Celebrating 20 Years of KBW & Navigating Today’s Service Sector Challenges! This month, we’re celebrating 20 years of KBW Financial!
Over the past two decades, KBW has seen many ups and downs in the labor market, and through it all, we’ve remained dedicated to supporting our clients and candidates with expertise, integrity, and adaptability.
As we mark this milestone, we’re also keeping a close eye on the current market landscape. This week, we’re looking at the latest ISM report, which shows that growth in the U.S. service sector paused in September, as hiring challenges, slower new orders, and rising input costs continue to create uncertainty. With the delayed federal jobs report limiting visibility, businesses are navigating a complex environment, one that KBW is well-positioned to help guide them through.
Check out the video below to get a glimpse into how KBW came to be and how we have grown over the past 20 years. 🎥
Happy 20th Anniversary to Us!
We’re proud to highlight two decades of growth, partnerships, and success, and are excited for the next two decades to come!
Check out the video below to hear about how KBW came to be and some of our wonderful employees’ experiences over the years.
This Week’s Featured Jobs: Find your next career move
Senior Accountant – Wilmington, MA | $100k-$120k/year
FP&A Manager – Bedford, MA | $140k/year
Assistant Corporate Controller – Waltham, MA | $200k-$250k/year
Senior Accountant – Woburn, MA | $100k-$120k/year
Investment Audit & Controls Oversight Manager – Boston, MA | $128k-$168k/year
Assistant Finance Manager – Cambridge, MA | $95k-$115k/year
Trading Analyst – Boston, MA | $75k-$85k/year
Accounting Manager – Portsmouth, NH | $120k-$130k/year
Procurement Manager – Methuen, MA | $110k-$130k/year
Bookkeeper – Southwick, MA | $45k-$57k/year
Senior Controller – Portsmouth, NH | $150k-$150k-$175k/year
Accounting Manager / Assistant Controller – Hopkinton, MA | $125k-$155k/year
Hiring Challenges & Rising Costs Weigh on the U.S. Service Sector
Activity in the U.S. service sector came to a halt in September, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The slowdown was driven largely by a decline in new orders, signaling a cooling trend after months of steady growth.
Employment within the sector also remained in contraction territory. Steve Miller, chair of ISM’s services business survey committee, cited delayed hiring efforts and difficulty finding qualified staff as ongoing challenges.
The report showed that 10 service industries reported growth in September, two fewer than in August, while 7 industries, including mining, construction, and retail trade, saw contraction. That marks an increase from four industries reporting contraction in the previous month.
Prices paid by service organizations continued to rise, increasing for the 100th consecutive month and reaching their second-highest level since October 2022. The ISM data also filled a critical information gap as the release of the U.S. Government’s September jobs report was delayed due to the government shutdown. The withheld report marks the first time since 2013 that employment data was unavailable, complicating analysis for economists and policymakers.
“There’s no question—the best jobs data in the world comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We need that data, we want that data.”
-Austan Goolsbee (Chicago Fed President)
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