>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE IMPACT OF MASS LAYOFFS AT MAJOR COMPANIES AS THE U.S.

JOB MARKET SEES MORE "FIRES THAN HIRES".

ALSO TONIGHT: A LOOK AT RECREATIONAL DAY-PROGRAMS TO HELP OLDER ADULTS STAY ACTIVE, SOCIAL AND ENGAGED.

AND, A NEW EXHIBITION AT THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM SHOWCASES WORKS OF FLORENTINE PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES FROM THE HOUSE OF MEDICI.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

RECENT MASS LAYOFFS AT MAJOR U.S.

COMPANIES, MOST NOTABLY AMAZON AND U-P-S, ARE RAISING CONCERNS OVER THE JOB MARKET AND THE DIRECTION OF THE ECONOMY.FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME ECONOMIST SEAN EWEN, FROM ASU'S SEIDMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE HAVE LARGE SCALE LAYOFFS FROM MAJOR COMPANIES.

>> YOU HEAR ABOUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GETTING LAID OFF.

I THINK, LOOKING AT THE DATA PICTURE, TELLS A MORE NUANCE STORY.

THE LABOR MARKET IS STILL STRONG BUT THERE ARE SIGNS OF UNDERLINE WEAKNESS.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?

WE HAVE SEEN MASSIVE EMPLOYMENT SLOWDOWNS THIS YEAR.

WE SAW FROM MAY UNTIL AUGUST, WE SAW ABOUT 27,000 JOBS CREATED PER MONTH.

THE SAME NUMBER, DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS 150,000.

UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASED FROM 4.3%.

STILL LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.

IS THE HIGHEST WE HAVE SEEN SINCE 2021.

IT'S GIVING SOME CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

>> INDEED.

WE SPOKE ABOUT AMAZON WITH 14,000 LAYOFFS.

PAR MONITOR, TARGET ISN'T PLANNING TO HIRE SPECIAL WORKERS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THEY ARE ALSO PLANNING TO LAYPEOPLE OFF AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

IS IT A CORRECTION OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> WELL, IT'S TOUGH TO SAY AND HOW MUCH THESE LAYOFFS ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BROADER TREND.

NUMBER ONE, THE UNITED STATES SEES 5 TO 6 MILLION HIRES PER MONTH AND TOTAL SEPARATIONS.

THEY ARE A SMALL FRACTION OF THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE GREAT UPDATES TO THE NATIONAL LABOR STATISTIC AFTER OF NOW.

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CAUSED A BLACKOUT.

WE DIDN'T GET THE UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER DATA WE OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE AND WE WON'T GET THE UPDATE FOR OCTOBER THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE.

>> YOU REFER TO LAWOFFS, THEY REMAIN SLUGGISH IS ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

THE JOBLESS RATE AT 4%.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> IT'S LOW BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS.

THIS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

LAST WEEK THEY LAWYERED RATES.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE INFLATION IS ABOVE THE TARGET OF 2%.

FOR SEPTEMBER, IT WAS 3% LOWERING RATES USUALLY CAUSES INFLATION.

THE FACT THEY ARE LOWERING THEM TO BRING THE JOBLESS RATE DOWN, INDICATES THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AS THE BIG DEAL.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR NUMBERS AND THE FEDS I'M SURE ARE LOOKING FOR THEM AS WELL.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO REACT?

>> WELL, IT'S TOUGH TO SAY.

I THINK DURING THE LAST PRESENTATION WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THE JOB CUTS CHAIRMAN POWELL SAID HE WOULDN'T RULE OUT KEEPING RATES STEADY OR PRIORITIZING INFLATION IN THE FUTURE HE SAID WE NEED CLEAR DATA ON THIS.

WITH THE BLACKOUT OF GOVERNMENT DATA THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD STAY THE COURSE AND NOT CHANGE RATES AT ALL.

>> HOW MUCH DOES AI HAVE TO DO WITH THIS.

THE IDEA THAT COMPANIES MIGHT LOOK AHEAD AND SAY HEY, AI COULD TAKE CARE OF 15 OF THESE WORKERS AND LET'S GET LEAN AND MEAN.

IS THAT'S WHAT GOING ON?

>> UNLIKELY.

THE MASS LAYOFFS WE SAW IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS ARE THE START OF THAT.

IN TERMS OF THE WEAK LABOR MARKET SO FAR THIS YEAR, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT PLAYS A MAJOR PART.

WE DON'T SEE MASSIVE CHANGES IN THE COMPETITION SAN FRANCISCO EMPLOYEES OR CHANGES IN THE MORE AI EXPOSED OCCUPATIONS DISAPPEARING.

