jobs numbers were lower than economists anticipated, Adecco’s VP of US search, Michelle Duong, told HR Brew that she’s optimistic about the market, and that recruiters should prepare for a busy fall.

By the numbers. In July, the US labor market added 187,000 jobs, lower than the 200,000 that economists expected, and signaling to some that the market is “cooling.” The unemployment rate remained at a near-record low of 3.5%, according to the BLS.

“The job market is still very strong,” Duong told HR Brew. Adecco has already seen an uptick in jobs in August and expects a strong fall. “Typically, Q3 is a very strong quarter for the permanent placement sector of our business. And we already see that trend, given that we’re wrapping up the first week of August.”

Down time advantage. While the job market tends to be slightly quieter in the summer, Duong said recruiters should prepare for it to rebound in the fall. Many of Adecco’s clients are already looking at both their retention programs and how they can attract talent to their organizations, so the staffing firm is using this time to connect with passive candidates.

“It’s critical for recruiters to have a strong partnership with the employers.”