Worker shortage slows recovery | State tries to bridge divide between students, in-demand jobs 

Written by Brad Harper

Jul. 6, 2013

You don't have to tell Drew Linn that the economy's picking up. He sells big rigs to the state's trucking industry, which is rolling as demand increases.

"Business is good," said Linn, president and CEO of Southland International Trucks Inc. "It would probably be better if some of our customers had more qualified drivers."

In fact, state research shows that more people were looking for truck drivers than any other type of employee in May. It was the same way a year ago. Linn's surprised by the shortage, especially since the job can pay more than $70,000 a year.

State official Kib McKibbens said business owners have told him that the kink in the job supply line has kept them from shifting to a higher gear.

"I was really struck by that," said McKibbens, the director of the Governor's Office of Small Business Development. "Now I'm seeing it in the data."

It's not just the trucking industry. Experts say a disconnect between students and the realities of the Alabama job market have created shortages in a range of in-demand careers from engineering to welding.

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[Montgomery Advertiser]

Personal income increased in Alabama year-over-year for first quarter

Jul 05, 2013

The report also shows Alabama's personal income increase was slightly lower than the national average, which increased 2.76 percent for the first quarter of the year compared to the same quarter last year.

"That Alabama income has not increased as much as the U.S. average is not great, but being behind by only half a percentage point is still a good sign," said Robert Robicheaux, chairman of the department of marketing, industrial distribution and economics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  

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[Anniston Star]

Pope Francis gets the keys to the latest Popemobile, a converted, Alabama-built Mercedes M-Class 

The head of Mercedes-Benz Cars had a private meeting this week with Pope Francis at the Vatican to hand over the keys to the latest Popemobile, which was converted from an M-Class produced at the German automaker's Alabama plant.

Dieter Zetsche, who also is chairman of the Board of Management for Mercedes parent Daimler AG, met with Pope Francis in the Domus Santa Marta, the guest house of the Vatican and the Pope's current residence, the company said.

Pope Francis will use the vehicle during his first official trip to Brazil at the end of this month.

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[al.com]

Economy growing? 5 highlights from this month's U.S. jobs report 

By Alex Walsh 

July 05, 2013 at 7:37 AM

 The U.S. economy added 195,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate did not change, and remains 7.6 percent.