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{{Short description|American non-profit research organization}}
{{For|the Conference Board's Canadian counterpart|Conference Board of Canada}}
{{Primary sources|date=August 2023}}
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[[File:The Conference Board 845 Third Av jeh.jpg|thumb|845 Third Avenue, Manhattan]]
'''The Conference Board, Inc.''' is a [[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]] [[non-profit]] business membership and research group organization. It counts over 1,000 public and private corporations and other organizations as members, encompassing 60 countries.
The Conference Board convenes conferences and peer-learning groups, conducts economic and business management research, and publishes several widely tracked [[economic indicator]]s. ==History==
The organization was founded in 1916 as the National Industrial Conference Board (NICB). At the time, tensions between labor and management in the United States were seen as potentially explosive in the wake of the [[Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire]] in 1911 and the [[Ludlow Massacre]] in 1914. In 1915, presidents of twelve major corporations in the United States and six leading industry associations met in Yama, New York to formulate the business community's response to continued labor unrest and growing public criticism.<ref>Tranger, James. The New York Chronology: The Ultimate Compendium of Events, People and Anecdotes from the Dutch to the Present. {{ISBN|978-006052341-1}}. p. 356</ref>
After additional crisis meetings, the National Industrial Conference Board was officially founded on May 5, 1916, at the Hotel Gramatan in [[Bronxville, New York]].<ref name="conference-board.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/TCB_HistoryTimeLine.pdf|title=Conference Board timeline|access-date=2012-09-10|archive-date=2022-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222194416/https://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/TCB_HistoryTimeLine.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Although many of the organizations’ founders—including former [[AT&T]] president [[Frederick Perry Fish|Frederick P. Fish]] and [[General Electric]] executive [[Magnus W. Alexander]], its first president—had supported the [[open shop|open-shop movement]]
When the United States entered [[World War I]] in 1917, the [[National War Labor Board (1918–1919)|National War Labor Board]] formed by President [[Woodrow Wilson]] asked the NICB to formulate plans that would keep war industries running and strife-free. Its recommendations—based on cooperation between representatives of employers, employees, and government—were adopted in full.<ref name="conference-board.org"/> Though often mistrusted in its early years as an “employers union” funding studies against the labor movement,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Laue |first=J. Charles |date=1926-10-31 |title=LABOR AND CAPITAL TO BATTLE OVER UNIONISM; Campaign of American Federation of Labor to Combat Company Unions and To Organize Open Shop Industries Is Fought by Anti-Union Employers |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/10/31/archives/labor-and-capital-to-battle-over-unionism-campaign-of-american.html |access-date=2023-02-25 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the non-profit NICB was also seen “as a spokesman for the so-called progressive wing of the business community [and] produced hundreds of research reports on economic and social issues facing the United States.”<ref name="auto"/>
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The organization is considered an unbiased "trusted source for statistics and trends, second only to perhaps the [[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONFERENCE BOARD A TRUSTED RESOURCE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-03-08-8701180829-story.html |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> After [[World War II]], it expanded to non-U.S. members for the first time. In 1954, it founded [[The Conference Board of Canada]] in Montreal, which was spun off as an independent non-profit in 1981. In 1959, its first overseas CEO-level was held in Torquay, England, bringing together executives and board presidents from the US, UK, and Canada.
