Every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its monthly employment report, which tracks job market indicators like national employment level, average hourly pay and hours worked. Because the BLS report is also the source for the official unemployment rate, it's often seen as the authority on the U.S. employment situation.
While the BLS numbers are certainly important, there are plenty of other gauges that provide different and supplementary benchmarks about the state of the job market. So instead of only recapping the BLS numbers, we decided to take a look at the employment situation from a more holistic standpoint. Here's a look at nine encouraging signs ... all of which point to job growth.
1. The unemployment rate is down: According to the BLS Employment Situation Report for March 2011, the unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent, a full percentage point lower than it was in November 2010 and the lowest level since March 2009. The economy also added 216,000 jobs this March, beating economist predictions and solidifying a trend toward recovery.
2. The number of online job listings is up: Each month, The Conference Board's Help Wanted Online report looks at the number of advertised job postings online. In March 2011, there were 4.45 million job ads posted, an increase of 208,000 over February 2011 and up from 3.73 million in March 2010. In the first quarter of 2011, the number of job postings online rose by 600,000.
3. Private sector hiring is up: According to the ADP jobs report, which tracks the month-to-month change in private sector job levels, approximately 201,000 jobs were added in March, with small business hiring accounting for about half of all jobs added. The number is especially positive considering that on April 1, 2009, ADP reported the economy had lost 742,000 jobs the month prior.
4. Business owners expect more sales, increased hiring: The Spring 2011 PNC Economic Outlook Survey, which polls business owners on their overall attitudes about the economy, found that 48 percent expect their sales to increase in the next six months, up from 42 percent of those surveyed in the fall. Twenty-four percent expect to hire full-time employees, a number that is twice as high as it was in the spring of 2009, when only 12 percent planned to do so.
5. Employers are hiring more: Twenty-eight percent of employers surveyed for CareerBuilder's Q2 forecastsaid they added new, full-time employees in the first quarter of 2011, the highest number in three years. Twenty eight percent of employers also said they planned to hire more full-time workers in the second quarter of 2011.
6. CEOs are optimistic: The Business Roundtable CEO Outlook Index, which tracks optimism among CEOs of some of the nation's largest companies, reached an all time high in the first quarter of 2011. The economic outlook index reached 113 last quarter, up from 101 in Q4 2010, and the highest level since the Business Roundtable Index began in 2002. Previously, the index peaked at 104 in 2005.
7. First-time unemployment claims are dropping: Since new unemployment claims are typically filed immediately following a job loss, the number of initial unemployment insurance filings is seen as a gauge for the pace of layoffs. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, initial claims fell by 6,000 to 388,000 the week ending March 26. While 388,000 is still a lot of people, at the height of the recession that number was closer to 651,000 applications per week. At the end of March 2010, claims hovered near 450,000.
8. Manufacturing is picking up: According to the latest Leading Indicators of National Employment surveyfrom the Society for Human Resource Management, manufacturing has seen an increase in both hiring and compensation trends. Year-over-year, expected hiring is up 10.6 percent, and compensation is up 5.3 percent. According to the Institute for Supply Management, as of March 2011, the manufacturing sector had expanded for 20 straight months.
9. Layoffs are slowing: A monthly report by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which monitors job cuts, found that the number of announced layoffs in March 2011 was 41,528 -- 18 percent fewer than the number announced in February 2011, and 39 percent fewer than in March 2010. Overall, the survey found that employers announced 130,749 layoffs in the first quarter of 2011, the lowest first quarter total since 1995, when 97,716 cuts were announced.
While we won't pretend to claim that the job market is exactly healthy, we will say that -- based on the above factors -- it's clearly improving. And after years of nothing but negative numbers, the positive ones are certainly something worth celebrating. By Kaitlin Madden
Showing posts with label job market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job market. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Hot Fields for Hiring in 2011Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing
Occupational experts like Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., say that America is climbing out of recession and job opportunities are better now than they've been for a long time. But what does this mean for people hoping to advance their career? What can they do in 2011 to be strong candidates in the future job market?
Shatkin answers these essential questions in his book "2011 Career Plan: The Best Moves Now for a Solid Future." In it, he explains that the recovery is a steady upswing, not a hiring boom, and that people will need to be strategic about how and where they pursue employment.
