How are SHRM LINE data collected
Each month human resources professionals at a sample of firms are asked to complete an online questionnaire. Respondents are asked to use the pay period that includes the second Tuesday of the month as the reference period. The questions on the instrument are:
1) Between [previous month] and [current month], did the number of employees at your firm increase, decrease or remain the same?
2) Between [previous month] and [current month], did the number of vacancies at your firm increase, decrease or remain the same?
3) On average, have your new hires in [current month] received a compensation package (wage plus benefits) that is higher, the same, or lower than that received by individuals your firm hired into similar positions during [previous month]?
4) Compared with [previous month], have labor market conditions during [current month], made it more or less difficult to recruit highly qualified individuals to fill those positions that are of the greatest strategic importance to your firm, i.e., to put “A” candidates into your “A” jobs?
5) Between now and [next month], do you expect your employment headcount to increase, remain the same, or decrease?