In 1996, the [[United States Department of Commerce|U.S. Department of Commerce]] selected The Conference Board to produce and distribute the US leading economic indicator series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Looking Ahead: Leading Indexes for Pennsylvania and New Jersey |url=https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/frbp/assets/economy/articles/business-review/1996/may-june/brmj96tckb.pdf}}</ref>
Today, The Conference Board has offices in [[Brussels|New York, Brussels]], [[Beijing]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[Singapore]]. {{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}▼
In 2006, The Conference Board established its China Center for Economic and Business in Beijing as a resource for senior executives of multinational companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Conference Board Launches China Center in 2006 |url=https://www.conference-board.org/timeline}}</ref>
In 2015, the [[Committee for Economic Development]] (CED) merged with The Conference Board as its US public-policy center.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Board |first=The Conference |title=The Conference Board to Merge with the Committee for Economic Development |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-conference-board-to-merge-with-the-committee-for-economic-development-300020593.html |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>
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== Regional Centers ==
The Conference Board produces research, convenes conferences, and organizes executive peer-learning councils through regional centers. In the United States, it currently operates five Centers from New York City:
* Economy, Strategy & Finance - including global economy, innovation and [[digital transformation]], labor markets, consumer dynamics
* Marketing & Communications - [[Corporate communication|corporate communications]], consumer dynamics, marketing
* Environmental, Social & Governance - [[corporate governance]], [[sustainability]], [[Corporate social responsibility|corporate citizenship and philanthropy]]
* Human Capital - leadership, learning and development, [[talent acquisition]], [[employee engagement]] and experience, diversity and inclusion, HR technology, human capital analytics, labor markets, coaching and mentoring
* [[Committee for Economic Development]] (Public Policy) - [[regulation]], healthcare policy, education, infrastructure, [[tax reform]], fiscal health, immigration
In Europe, The Conference Board hosts three Centers:
* Economy, Strategy & Finance
* Human Capital
* Sustainability
In the Asia-Pacific region, the organization hosts three Centers:
* Economy, Strategy & Finance
* Human Capital
* Sustainability
Additionally, The Conference Board operates a China Center for executives of multinational companies.
==Economic indicators and data ==
The Conference Board publishes a number of regular indicators for United States and international economies that are widely tracked by investors, business leaders, and policy makers. They include:
* '''[[Consumer Confidence Index|U.S. Consumer Confidence Index]]''' – Begun by The Conference Board in 1967, this monthly survey of 5,000 households is widely established as the leading measure of American consumer confidence.<ref>“Consumer Confidence: An Online NewsHour Special Report.” The Newshour with Jim Lehrer. PBS. May 2001. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/jan-june01/confidence_5-29.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325204446/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/economy/jan-june01/confidence_5-29.html |date=2013-03-25 }}</ref> Results from the household survey are tabulated to provide a barometer of the U.S. economy (currently indexed to the year 1985 = 100).
* '''CEO Confidence Survey''' – The quarterly Measure of CEO Confidence gauges the outlook of chief executives in their own industries and the economy as a whole, in conjunction with The Business Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CEOs Turn Positive on US Economy for First Time in Two Years |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-08/ceos-turn-positive-on-us-economy-for-first-time-in-two-years |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=www.bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Staff|first=Investopedia|date=19 June 2005|title=CEO Confidence Survey|url=http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/ceoconfidencesurvey.asp#axzz1zl8O7NeG|access-date=26 September 2012|archive-date=31 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531025119/https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/ceoconfidencesurvey.asp#axzz1zl8O7NeG|url-status=live}}</ref> The survey also runs every six months in Europe - in cooperation with the [[European Round Table for Industry]] - and in China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European business confidence hits rock bottom |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0ee7f45a-91af-4d1b-b87c-22ed54adda08|access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Financial Times |language=en-uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=China's CEOs have spoken, and new confidence index shows how multinationals' hopes turned 'sobering' in mere months|url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3242750/chinas-ceos-have-spoken-and-new-confidence-index-shows-how-multinationals-hopes-turned-sobering-mere|access-date=2024-04-12 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en-uk}}</ref>
