Something is cooking at Ford ($F), and it seems that the automaker may be putting new plans into action just as its biggest American competitor is hobbled by a labor stoppage.
Ford nearly doubled job postings since the second half of 2019 began. The company's job postings are up year-over-year and far out of pace with its biggest competitor, which is especially noteworthy at this point in the year.
General Motors ($GM) job postings - not shown - are also up in 2019, but GM's postings tend to follow a cyclical pattern. And, in a year where CEO Mary Barra clashed with union delegates as workers went on strike, General Motors job postings are down year-over-year, despite having risen in 2019. GM is expected to announce earnings next week.
Engineers are one of Ford's biggest priorities, judging by the job postings. And its focus on hiring both Engineers - seen in the chart above, reflecting growth of 69% - and Design pros suggest a shift in plans at the automaker.
Similarly, Ford job postings for "Design" and "Designer" roles sharply rose in Q3, growing 62%. When Ford reported its earnings October 23, it posted a bottom-line miss, sending shares down in after-market trades.
About the Data:
Thinknum tracks companies using the information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales.
Further Reading:
- Barney's files Chapter 11 - see the retailer's alternative data
- JC Penney opens tons of temp roles in a bid to survive
- Levi's aims to grow, despite post-IPO woes