"Jobs are not expected to be plentiful in 2011 -- or for several years afterward. In fact, we may see a repeat of what happened after the recession of 2001, when 39 months passed before employment rose back to pre-recession levels. This recovery is also a patchwork affair, with some industries bouncing back much faster than others. For example, in March 2010, while manufacturers were adding jobs, the news and information business was still losing jobs," says Shatkin. "That's why 'I'll find something' is not an adequate career plan for 2011. You need to choose a specific goal and develop a smart strategy to take advantage of the opportunities that 2011 does have to offer."
One career strategy Shatkin recommends is to focus on fast-growing fields, where job opportunities tend to be more plentiful than in fields where jobs are slow-growing or disappearing. According to Shatkin and information from the U.S. Department of Labor, the following 11 fields are projected to grow fastest through 2018.
1. Management, scientific and technical consulting services
Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; industrial engineers; financial analysts; customer service representatives; and public relations specialists
2. Computer systems design and related services
Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; network and computer systems administrators; accountants and auditors; computer software engineers, systems software; and computer support specialists
3. Social assistance, except child day care
Hottest jobs in this field: medical and public health social workers; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school; first-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers; occupational therapists; and social and human service assistants
4. Software publishers
Hottest jobs in this field: network and computer systems administrators; computer systems analysts; computer support specialists; market research analysts; and customer service representatives
5. Scientific research and development services
Hottest jobs in this field: biomedical engineers; network systems and data communications analysts; biochemists and biophysicists; medical scientists, except epidemiologists; and compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation
6. Health care
Hottest jobs in this field: physician assistants; physical therapist aides; speech-language pathologists; physical therapist assistants; and physical therapists
7. Employment services
Hottest jobs in this field: accountants and auditors; customer service representatives; construction laborers; computer software engineers, systems software; and computer software engineers, applications
8. Construction
Hottest jobs in this field: heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers; septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners; telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers; purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail and farm products; and cost estimators
9. Child day care services
Hottest jobs in this field: preschool teachers, except special education; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school; office clerks, general; kindergarten teachers, except special education; and first-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers
10. Advocacy, grantmaking and civic organizations
Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety and transportation;compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists; market research analysts; and customer service representatives
11. Educational services
Hottest jobs in this field: network systems and data communications analysts; self-enrichment education teachers; customer service representatives; loan counselors; and medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Shatkin reminds people to "keep in mind that these 11 fields are not the only fields where job opportunities will be available in 2011. They're fast-growing, but jobs can still be found in many fields that are not growing as fast -- even shrinking."
Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Toys ‘R’ Us hiring 45,000 for holidays
By Staff and wire
Toys “R” Us will hire about 45,000 employees to help with the holiday season.
The privately held toy company said yesterday that it is hiring more workers than in the past three holiday seasons because of an additional 600 smaller stores located in malls and shopping centers. Those “pop-up” stores are called Toys “R” Us Express.
The company is close to signing a lease for a pop-up store at the vacant CVS Pharmacy at Pi Alley in Downtown Crossing, the Boston Redevelopment Authority said.
The news comes at a time when unemployment remains high and seasonal work is viewed as an opportunity for a full-time position.
It also shows some optimism about holiday sales. Macy’s has said it will boost seasonal hiring slightly to about
By Staff and wire
Toys “R” Us will hire about 45,000 employees to help with the holiday season.
The privately held toy company said yesterday that it is hiring more workers than in the past three holiday seasons because of an additional 600 smaller stores located in malls and shopping centers. Those “pop-up” stores are called Toys “R” Us Express.
The company is close to signing a lease for a pop-up store at the vacant CVS Pharmacy at Pi Alley in Downtown Crossing, the Boston Redevelopment Authority said.
The news comes at a time when unemployment remains high and seasonal work is viewed as an opportunity for a full-time position.
It also shows some optimism about holiday sales. Macy’s has said it will boost seasonal hiring slightly to about
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Funny resume bloopers, but don't let this happen to you
Resume editing and writing is serious business, but everyone has horror stories when it comes to what they've seen in a job seeker's resume or (gasp!) inadvertently included in their own. While resume bloopers may make hiring managers chuckle, they make job seekers cry. Nothing knocks a candidate out of contention faster than these pitfalls:
Inappropriate e-mail addresses:
A candidate who applied for a law enforcement position used this e-mail address in his resume -- badtothebone@net.com.