WE DON'T SEE CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS BY INDUSTRIES INCREASING.

CERTAINLY, IT COULD IN THE FUTURE.

>> DO WE KNOW WHAT EXPOSED INDUSTRIES ARE OUT THERE.

AI ON WALL STREET IT'S A FRENZY.

EVERYONE WAS AFRAID TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD.

IT'S THE SAVIOR OF EVERYTHING.

IT GOES FROM ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN BUT YOU HAVE CERTAIN METHODS LOOKING INTO THIS.

WE THINK IT'S FAIRLY ROUTINE BUT COGNITIVE TASKS ARE RELATIVELY MORE AI EXPOSED.

SUFFICIENT LIKE HR PROFESSIONALS OR BUSINESS ANALYST, THEY MIGHT SEE MORE AI EXPOSURE YOU ARE THAN A PLUMPER.

>> INTERESTING.

THE MASS LAYOFFS WE ARE SEEING, ARE WE EXPECTING TO SEE MORE FROM MAJOR COMPANIES.

>> I THINK ONE EXPLANATION MIGHT BE TARIFFS.

THEY ARE A DRAG ON ECONOMIC GROWTH OUTSIDE A SMALL GROUP OF TECH COMPANIES THEY HAVE DECLINED THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE DECLINED INDICATING THEY HAVE DRAWN BACK INVESTMENT A ABOUT THIS CASE.

WHEN YOU DRAWBACK INVESTMENT YOU NEED LESS EMPLOYEES TO CARRY OUT YOUR BUSINESS PRACTICES.

INDICATING MORE LAW OFFS.

>> ARE TARIFFS A LAGGING THING HERE?

>> WE CAN SAY, THEY HAD A BIT OF A SUBDUED IMPACT RELATIVE TO WHAT WE EXPECTED BECAUSE OF LOOPHOLES AND CORPORATE PROFITS WERE STRONG GOING INTO THE YEAR AND ALLOWED CORPORATIONS TO EAT UP THE TARIFFS.

THIS IS STILL A DRAG ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ACTIVITY.

FORECASTERS EXPECT LOWER ECONOMIC GROWTH THIS YEAR THAN THEY DID A YEAR A GO.

>> I SHOULD MENTION UPS SITED TARIFFS, IT WAS 48,000 EMPLOYEES.

SO, THE BOTTOM LINE DO MAJOR LAYOFFS SIGNAL MAJOR CHANGES AHEAD?

>> IT'S NICE IF WE HAD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DATA TO GIVE US A BETTER INDICATION OF WHERE THE LABOR MARKET IS, NOW ALL WE CAN DO IS HOPE FOR UPDATES FOR THAT SOON MAYBE AN INDICATION OF THINGS GETTING WORSE BUT NOT A STRONG SIGNAL.

>> ASU ECONOMY SEAN THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A LOCAL PROGRAM IS HELPING TO ADDRESS LONELINESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS.

THE "VINTAGE SILVER CENTER" IS A RECREATIONAL DAY PROGRAM FOR PHOENIX SENIORS THAT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT TO HELP SENIORS STAY ACTIVE, SOCIAL, AND ENGAGED.

AND TONIGHT, WE LEARN "MORE" ABOUT THE CENTER AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY AARP- SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA.

JOINING US NOW IS CO-FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER OF THE VINTAGE SILVER CENTER.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS A PLACE YOU CAN GO.

>> YES.

>> GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION.

>> IT'S A RECREATIONAL DAY CENTER.

WE ARE AN ACTUAL BUILDING.

WE CAN DROP LOVED ONES OFF DURING THE DAY AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES WITH THE FOUNDATION.

THEY CAN COME AND PICK THEM UP AND TAKE THEM HOME.

>> RECREATIONAL THERAPY.

THEY CAN GET THEIR OWN PLAN.

>> HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> HOW IT WORKS AND ASSESSMENT DONE BY RECREATIONAL THERAPIST AND WHAT THEY DO IS FIND OUT WHAT GOALS THEY HAVE AND CREATE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL MATCH THEIR GOAL.

THEY HAVE TO BE MORE SOCIAL AND PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.

WE PROVIDE ACTIVITIES AND MAKE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL MEET THEIR GOAL.

>> IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL?

>> NO, SIR.

>> YOU DEFINE RECREATION AS MUSIC, ARTS, AND GAMES.

>> THOSE MEET THE DOMAINS OF RECREATIONAL THERAPY.

THEY HAVE FIVE DOMAINS OF THERAPY.

WE HAVE A SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE AND PHYSIC CAL AND SPIRITUAL.

THEY MEET THOSE GOALS.

>> THERAPEUTIC MODELS AND TECHNIQUES.

