According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts' job situation continued to worsen during the month of June.

The state's unemployment rate rose 0.4 percent from May's 8.2 percent to 8.6 percent, which is the highest it has been in almost 17 years. Although this is still below the national rate of 9.5 percent, it is significantly higher than the Massachusetts' jobless rate during the same time last year. In June of 2008 only 5.1 percent of the state's population was unemployed.

According to the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development, employers in Massachusetts did away with approximately 2,300 jobs during June. This is particularly interesting considering that the state saw the creation of almost 5,000 jobs last month.

Since June of last year around 106,400 jobs in Massachusetts have been lost. This means that the current number of jobs is 3.2 percent lower than it was in 2008.

During the month the largest job losses occurred in the government sector. Federal, state and city governments did away with 2,300 jobs. The construction industry, which has been experiencing problems throughout the country, followed. Employers in this industry cut 2,200 positions. The manufacturing sector saw a loss of another 1,900 jobs.

There also were job declines in the professional and business services sector and the financial industry. The first lost 1,300 positions, while employers in the latter cut 1,100 jobs.

The damage done by these job losses would have been much worse if two sectors hadn't experienced significant job gains during the month. Jobs in the education and healthcare sector rose, with 4,700 positions being created in June. Leisure and hospitality followed, creating 3,100 jobs.

Over the course of the last year the construction industry has experienced the largest rate of decline in the state. Currently payrolls in this sector are 16 percent smaller than they were in June of 2008. Mining and logging came in second, losing 13.3 percent of the number of jobs it provided during the previous year.

Only one industry reported experiencing year-over-year job gains; educational and healthcare services. Since June of 2008 employers in this sector have increased their payrolls by 2.1 percent. This comes as little surprise since many experts have said that this industry is relatively safe from the economic issues plaguing other areas of employment across the nation.

Labels: Jobs

The rising unemployment rate shows that fewer employers are hiring workers for jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9.5 percent of Americans were unable to find jobs in June. Those that do have positions opened aren't recruiting online as aggressively as they were before the recession began. Because of this, one new job search site has decided to offer employers the ability to list their available employment opportunities free of charge.

According to a recent press release, the career search site On the Way Resume is currently offering a summer promotion to encourage employers to use their website for advertising job listings.

Since many companies are downsizing their HR departments and budgets are tight, many employers can't justify paying large sums of money to announce a staff vacancy. On the Way Resume hopes that offering businesses the ability to get the news out about their jobs without charging will draw attention to their site.

Through the Summer Promotion job seekers will be able to sign up for the service at a reduced rate and employers will receive a lifetime membership to post unlimited jobs for free.

"Why should employers continue to pay exorbitant fees for posting these jobs?" asked Ken Nielsen of On the Way Resume. "And why should serious job seekers get lost among the millions of people who posted their resumes on a site for free without any commitment who may not be actively seeking employment?"

Nielsen and the rest of On The Way Resume feels that their format will work better for both employers and job seekers. Those who post their resumes on the site do have to pay, but this limits the white noise from inactive job seekers. Employers who use On the Way Resume then don’t have to worry about trying to contact individuals who aren’t actually on the market for a new job.

"Employers have the opportunity to post job openings for free and job seekers gain visibility and credibility by being part of a much smaller candidate pool," Nielsen said.

According to release, On the Way Resume feels that one of their more unique features is what they call the "Resume Snapshot." Job seekers who use the site list what they consider to be their key job qualifications on On the Way Resume, which then turns these qualities into a sticker or magnet. The job seekers then put this on their vehicle so that employers can contact them through a secure website portal.

"Companies have been using vehicle graphics for years to promote their businesses with what is basically a moving billboard," Nielson said. "We use the same concept to help job seekers stand out form the crowd. How else would a potential employer know that the person in the car next to them is not only looking for a job, but is serious enough about that search to invest in our service and innovative enough not to just wait around hoping the right job will come their way."

Labels: Jobs

In a time when many people are searching for a limited number of jobs, you might be having a tough time finding hope and be ready to give up. However, a few tips might be able to help you on your quest for employment

A recent report showed that the number of people collecting unemployment benefits for one week or more reached a record high of 6,271,000. According to an article by CNN Money, that means its taking more people longer to find jobs. But there are a few ways to put yourself ahead of the competition.

You should start by focusing on your resume and the ways you're applying for jobs. Only applying on a company's Web site or on job boards isn't a good idea, as the number of online applications actually viewed by a human ranges from only 5 percent to 25 percent.

That's because many companies use software programs such as applicant tracking systems to screen candidates. You can help yourself by placing certain phrases and keywords found in the job description on your resume and cover letter. You also can use online resume services that include things like videos, pictures and audio to help catch an employer's eye.

