- U.S. Jobs Market Was Strong in March, But Uncertainty Looms
- Target Cuts Employee Bonuses
- Universities to End DEI Programs in Wake of New State Laws
- New Report Exposes Global LGBTQ+ Workplace Challenges
U.S. Jobs Market Was Strong in March, But Uncertainty Looms
The U.S. added 228,000 jobs in March, solidly above the 140,000 that economists had anticipated, but the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2% (versus 4.1% in February). This is according to the new Employment Situation Summary, released Friday, April 4, by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Last month’s gains are an improvement over the 117,000 jobs added in February. Healthcare, transportation and warehousing were among the sectors leading the March charge, while federal hiring declined amid sweeping government workforce layoffs.
While the new report is a look back on March, the American labor market has entered uncertain territory given largescale tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, April 2.
In March, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 9 cents, or 0.3%, to $36.00. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.8%. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees edged up by 5 cents, or 0.2%, to $30.96.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.2 hours. In manufacturing, the average workweek was little changed at 40.2 hours, and overtime was unchanged at 2.9 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.2 hour to 33.8 hours in March.
Target Cuts Employee Bonuses
Target recently announced it was reducing bonuses for salaried employees, citing “ongoing consumer uncertainty” and concerns over tariff impacts.
Employees will receive 87% of their eligible 2024 bonuses, a sharp decline from the previous year, when workers received 100% of their bonuses, with some even seeing their payouts double, according to a Bloomberg report.
The bonus cut follows Target’s March earnings report, in which it issued a cautious outlook. A Target spokesperson told Quartz that bonus outcomes were based only on Target’s financial performance for the total fiscal year 2024.
Universities to End DEI Programs in Wake of New State Laws
To comply with newly signed state laws, three universities in Ohio and Kentucky will shut down their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs this year, according to a Cincinnati Public Radio report.
In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law March 28, which bans public university diversity programs and faculty strikes. The law will take effect at the end of June.
Following the bill’s approval, the University of Cincinnati’s Office of the President stated it doesn’t anticipate the new state law to limit what faculty can teach, but DEI programs will be axed.
Miami University released a statement March 31 saying it would also make changes to comply with Senate Bill 1, but the university did not publicly provided specifics on what those changes will mean.
Kentucky’s House Bill 4, which bans DEI initiatives in the Commonwealth’s public colleges, became law at the end of March, despite a veto from Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Kentucky Republicans later overrode Beshear’s veto.
In response, Northern Kentucky University (NKU) president Cady Short-Thompson said the university’s Center for Inclusive Excellence, which contains departments geared toward Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ students, will be repurposed into the Center for Community Connections.
Additionally, NKU will no longer fund or require diversity training. Funds from scholarship programs that consider race, gender, nationality or religion will not be accepted by the university either.
These changes will be implemented by May 12.
New Report Exposes Global LGBTQ+ Workplace Challenges
A new report revealed that anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination strongly influences where LGBTQ+ employees choose to live and work.
Produced by Coqual, a global think tank advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the workplace, Pride Under Pressure: Charting a Course for Global LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion, explored the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ professionals across five global markets (Brazil, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States).
Across markets, LGBTQ+ professionals — from nearly one in five (18%) in Brazil to more than half (56%) in India — report that anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination has greatly impacted their choice of employer. Coqual noted these professionals seek organizations that prioritize their safety, well-being, and dignity — and they encourage their networks to do the same.
Additionally, the report indicated many LGBTQ+ professionals — from nearly 30% in Brazil to more than half in India — believe they must hide their sexual orientation to advance into executive roles.
The report shared several key takeaways:
- The global LGBTQ+ community is massive and multiplies when counting loved ones.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ hate harms both employees and the bottom line.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination shows up at work in daily assaults, insults, and indignities.
- Workplaces still send the message that you must be straight to succeed—and out leaders are outliers.
- Transgender and gender-diverse professionals deserve dedicated attention.
- Intersectionality is integral to inclusion.
- Rainbow branding outpaces real support.
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