THERE IS REALLY A TARGETED EFFORT HERE?

>> CORRECT.

THIS IS NOT JUST PLAYING GAMES.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> IT'S SCIENCE BACKED.

THEY DO A LOT OF INFORMATION ON HOW PEOPLE DO BETTER WITH THE ACTIVITIES THEY DO.

>> HOW DO THEY DO BETTER.

I THINK, WE ALL KNOW, BEING SOCIAL HELPS AND BEING ISOLATED DOESN'T HELP MUCH AT ALL.

>> YEAH.

LONELINESS IMPACTS 50% OF THE POPULATION 60 AND OLDER.

THE GOALS WILL ALLOW THEM TO MEET WHAT NEEDS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF PURPOSE AS WELL.

>> A LARGE SENSE OF PURPOSE.

>> WE SAW SOME FOLKS DANCING.

THE BEAUTIFUL DOG.

>> THAT'S OUR RECREATIONAL THERAPY DOG PENNY.

>> THAT MUST BE THE MOST LOVED DOG IN THE VALLEY?

>> VERY LOVED.

>> AS FAR AS THE FAVORITE ACTIVITIES, WHAT ATTRACTS THE MOST FOLKS.

>> THEY LOVE MUSIC AND DANCING AND ENJOY DOING ACTIVITIES THAT STIMULATE THEIR BRAIN.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES.

TRIVIA OR NAME GAMES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT GETS THEM THINKING AND ENGAGED.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT.

I READ YOU PROMOTE HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT'S A CLIENT CENTERED APPROACH.

WORKING WITH INDIVIDUAL OR FROM RECREATIONAL THERAPY OR SOCIAL WORK APPROACH.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE AS A WHOLE.

WHAT ARE THEY AS A WHOLE PERSON.

NOT JUST A MEDICAL PIECE OR LIMITATION THEY HAVE.

>> YEAH, I READ AS WELL.

31% ISOLATION CAUSES DEMENTIA, HEART DISEASE, EARLY MORTALITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AROUND PEOPLE.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDIES ABOUT HOW INCREASED LONELINESS CAN IMPACT SOMEONE FROM A MENTAL HEALTH STANDPOINT BUT ALSO, PHYSICALLY.

INCREASED LONELINESS CAN CAUSE HIGH STRESS LEADING TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND OTHER ISSUES.

>> WE SHOULD MENTION, WHILE THEY ARE THERE, CAREGIVERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY GET TIME OFF, DON'T THEY?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT'S THE GOAL.

MANY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

THROUGH THE WORK I HAVE DONE, I CREATED THE CENTER BECAUSE THERE IS A GAP OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

>> NOT EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE CAREGIVERS TO COME INSIDE THEIR HOME.

SAME WITH A TRANSITION OUT OF THEIR HOME INTO SENIOR LIVING.

THE GOAL IS TO STAY HOME.

THIS ALLOWS THIS A PLACE TO DO THAT.

>> WHAT COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE COST HERE.

>> WE HAVE VERY AFFORDABLE COSTS AND LOYALTY PACKAGES AND RATES RUN BETWEEN 8 TO TEN DOLLARS PER HOUR.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT ON THE MARKET.

>> IT'S NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE.

>> IT'S NOT, IT'S A PRIVATE PAY SERVICE.

>> YOU SEE THE FUN.

I KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THAT SORT OF THING.

>> GO TO VINTAGE SILVER CENTER.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.

STOP AT OUR LOCATION OFF OF 16th AND WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

>> LAST QUESTION, IT HAS TO BE REWARDING?

>> IT'S SO REWARDING.

YOU WILL HEAR THE GIRLS LAUGHING AND THE MEMBERLESS LAUGHING.

THEY HAVE A GOOD TIME AND CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITHIN EACH OTHER.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

BRITTANY JONES IS AT 16th AND INDIAN SCHOOL.

>> THANK YOU.

A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND DECORATIVE ARTS DRAWN FROM 17TH-AND-18TH-CENTUR Y FLORENCE THAT ARE RARELY SEEN OUTSIDE OF ITALY.

THE EXHIBIT ALSO CONSIDERS THE LEGACY OF THE HOUSE OF MEDICI.RACHEL S. ZEBRO IS THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM'S ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS, SHE JOINS US NOW.

>>> WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS ART.

>> WHAT WAS THE HOUSE OF MEDICI.

>> IT WAS A BIG FAMILY IN ITALY.

PRIMARY IN FLORENCE.

THEY RAN THE BANKING AND A LOT MORE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

>> THE ART, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, WAS IT SPECIFIC?

WAS IT DISTINCT.