A banking candidate used this one in his cover letter -- greedisgood@mail.com.
And unless sexykitten@net.com is looking for a job in adult films, this person should choose another address.
Typos that will make you squirm:
Spell check doesn't catch everything in resumes or cover letters, especially typos like these:
"I was hired to review the company asses in 2007."
The candidate meant to write assets, not asses.
"Delivered daily massages to appropriate personnel."
This administrative assistant meant to write that she delivered messages, not massages, to the appropriate personnel.
"As indicted, I have over 5 years of analyzing investments." Perhaps this person meant to "indicate" something else.
Far too much information:
Like the candidate who wrote in her resume under hobbies: Gambling in Vegas.
Or the one who included this under admissions in his resume: "Failed the bar exam 3 times, passed on the fourth go-around, proving my dedication."
And the candidate who began her cover letter with this: "I am going through a very nasty divorce and am currently unemployed. I need money fast and would really like this job."
Eye-rolling objectives:
Hiring managers are used to self-serving statements such as: "I am looking for an opportunity where I can use my education to further my professional goals." However, even jaded managers raised eyebrows at these:
"Looking for a full-time position with minimal time commitment."
"To get a job and pay my bills."
"I have no experience or skills, so I am willing to begin anywhere and learn."
It's unlikely that any of these candidates would have made it through to hiring. You should never treat your job search lightly or leave anything to chance.
Resume editing and writing is serious business, but everyone has horror stories when it comes to what they've seen in a job seeker's resume or (gasp!) inadvertently included in their own. While resume bloopers may make hiring managers chuckle, they make job seekers cry. Nothing knocks a candidate out of contention faster than these pitfalls:
Inappropriate e-mail addresses:
A candidate who applied for a law enforcement position used this e-mail address in his resume -- badtothebone@net.com.
A banking candidate used this one in his cover letter -- greedisgood@mail.com.
And unless sexykitten@net.com is looking for a job in adult films, this person should choose another address.
Typos that will make you squirm:
Spell check doesn't catch everything in resumes or cover letters, especially typos like these:
"I was hired to review the company asses in 2007."
The candidate meant to write assets, not asses.
"Delivered daily massages to appropriate personnel."
This administrative assistant meant to write that she delivered messages, not massages, to the appropriate personnel.
"As indicted, I have over 5 years of analyzing investments." Perhaps this person meant to "indicate" something else.
Far too much information:
Like the candidate who wrote in her resume under hobbies: Gambling in Vegas.
Or the one who included this under admissions in his resume: "Failed the bar exam 3 times, passed on the fourth go-around, proving my dedication."
And the candidate who began her cover letter with this: "I am going through a very nasty divorce and am currently unemployed. I need money fast and would really like this job."
Eye-rolling objectives:
Hiring managers are used to self-serving statements such as: "I am looking for an opportunity where I can use my education to further my professional goals." However, even jaded managers raised eyebrows at these:
"Looking for a full-time position with minimal time commitment."
"To get a job and pay my bills."
"I have no experience or skills, so I am willing to begin anywhere and learn."
It's unlikely that any of these candidates would have made it through to hiring. You should never treat your job search lightly or leave anything to chance.
With a daunting task as important as finding a job in this economy, your chances for success dramatically increase when you connect with an experienced, detail-oriented, professional editor who writes resumes every day. Use the tips in resume editing, writing and job-interviewing services they provide to make that impression flawless and memorable, in the best way.
The next words you might hear are, "You're Hired!" Copyright © ARAnet, Inc.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ara_funnyresumebloop#ixzz10w760FJI
The next words you might hear are, "You're Hired!" Copyright © ARAnet, Inc.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ara_funnyresumebloop#ixzz10w760FJI
Monday, September 27, 2010
Demand for Teachers Outpacing Supply
Top research institutions are committed to preparing America's next great generation of educators.
