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Job Seekers Newsletter
March 2009
Welcome Everyone!
As we enter the new year, the job market news of layoffs continues, but there are some positive indications as well. We wish you the best of success for your job search! Our site and resources, plus the leadership of the job support groups, are here to help.
Comments About the U.S. Job Market
Unemployment Report
Nonfarm payroll employment fell in February (-651,000) and the unemployment rate rose from 7.6% to 8.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported on March 6th. Payroll employment has declined by 4.4 million in the last year+ and by 2.6 million in the past four months. Job losses were large and widespread across nearly all major industry sectors except health care and government.
About staying in School...
Remember all those adults in your past who kept telling you to stay in school, keep learning, etc.? Maybe as a parent you have been delivering those messages too? Consider:
Education
Unemployment Rate 2-09
Less than high school High school + some college, AA BS degree +
Manpower Survey for second Quarter 2009
In the latest survey of 31,000+ employers on hiring plans:
- Companies planning to add to staff: 15%
- Companies planning to reduce staff: 14%
- Companies not expecting changes: 67%
So 15% of companies are adding staff and 50-60%+ may be replacing staff but not adding staff.
GDP Forecast for 2009
The Congressional Budget Office produces reports and analyses of the US economy for the US Congress. For 2009, the February report of expectations for Gross Domestic Product (a measure of the total costs of goods and services produced) is -2.2% for the year, followed by 1.5% growth for 2010.
It is expected that unemployment will continue to rise to the 9% range later this year.
If the forecast is reasonably accurate, the job market will continue to struggle before we hopefully see movement to positive growth and a turnaround in the job market.
How does all this compare to the recent past?
Given all the bad news out there, it helps to compare where we are now with past recessions:
Period
Peak Unemployment
1981-1983 2009 1990-1991 2001-2003 One more perspective: in 1933 the unemployment rate in the midst of the Depression peaked at 25%.
The Gas Pedal of the US Economy
We consumers are in control of this economy. Our spending decisions create jobs and growth over time. Through our spending, we also produce the revenues that employers use to pay their corporate taxes plus their buying of all kinds of things that are essential to company performance, which also creates jobs. It all starts with us, the consumer. Let's work on our confidence!
Contrary to what some commentators are saying, the business cycle has not been repealed. The private sector of the economy will recover later this year, like it always does. Each recovery is different. We need to maintain our faith in the US economy, its capacity for recovery and job creation. Let's get through the next few months and get back to growth later in 2009!
Alliance Partners
We support the following resources in service to job seekers:
- HACEUSA, a professional Hispanic Association
- Career Concepts USA: Job Fair resource
- Catalyst Career Group: Job Fair resource
Networking Tip Of The Month
The Elevator Speech
As a job seeker, getting people engaged in your search issues is essential to their assisting you. When you attend a networking session or meet someone to talk to about your search, the key things they need to learn are:
- Who you are (background, education summary)
- What you do (career roles, jobs you have had)
- What you are looking for (job roles, target companies)
- How he/ she can help you
That's it! Sometimes things are simple!
Networking Group of the Month
We are looking for recommendations. Send an e-mail to work@workministry.com and tell us about your group.
Important Information
Leaders: please review your Job Support Group web page and see if all information is accurate and up-to-date. Please send any corrections to work@workministry.com.
Remember networkers: once you have landed your job, complete our landings survey.
Quote of the Month
"Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood.
... A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." --John Adams
A Prayer While You Are In Transition
The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to Him each day and say, "Father, Your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine. I trust You to be God. You lead me today and I will follow."
- Kay Arthur
We hope you have enjoyed this month's Newsletter!
The Work Ministry Team
Contact us at work@workministry.com
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