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October 2018 Summary of Select Trends
Click on the source in (parenthesis) to visit the full article SECURITY Online security is a growing challenge. In addition to Facebook, multiple companies and sites have been hacked in the past month: Google Plus, Newegg, MACOS App Store, T-Mobile, Army.com, Reddit, British Airways. (Popular Science) ROBOTS The next Industrial Revolution is here, and people all over the world are concerned. Robots and computers built to streamline workflows and handle specific tasks currently completed by humans are taking over, according to a Pew study. Advantages, robots do not take vacations or sick days. They can be programmed for efficiency to maximize profit. While the trend is clear, interestingly, only 15 percent of Americans surveyed believe this will definitely happen in the next 50 years. (Pew) TRANSPORTATION Transportation is most often voted on at the local level. This year, four states will vote on gas tax measures on their midterm election ballots: California, Colorado, Missouri, and Utah. Utah will decide whether they become the second state to use fuel tax income to fund schools by increasing gas taxes by 10 cents. Support for the initiative crosses political lines. (Governing) TECHNOLOGY The most recent security breach of over 50 million Facebook users has many wondering: Is investing in cybersecurity enough? Earlier this year, Facebook announced it would double its security personnel and add AI capabilities. (CNBC) HEALTHCARE The HHS' Office of Inspector General fears that Medicare Advantage plans could be denying needed medical services to maximize profits, according to a new report. When beneficiaries and providers appealed preauthorization and payment denials, Medicare Advantage organizations, or MAOs, overturned 75% of their own denials between 2014 and 2016. They overturned approximately 216,000 denials each year, HHS OIG said. This is especially troubling considering those affected by these denied claims are older and members of medical plans that are notoriously confusing. (Modern Healthcare) ECONOMY The 2019 U.S. economic outlook is healthy according to the key economic indicators. The most critical indicator is the gross domestic product, which measures the nation's production output. The GDP growth rate is expected to remain between the 2 percent to 3 percent ideal range. Unemployment is forecast to continue at the natural rate. There isn't too much inflation or deflation. (The Balance) WORKPLACE Midterm elections are fast-approaching, and many workplace issues are on ballots across the nation. Issues up for grabs in certain states include: Increasing the minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, and transgender legislation. Many communities are struggling to get ahead of how these changes could affect local policy and operations. (SHRM) DEMOGRAPHICS Women are perceived better than men in most aspects of the workplace when in positions of leadership, while men edge out women in negotiating profitable deals, according to a recent Pew survey. Despite these results, a majority surveyed believe neither sex has a better approach to leadership. Political leanings into these results are also explored. (Pew) WORKPLACE People are living longer than ever, and that means retirement savings is being stretched over more and more years. Americans believe 61 is the ideal age to retire, but some money experts think it wise to stay working until at least 70. This leads to a new set of concerns for employers, such as retirement benefits to be paid out longer for workers than before and for higher pay grades or vacation benefits for those employees working longer. (CNBC) ECONOMY The household income of a renter has more than doubled in the last decade. Affordable housing still remains a pressing issue, as the current household median income doesn’t allow for nearly 7 in 10 renters to spend less than 30 percent of income on rent based on median rent pricing. (ApartmentList) |
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Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations affordably engage communities through high-quality surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups that use instant audience feedback technology. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations affordably engage communities through high-quality surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups that use instant audience feedback technology. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].