* '''CHRO Confidence Index''' – The quarterly CHRO Confidence Index gauges the hiring and retention outlook of US chief human resource officers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Almost all CHROs say
* '''CCO+CMO Meter –''' A recurring tracker of [[marketing]] and [[Communication|communications]] leaders’ sentiment as to the impact they are having on their businesses and the value they are creating.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CMO+CCO Meter {{!}} The Conference Board |url=https://www.conference-board.org/research/CMO-CCO-Meter}}</ref>
* '''US Job Satisfaction Survey –''' Annual survey launched in 1987 that acts as a barometer of US [[Job satisfaction|worker satisfaction]], based on workers’ perceptions of their current role and their workplace environment. The latest survey tracks satisfaction across 26 components, from [[Wage|wages]], promotion policy, and bonus plan to [[Work–life balance|work/life balance]], [[Commuting|commute time]], to physical workplace environment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Salary Budgets Projected to Stay at 20-Year High but Trail Inflation |url=https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/benefits-compensation/2023-salary-budgets-projected-to-stay-20-year-high-trail-inflation |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.shrm.org |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''US Salary Increase Budgets Survey''' – Since 1985, The Conference Board has been surveying compensation executives across industries and sectors on how much it plans to offer in annual salary increased. The survey asks about two main components of compensation: salary increase budget and salary structure movement. This year, 409 organizations completed the survey fielded between June 21 and July 17, 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Lauren |title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} Workers Are Happier Than They've Been in Decades |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/workers-job-satisfaction-survey-c42addba |access-date=2024-04-12 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''Leading Economic Indexes''' – In the 1960s, the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]] began researching and releasing [[Economic indicator|business cycle indicators]], which use composite data points (including manufacturing, construction, and stock market indicators) to time economic expansions, recessions, and recoveries. In December 1995, The Conference Board took over the business indicator program from the government and continues to publish [[Economic indicator#Leading indicators|leading]], [[Economic indicator#Coincident indicators|coincident]], and [[Economic indicator#Lagging indicators|lagging]] indexes for the U.S. economy each month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.investopedia.com/university/conferenceboard/conferenceboard2.asp#axzz1tSSqJlKQ|title=Conference Board: Composite Index Of Leading Indicators|date=12 April 2005|access-date=26 September 2012|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331042704/https://www.investopedia.com/university/conferenceboard/conferenceboard2.asp#axzz1tSSqJlKQ|url-status=live}}</ref> The program was also expanded to other economies; beyond the U.S., The Conference Board currently publishes leading, coincident, and trailing indexes for the [[Economy of Australia|Australia]], [[Economy of Brazil|Brazil]], [[Economy of China|China]], the [[Eurozone|Euro Area]], [[Economy of France|France]], [[Economy of Germany|Germany]], [[Economy of India|India]], [[Economy of japan|Japan]], [[Economy of Mexico|Mexico]], [[South Korea]], [[Economy of Spain|Spain]], and the [[Economy of the United Kingdom|U.K]].
* '''Employment Trends Index''' – Created in 2008, the Employment Trends Index aggregates eight separate indicators and “offers a short-term, forward look at employment [that] gives economists and investors a new forecasting tool. It also helps business executives sharpen their short- to medium-term hiring and compensation planning.”<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/press/TechnicalPDF_4505_1338723525.pdf |title=Press release |website=www.conference-board.org |access-date=2012-09-26 |archive-date=2022-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222194444/https://www.conference-board.org/pdf_free/press/TechnicalPDF_4505_1338723525.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
*'''The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine®''' (HWOL) Index measures changes over time in advertised online job vacancies, reflecting monthly trends in employment opportunities across the US. The HWOL Data Series aggregates the total number of ads available by month from the HWOL universe of online job ads. Ads in the HWOL universe are collected in real-time from over 50,000 online job domains. The online program is the successor of the Help Wanted Advertising Index program, which was based on counts of help-wanted job advertisements in major newspapers across the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Overview {{!}} Lightcast Knowledge Base |url=https://kb.lightcast.io/en/articles/7546105-help-wanted-online-hwol-overview |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=kb.lightcast.io |language=en}}</ref>
▲==Notable research==
The Conference Board's research reports and experts are often featured in a wide range of global [[Business journalism|business media]]—from specialist trade publications to the [[Financial Times]], the [[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]], [[CNBC]], [[Bloomberg News]], [[Forbes]] and [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]].
