AlphaROC – AI Driven Data Science & Analytics

Work in Progress: Labor Force Participation’s Slow But Sure Climb

In early December, occam’s “looking for work” metric correctly predicted a coming increase in the Labor Force Participation Rate (“Not Safe For Work – Understanding Lag in American Labor Force Participation,” December 8, 2022), despite the fact that the LFPR had remained stubbornly below pre-COVID levels. We believe our looking-for-work metric (sampled daily) is a leading indicator for the LFPR. Specifically, we observed the following sequence: 1) a crisp upward inflection in the occam looking-for-work metric in late November / early December, followed by 2) a similarly crisp inflection in the LFPR in the early months of 2023, as those who were seeing work towards the end of the year found the employment they sought. Below, we once again consult occam™ for trends in job seeking behavior and find reassurance that wage growth will continue to be moderated by an increasing supply of labor.

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Ozempic Goes Straight to Your Thighs: Perspectives on Weight-Loss Drugs

America’s obesity problem has only worsened over the last two decades. From 1999 to 2020, the CDC reports that the incidence of adult obesity in the US has steadily climbed from 31% to 42%. Despite numerous attempts by the weight-loss industry to capitalize on this alarming trend through promoting faddish nutrition plans and flashy fitness regimens, few of these approaches seem to generate a lasting impact. The landmark approval of GLP-1 agonists Wegovy and Saxenda for weight management, along with the increasingly common off-label use of Ozempic and Mounjaro, have created an unexpected bright spot for the pharmaceutical industry. Fueled by viral news of celebrities using these drugs for weight management, interest has surged in recent months. Leveraging occam™ data, we investigate consumer awareness of these medications.

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Work in Progress: Labor Force Participation’s Slow But Sure Climb

In early December, occam’s “looking for work” metric correctly predicted a coming increase in the Labor Force Participation Rate (“Not Safe For Work – Understanding Lag in American Labor Force Participation,” December 8, 2022), despite the fact that the LFPR had remained stubbornly below pre-COVID levels. We believe our looking-for-work metric (sampled daily) is a leading indicator for the LFPR. Specifically, we observed the following sequence: 1) a crisp upward inflection in the occam looking-for-work metric in late November / early December, followed by 2) a similarly crisp inflection in the LFPR in the early months of 2023, as those who were seeing work towards the end of the year found the employment they sought. Below, we once again consult occam™ for trends in job seeking behavior and find reassurance that wage growth will continue to be moderated by an increasing supply of labor.

Ozempic Goes Straight to Your Thighs: Perspectives on Weight-Loss Drugs

America’s obesity problem has only worsened over the last two decades. From 1999 to 2020, the CDC reports that the incidence of adult obesity in the US has steadily climbed from 31% to 42%. Despite numerous attempts by the weight-loss industry to capitalize on this alarming trend through promoting faddish nutrition plans and flashy fitness regimens, few of these approaches seem to generate a lasting impact. The landmark approval of GLP-1 agonists Wegovy and Saxenda for weight management, along with the increasingly common off-label use of Ozempic and Mounjaro, have created an unexpected bright spot for the pharmaceutical industry. Fueled by viral news of celebrities using these drugs for weight management, interest has surged in recent months. Leveraging occam™ data, we investigate consumer awareness of these medications.