CSS Weekend Reflections Newsletter by

Confidential Search Solutions

Employment Trends Updates for Month Ending     

January 2012

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released by the Department of Labor, the federal unemployment rate is 8.3% as reported on Friday, February 3, 2012.   

The January report presented the following restated information:

3. In January, health care employment continued to grow (+31,000). Within the industry, hospitals and ambulatory care services each added 13,000 jobs.

4. In the goods-producing sector, manufacturing added 50,000 jobs. Nearly all of the increase occurred in durable goods manufacturing, with job growth in fabricated metal products (+11,000), machinery (+11,000), and motor vehicles and parts (+8,000). Durable goods manufacturing has added 418,000 jobs over the past 2 years.
5.  The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons, at 8.2 million, changed little in January. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.
6.  After accounting for the annual adjustments to the population controls, the employment-population ratio (58.5 percent) rose in January.

7.  In January, health care employment continued to grow (+31,000). Within the industry, hospitals and ambulatory care services each added 13,000 jobs.

8. Employment in retail trade continued to trend up in January. Job gains in department stores (+19,000), health and personal care stores (+7,000), and automobile dealers (+7,000) were partially offset by losses in clothing and clothing accessory stores (-14,000). Since an employment trough in December 2009, retail trade has added 390,000 jobs.

9. Over the month, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 44,000, primarily in food services and drinking places (+33,000). Since a recent low in February 2010, food services has added 487,000 jobs.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Have You Ever Considered a Job in North Dakota?  

In a recently posted  CareerBuilder.com blog article a report issued by The Conference Board, a non-profit business research company that has been in existence since 1916, stated North Dakota is the only state in the country that has more jobs posted online than they do unemployed people.  What an interesting fact.

While the job market has literally picked up and more jobs are becoming available every day, especially here in Texas, not all professionals have the same abilities or opportunities to get hired for one reason or another.  Sometimes the lack of employment opportunities in one local area may require a person to consider locations outside of their comfort zone.   The same dynamics also happens on the employer side. Sometimes employers must relocate people outside of their local geographic region when they are unable to find employees with the required qualifications to meet their needs.

Let me share an employer example with you. There is a huge report written by one of CareerBuilder's professional bloggers, Anthony Balderrama this week that says, Starbucks will be hiring over 13,000 new people, due to their explosive growth.  However, the positions may require a person to move. Would you consider it?  Could you do it? 

In order to get what you want as employees or job seekers, it may require you to make changes or some unpopular decisions. Could you do it? Would you do it? While it may not require you to move, it may require you to work an unattractive work schedule, take less in compensation, or deal with unfavorable behavior from a superior or subordinate.  Regardless of the situations you may find yourself, the key is to remain professional, flexible, adaptable, approachable, resourceful, and positive in your approach to growing your career or finding a new job.   

One thing to remember the job is never about you or me and our needs. While it is nice to have hiring managers who may attempt to meet some of our personal and professional desires, the reality is, a job is 100% about the employers' needs and expectations at any given point in time.  If the job or task is no longer productive in one area of the country, it can be easily moved or eliminated.  As a result, we highly recommend keeping yourself marketable by continuing your formal and informal career development education and certifications.  Learn new skills and software packages.  Improve your writing and communication skills.  It is important to invest in yourself to stay competitive in the market place and avoid the potential of being a disgruntle or unhappy employee.  As recruiters, we know, any one can be replaced by others who are standing in line willing and ready to do what you or I are unwilling to do.  Again, do not take it personally, be tough and rise to the occasion to put yourself in the best position.  

If you are still unemployed and frustrated with the hiring process, we invite you to sign up quickly for our upcoming class on "7 Habits of Unsuccessful Job Seekers," on Tuesday, February 28th at 12:00 Noon to 1:00 p.m.  The cost is $49. Space is limited, so sign up quickly. You owe it to yourself to get the information you need in order for you to know what you must do in order to succeed in your job search or career this year.

 Much Success From All of Us at CSS