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Recent Editions
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Human Times
North America
U.S. job growth surges to 165,000 in October, beating expectations

The U.S. labor market has shown renewed strength, adding 165,000 jobs in October 2026, significantly exceeding economists' forecasts of 59,000, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, while employment figures for August and September were revised upward by a combined 84,000. Professional and business services led hiring with 70,000 new positions, followed by healthcare with 42,000 and manufacturing with 19,000, while construction lost 3,000 jobs. Average hourly earnings increased 3.1% year over year but continued to lag inflation, highlighting ongoing pressure on household purchasing power. Despite stronger employment figures, economists expect the Federal Reserve to remain focused on persistent inflation, with an interest rate increase still anticipated in December. Analysts also noted that hiring remains challenging for recent graduates and workers seeking new opportunities.

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Human Times
UK
Hiring activity declines for first time in four months

Hiring in the UK has declined for the first time in four months. A survey by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found that both permanent and temporary roles saw reductions in October, particularly in retail and hospitality. The index of permanent hiring dropped to 46.6 in October, down from 50.9 in September, on a gauge where a figure above 50 indicates growth. The index of temporary hiring fell to 48.9 from 50.9. Maxine Bligh, interim chief executive at REC, said: "Businesses can absorb only so many additional employment costs before hiring slows and job creation suffers." Elsewhere, the ITEM Club has forecast that unemployment could rise to 5.1% by mid-2027, up from 4.7% in the three months to August.

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Human Times
Europe
Less than half of UK adults want full-time work

Less than half of Britons desire full-time work, according to a Resolution Foundation analysis of the British Social Attitudes Survey. The proportion wanting full-time jobs dropped from 57% in 2015 to 47% in 2025, primarily among men, whose interest fell by 15 percentage points. Job satisfaction among men also declined significantly, from 79% to 70%. Hannah Slaughter, the report's author, noted: "Workers today put a little less intrinsic value on work than workers did a decade ago . . . [they] increasingly want jobs that provide flexibility, independence and financial security. But many feel those expectations are not being met. The result is rising frustration among workers, who report lower job satisfaction, declining willingness to go above and beyond, and a reduced appetite for full-time work."

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Human Times
Middle East
Transforming worker housing in Saudi

Mnzil, The Development Group and Capital Partners have launched a SAR1bn fund to develop purpose-built workforce compounds accommodating up to 50,000 workers across Saudi Arabia. Mnzil will operate the portfolio, TDG will oversee site selection, design and development, and Capital Partners will manage the fund. Development is expected to begin in Q4 2026 across major employment centres including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Khobar, Makkah and Madinah. Compounds will include furnished rooms, recreational facilities, communal areas and on-site services, with locations chosen to reduce commuting. Mnzil chief executive Majeed Albabtain said, “Improving workers' lives is a collective effort.” The partners see the model as supporting Vision 2030 while establishing workforce housing as a scalable institutional real estate asset class backed by employer demand and long-term leases.

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