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* C-Suite Outlook – Annual survey of the most pressing challenges and responses facing CEOs and other C-Suite executives across industries and regions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gryta|first=Thomas|date=2022-01-13|title=Inflation Surge Is on Many Executives' List of 2022 Worries|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-surge-is-on-many-executives-list-of-2022-worries-11642069801|access-date=2022-02-23|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=2022-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223202401/https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-surge-is-on-many-executives-list-of-2022-worries-11642069801|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Toward Stakeholder Capitalism – the implications of this shift for the C-Suite.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Tectonic Shift in Capitalism Is Underway. How Business Leaders Can Keep Up. |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/a-tectonic-shift-in-capitalism-is-underway-how-business-leaders-can-keep-up-51639775154}}</ref>
* Board Effectiveness – an annual report, done in collaboration with [[PwC]], on how boards can become more effective.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boards
*
* Annual survey on US salary increase budgets across industries and seniority.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davidson|first=Paul|title=Hey millennials, look out below! Gen Zers may already be catching up in the salary race|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/11/11/u-s-wage-growth-gen-zers-closing-pay-gap-millennials/2531949001/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=[[USA Today]]|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224180718/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/11/11/u-s-wage-growth-gen-zers-closing-pay-gap-millennials/2531949001/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Surveys of chief human resource officers on various workforce and workplace matters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGregor |first=Jena |title=Just 4% Of Employers Are Making Everyone Return To The Office Full-Time, Survey Finds |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenamcgregor/2022/05/05/just-4-of-employers-are-making-everyone-return-to-the-office-full-time-survey-finds/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
* Analyses on national public policy issues, including Social Security,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fix Social Security Now. Waiting Will Cost Us. |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/social-security-time-running-out-0c2a0c54}}</ref>
== Membership and professional development ==
The Conference Board's corporate membership includes the majority of the [[Fortune 500]].
The organization is considered a pioneer in professional councils, which were "created as a way to guide business leaders through boom and bust cycles."<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the top CHRO networking groups for HR leaders stack up |url=https://fortune.com/2024/02/27/best-executive-networking-groups-chro-hr-compare-ranking/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref> Each council is a invitation-only, self-governed group of executives. Each year, around 2,500 executives participate in The Conference Board councils. These range from networks organized for specific [[C-suite]] titles—including multiple councils for [[Chief financial officer|chief financial officers]], [[Chief human resources officer|chief human resources officers]], [[General counsel|chief legal officers]], and [[Corporate Treasurer|corporate treasurers]]—to those focused on narrower areas of expertise or emerging business challenges, such as [[artificial intelligence]]. <ref>{{Cite web |title=How the top CHRO networking groups for HR leaders stack up |url=https://fortune.com/2024/02/27/best-executive-networking-groups-chro-hr-compare-ranking/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref>
==Awards==
The Conference Board has received multiple awards
* Foreign Policy Association [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-conference-board-receives-award-for-insights-on-geopolitics-302181941.html Medal]
* Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC 2023<ref>{{Cite web|title=Crain's Best Places to work in NYC 2023|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/best-places-work-2023|access-date=2022-03-22|website=Crain's New York|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
* Best Companies for Career Growth [https://www.comparably.com/companies/the-conference-board/awards 2024]
* Best Company Outlook in 2023 and 2024 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Best Company Outlook 2024|url=https://www.comparably.com/awards/winners/top-rated-outlook-of-2024-small|access-date=2022-03-22|website=Comparably|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
* Best Leadership Teams [https://www.comparably.com/companies/the-conference-board/awards 2024]
* Best Places to Work: New York 2023 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Best Places to Work 2023: New York Metropolitan Area|url=https://www.comparably.com/awards/winners/best-company-nyc-2023|access-date=2022-03-22|website=Comparably|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
* Best
*
* Best
* Best
* Best
* Happiest Employees 2023 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Happiest Employees 2023|url=https://www.comparably.com/awards/winners/happiness-2023-small|access-date=2022-03-22|website=Comparably}}</ref>
▲* Best
▲*
▲* Best
==See also==
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