Article courtesy of the USC Rossier School of Education
According to the U.S. Department of Education, America currently has about 3.2 million teachers who work in some 95,000 schools. But more than half of those teachers and principals are Baby Boomers, and during the next four years, we could lose a third of our veteran teachers and school leaders to retirement and attrition.
These major demographic shifts mean that teaching is going to be a booming profession in the years ahead -- with school districts nationwide making up to 200,000 new, first-time hires annually.1
Innovative Teaching Programs
To help meet the growing demand for a new generation of well-prepared teachers who have acquired the education and training to significantly boost student learning, leading colleges of education across the U.S. are turning to innovative programs, emerging technologies and the power of the Internet to attract and prepare America's next great generation of teachers.
For example, the prestigious Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, which has graduated top teaching talent for more than 100 years, has reached beyond the physical boundaries of its campus to offer and deliver its highly regarded Master of Arts in Teaching program online (MAT@USC).
The MAT@USC combines interactive online learning with carefully selected field-based experiences in the area where students live, enabling them to earn a renowned master's degree from anywhere in the country. The program offers a course of study for aspiring teachers -- including the opportunity to earn a state teaching credential in their home state, and one for current educators who wish to take their careers to the next level.
To ensure that the integrity of the school's academic standards is maintained, and that students stay connected to their studies, the MAT@USC relies heavily on state-of-the-art web technologies to foster one-on-one interaction between students and faculty. The program's learning platform was designed with a nod towards the familiar user-interfaces on many of today's most popular social networking sites.
Grants to teach
Many leading research institutions have begun offering forward-thinking grants and incentives to future educators who make a commitment to teach where they are needed most. Rossier's MAT@USC, for example, offers the $5,000 Roy Romer Teaching Fellowship to graduates who teach full-time for at least five consecutive years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve high-need areas.
No teacher left behind
Programs such as the MAT@USC are not only designed to instill knowledge, confidence and skill in teachers who can help change the future of American education; they are also accessible to all – regardless of location.
Now, people possessing the innate talent and desire to become great teachers can leverage the power of modern technology and the curricula of prestigious universities to help them achieve their dreams and goals. And that bodes well for future generations of American schoolchildren.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, America currently has about 3.2 million teachers who work in some 95,000 schools. But more than half of those teachers and principals are Baby Boomers, and during the next four years, we could lose a third of our veteran teachers and school leaders to retirement and attrition.
These major demographic shifts mean that teaching is going to be a booming profession in the years ahead -- with school districts nationwide making up to 200,000 new, first-time hires annually.1
Innovative Teaching Programs
To help meet the growing demand for a new generation of well-prepared teachers who have acquired the education and training to significantly boost student learning, leading colleges of education across the U.S. are turning to innovative programs, emerging technologies and the power of the Internet to attract and prepare America's next great generation of teachers.
For example, the prestigious Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, which has graduated top teaching talent for more than 100 years, has reached beyond the physical boundaries of its campus to offer and deliver its highly regarded Master of Arts in Teaching program online (MAT@USC).
The MAT@USC combines interactive online learning with carefully selected field-based experiences in the area where students live, enabling them to earn a renowned master's degree from anywhere in the country. The program offers a course of study for aspiring teachers -- including the opportunity to earn a state teaching credential in their home state, and one for current educators who wish to take their careers to the next level.
To ensure that the integrity of the school's academic standards is maintained, and that students stay connected to their studies, the MAT@USC relies heavily on state-of-the-art web technologies to foster one-on-one interaction between students and faculty. The program's learning platform was designed with a nod towards the familiar user-interfaces on many of today's most popular social networking sites.
Grants to teach
Many leading research institutions have begun offering forward-thinking grants and incentives to future educators who make a commitment to teach where they are needed most. Rossier's MAT@USC, for example, offers the $5,000 Roy Romer Teaching Fellowship to graduates who teach full-time for at least five consecutive years in certain elementary and secondary schools that serve high-need areas.
No teacher left behind
Programs such as the MAT@USC are not only designed to instill knowledge, confidence and skill in teachers who can help change the future of American education; they are also accessible to all – regardless of location.
Now, people possessing the innate talent and desire to become great teachers can leverage the power of modern technology and the curricula of prestigious universities to help them achieve their dreams and goals. And that bodes well for future generations of American schoolchildren.
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