If you're using social networking sites to find a job, make sure you're using all the tools available. For instance, instead of only creating a LinkedIn profile, join groups, post comments and actively update. On Facebook, search for job listings in Facebook Marketplace and message hiring managers directly.

Finally, if you get an interview, make sure you're prepared. It's easy to do research about job expectations and the company itself. Most information can be found online, specifically through a company's Web site.

Labels: Jobs

With the current state of the economy, any news about an employer hiring a large number of people is something to pay attention to. According to a recent press release, Sallie Mae, which handles student loans, will be creating approximately 2,000 jobs over the next 18 months.

These jobs will come about as a result of Sallie Mae transferring their overseas operations back into America. Many positions have been outsourced from a number of companies across the country in an attempt to save money on the cost of labor. Some analysts believe that Sallie Mae is retransferring the positions as part of an effort to garner good will from President Obama's administration.

Currently there is a budget proposal that may take away business from Sallie Mae. If the budget for 2010 is approved, the loans handled by the company, which is formally known as SLM Corp., would be transferred to a program run by the Department of Education.

Sallie Mae announced on April 6th that hiring for the new jobs would take place over the next 18 months, ending in October of 2010. The positions will be at the company's call centers and its information technology and operations support facilities, which are located across the country.

"The current economic environment has caused our communities to struggle with job losses," said Sallie Mae's chief executive Albert Lord in a recent statement. "They need jobs, and we will put 2,000 of them into U.S. facilities as soon as we possibly can."

It has already been determined that a large number of these positions will be going to one Pennsylvania county. Approximately 600 of these jobs are scheduled to go to the company's facilities in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

"This is great news for northeastern Pennsylvania," said Pennsylvania State Senator Bob Casey in a recent press conference, according to the Associated Press. "With the U.S. unemployment rate at 8.5 percent, it is about time we have some 'in-sourcing'. I hope that more companies that sent jobs overseas will follow Sallie Mae's example and bring jobs back to the United States."

At this time, it is not known where exactly what overseas operations the positions will be pulled from or how exactly these areas will be effected by their loss.

Over the next 18 months, Sallie Mae expects to receive a large number of applications for the new positions. With so many across the country trying to find work, these new jobs will attract a lot of attention. Because of this, those hoping to apply for one of the positions should begin following where they will be going and looking into the application process.

Labels: Jobs

Several teaching jobs in New York that were expected to be cut may now be safe due to the new budget.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced that the thousands of teaching jobs he threatened to cut should be safe under the new state budget that has been approved in Albany, according to an article by Newsday.

The state plans to increase aid to public schools by about $1.1 billion and get rid of the governor's proposed $700 million education cut. When Bloomberg presented a preliminary budget plan in January, he warned that 14,000 teachers could lose their jobs because of a decrease in state funding.

The education industry is one of the few that are often considered to be recession-proof, meaning those industries continue to add jobs despite a deteriorating economy and job losses in other industries.

The New York-White Plains-Wayne area's education and health services industry employed 983,100 workers during February, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down up from 972,700 workers during January and a 1.7 percent increase from last year.

The area's unemployment rate increased from 7.3 percent to 8.3 percent during February. The area had a total non-farm employment of 5,123,800 workers during February, down from 5,131,600 workers during January and a 2.1 percent decrease from last year.

Statewide, New York state's education and health services industry employed 1,647,400 workers during February, up from 1,647,200 workers during January and a 1.7 percent increase from last year.

The state overall saw its unemployment rate increase from 7 percent to 7.8 percent during February. New York state had a total non-farm employment of 8,671,600 workers, down from 8,699,400 workers during January and a 1.5 percent decrease from last year.

Labels: Jobs

Although all corners of the country are facing layoffs and rising unemployment numbers because of the economy, some Kansas employers have jobs to offer.

One such company is Firestone, located in East Harry. Although the economy has slowed down, business for Firestone has sped up, causing the company to expand and hire, according to an article by MSNBC.

"Our repair part of the business is thriving right now with people keeping cars longer," Brian Hoiland, managing partner of the store, said in the article.

The automotive and construction industries, two industries most-affected by the recession, will soon be looking to hire as the Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide millions of dollars for new projects and green jobs.

"Energy auditors, home maintenance and repair, making your home energy efficient, those are all jobs that are going to be green jobs," Kimberly Cronister, with the Workforce Center, said in the article.

The healthcare industry, one often considered to be recession-proof, also is hiring. In particular, Wesley Medical Center has a slew of openings for registered nurses. The only downfall is that most healthcare jobs require schooling and some experience.

"The jobs in healthcare range from CNA positions all the way up to nurses," Cronister said in the article. "So, there could be positions for maybe some on-the-job training to get you into those positions all the way up to those who want to expand their education and do some retraining."

Workers also should look out for strong IT and service industry jobs. For instance, Firestone is hiring entry-level and skilled technicians, positions that offer good pay and job stability.

Labels: Jobs