>> THEY COMMISSIONED A LOT OF THE ART.

>> THEY HAVE GUILTED PAINTINGS.

GUILTED PAINTINGS.

>> MOSTLY PAINTING AND TWO SCULPTURES.

>> HOW DID YOU FIND THESE THINGS?

>> ONE MAN, SIR MARK, HE'S A PRIVATE COLLECTOR BASED IN HOUSTON.

THIS IS HIS COLLECTION HE LENT TO THE MUSEUM.

>> HOW DOES THAT WORK.

SAY TED SIMONS HAS A WHOLE COLLECTION.

DO YOU COME TO ME AND SAY, I'M INTERESTED.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> THERE IS REALLY NO FORMULA.

IT'S ALL NETWORKING AND MEETING PEOPLE AND ACTUALLY, SIR MARK HAD A CONNECTION INTO TUCSON THAT BROUGHT HIM TO ARIZONA.

HE MADE A VISIT TO PHOENIX AND THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST MET HIM AND INTRODUCED HIM TO THE COLLECTION AND WE WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, IT'S ON VIEW FOR A YEAR AT THE ART MUSEUM.

IT TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY AND IT WAS IN A FIVE VENUE EUROPEAN TOUR AND BEEN TO OVER 15 DIFFERENT YOU'VE SEENS AND INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

DO WE KNOW HOW TO GET THIS DONE.

>> THERE IS ONE OF THESE.

WHAT -- THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> YES, THIS IS THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN.

THIS IS DONE BY ALEXANDRIA.

HE'S A 17th CENTURY ARTIST AND TRAVELED A LOT ACROSS EUROPE.

WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS HIM BRINGING BACK ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STYLES HE WOULD HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE EXPRESSIVE PAINTINGS YOU SEE IN THE EXHIBITION.

IT'S KIND OF THICK HEAVY BRUSHSTROKES YOU CAN'T SEE ON THE SCREEN.

THIS IS A PAINTERLY PAINTING.

THE FULL VIRGIN GARMENT AND SUNLIGHT WITH GOD THE FATHER PEAKING IN ON THE LEFT.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCES COMING DOWN AND SHINING THAT LIGHT.

THE ARC ANGEL, THE VIRGIN MARY.

THE PURITY AND LILY.

IT'S SUCH A GOOD PAINTING.

IT'S SO PURE.

THE COLOR.

>> AND RELIGIOUS.

>> A LOT OF THE WORK DRAWN FROM CLASSICAL NARRATIVES.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ONE, WE'LL LOOK AT ST.

SEBASTIAN.

>> THIS IS ST.

SEBASTIAN.

HE'S ALSO A 17th CENTURY ARTIST IN FLORENCE.

SAFE TO SAY, ALL OF THEM ARE.

THE STORY OF ST.

SEBASTIAN, HE WAS A ROMAN SOLDIER.

YOU SEE IN THE EXHIBITION ARE OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRS.

THEY WILL BE TIED TO A TREE AND SHOT WITH ARROWS.

THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

IT'S NOT TYPICAL OF THE SCENE YOU SEE ST.

SEBASTIAN IN.

THAT'S VERY ICON OF THE IMAGERY.

THEY CAPTURE MORE EMOTIONAL PART OF THE STORY.

HERE WE SEE ST.

SEBASTIAN TOUCHING HIS SKIN AS A NOD TO HIS SACRIFICE.

WE ARE LOOKING UP TOWARDS THE HEAVENNING.

>> WOW, VERY WELL EXPLAINED.

>> WE ARE KIND OF RUNNING OUT OF TIME BUT I'D LIKE TO GET A SCULPTURE.

>> HOLY SMOKES, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT.

>> THIS IS THE ROMAN MESSAGER OF THE GOD.

THIS IS VERY TYPICAL STYLE.

THIS IS MERCURY IN FLIGHT, RIGHT.

SO, HE'S YOU KNOW, STANDS FOR COMMUNICATION AND COMMERCE AND TRADE.

HE'S HOLDING THE ROD WITH INTERTWINED SNAKES AROUND IT.

WE ARE SHOOTING IT OUT THERE AND SPEEDY MESSENGER OF THE GOD.

BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SCULPTURES OF THE TIME.

IT'S FAMILIAR IMAGE TO A LOT OF AUDIENCES.

>> THE EXHIBIT RUNS FOR A YEAR AND I HAVE A PROGRAM IN THE SALES OFFICE AND BEAUTIFUL CATALOG.

>> THIS IS FASCINATING.

IT WILL BE FOR A YEAR AND ART MUSEUM.

A LOT MORE WE COULDN'T SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

>> COME AND SEE IT.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT