The hottest Labor Market Substack posts right now

People's past economic experiences can impact their behavior for the rest of their lives.
High inflation in the 1970s had long-lasting effects on individuals.
Rising unemployment rates coupled with a cost-of-living crisis will likely influence consumer behavior for years to come.

Location choice for businesses is influenced by factors like market size, transportation costs, and differences in costs
Cities experience agglomeration of economic activities due to labor market demand and specialization
Urban development is constrained by limited urban land types and non-infinite demand for services

Young elite bureaucrats in Japan are quitting prestigious careers for riskier opportunities in the private sector.
The quit rates among Japan's elite bureaucrats have significantly increased, signaling a fundamental change.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that many quitting bureaucrats are joining start-ups rather than large companies.

Employer-sponsored insurance often makes healthcare more expensive and less efficient. It may force people to consume more healthcare than they actually want or need.
The tax benefits for employer-sponsored insurance mostly help higher-income individuals. This system creates a financial burden for the government and doesn't fairly serve those who need help the most.
Employer-sponsored insurance can trap people in their jobs, making it hard for them to retire or pursue better opportunities because they fear losing their health coverage.

The unemployment rate is calculated using a survey of about 60,000 households, while payroll numbers come from a survey of 140,000 businesses. These different sources can lead to different results.
Sampling bias can affect results if the survey doesn't represent the whole population well. It's important to trust that statisticians are working to avoid these biases.
Data can have noise or errors, especially when the job market is changing a lot. Seasonal adjustments and revisions to previous data can impact how we understand the unemployment rate.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity: