November was the strongest month for workforce activity since June, even when accounting for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the November 2023 Workforce Activity Report published by UKG. Shift work increased 0.4%, with gains across most sectors, signaling more strength for the remarkably steady labor market.

• What workforce activity during Thanksgiving and Black Friday tells us about the overall labor market;
• How November shift work in retail compares with prior years, and what it means for the holiday season;
• Whether healthcare continued its great recovery for 2023; and
• How many new jobs to expect from Friday’s November jobs report.

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Noah Yosif, lead labor economist, UKG

“November was ‘all gravy’ for the labor market, continuing its upward trend and showing the strongest workforce activity since June. There were, however, fewer shifts in retail and hospitality during the Thanksgiving/Black Friday holiday for the fourth consecutive year, as retailers adapt to changing consumer preferences accelerated by the pandemic. Still, with steady gains month to month, the labor market remains strong overall.”

The UKG Workforce Activity Report is a high-frequency index analyzing shift work trends from 4.3 million people across more than 35,000 U.S. businesses to understand the economy. Reports are published and briefings are held each Tuesday prior to the publication of the BLS Employment Situation Report. Upcoming publication schedule:

• December 2023 Workforce Activity Report: January 3, 2024
• January 2024 Workforce Activity Report: January 30, 2024
• February 2024 Workforce Activity Report: March 5, 2024