Number drops: The number of job openings in the U.S. edged down slightly in the first week of December, a sign of a softening labor market amid an upsurge in coronavirus infections and ebbing fiscal support for households. There were an average of 10.7 million job openings posted each day on online sites across the U.S. this month, down slightly from November’s 10.9 million, according to data from job-search site ZipRecruiter shared with The Wall Street Journal.
High earners: During the last economic expansion, from 2009 to 2019, average yearly wages for the bottom 90% of workers rose 8.7% after adjusting for inflation, according to an analysis of Social Security Administration data by the liberal Economic Policy Institute, USA Today reports. Meanwhile, pay for most of the top 10% rose 13.2%—while earnings for the top 1% jumped 20.4%. Read the full story.
Student inclusion: Baton Rouge Community College leaders and IBM executives will discuss efforts to improve student equity and inclusion at an event called Fireside Chat: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Community Colleges in a COVID-19 Environment, on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 11:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Get more information here.
