Tim McMahon, Editor of UnemploymentData.com

My grandfather lived through the Hyperinflation in Weimar, Germany--to say he was an original “gold bug” would be an understatement. I began reading his “hard money” newsletters at the age of 16 and the dividends from gold stocks helped put me through college. I began publishing the Financial Trend Forecaster paper newsletter in 1995 upon the death of James Moore editor of Your Window into the Future and the creator of the Moore Inflation Predictor©. FTF specializes in trends in the stock market, gold, inflation and bonds. In January of 2003, I began publishing InflationData.com to specialize in all forms of information about the nature of Inflation. In 2009, we added Elliott Wave University to help teach you the principles of Elliott Wave analysis. In January 2013, we began publishing OptioMoney. Connect with Tim on Google+.

Creating a Personal Brand for Your Success

July 6, 2021 by Tim McMahon

It can be difficult to make yourself stand out in a world where everyone is on social media, everyone is competing for jobs, and everyone is trying to figure out where they fit into the world. You might find yourself being pulled in different directions and offered a lot of conflicting advice about how to present yourself professionally. This can be incredibly overwhelming, but it is important today to have a personal brand that you can use to promote yourself as a professional so you can reach your career goals. So what is a “personal brand”? Basically, it is what you are known for i.e. your reputation. You are probably already known for certain things among your friends, and relatives. But you may or may not already have a professional reputation. The key is to create your “personal brand” before one is created for you.

If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to creating a personal brand, here are a few simple steps to get you started.

1. What Are You Trying to Say?

The first thing you need to figure out when developing a personal brand is what are you trying to say? Think about your passions as an individual, and how has this shaped your life. What has led you to pursue this particular career path? It might be worth taking the time to sit down and create a mind-map or list of things that you think represent you and have inspired you throughout your lifetime, as these can all be used as a base for your brand.

2. Research

Once you have an idea of what you’re trying to say with [Read more…] about Creating a Personal Brand for Your Success

June Employment and Unemployment Both Up

July 3, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Highlights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment / unemployment report for June released on July 2^nd.

Unadjusted U-3 was UP from 5.5% to 6.1%
Adjusted U-3 was UP from 5.8% to 5.9%
Unadjusted U-6 was UP from 9.7% to 10.1%
Labor Force Participation unchanged at 61.6%
Unadjusted Employment rose from 145.385 million to 146.517 million

Accountant vs Bookkeeper: What Do They Do for a Small Business?

June 29, 2021 by Tim McMahon

We tend to consider bookkeeping and accounting as the same thing if we are unfamiliar with the intricacies of both functions. But as a business owner, you need to realize that bookkeeping and accounting are two entirely different functions. To decide which professional is suitable for your business, you must first understand the primary difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper.

What is a Bookkeeper?

A bookkeeper is responsible for keeping the books of the business by handling the day-to-day paperwork. This includes recording income and expenses, and reconciling bank accounts.

Some bookkeepers can also help the business with managing the payroll functions and filing VAT returns. Often the owner will handle minimal transactions during the early stages of the business, but as the business grows and becomes more complex, hiring a bookkeeper becomes more important. [Read more…] about Accountant vs Bookkeeper: What Do They Do for a Small Business?

4 Major Costs of Workplace Injuries to Include in Your Claim

June 21, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Being involved in a workplace injury or accident can be one of the most difficult experiences for a person to go through. Not only is it stressful emotionally and physically but a workplace injury often involves financial hardship as well. Although worker’s compensation claims help to relieve some of that financial hardship, the fact is that your employer and their insurance company are not on your side. Thus the following includes four major costs of job site injuries to make sure that you include within your claim.

Medical Bills

The most obvious recommendation a job site accident lawyer will give you is to make sure that you are seeking medical attention for your injuries. Not only are your medical documents needed to prove the severity of your accident, but your health should always come first before anything else. However, because of the complexity of healthcare, it can be easy to forget to add some major medical costs to your claim.

Workplace Injury and Lost Wages

Even if your workplace injury isn’t too severe, many employers will [Read more…] about 4 Major Costs of Workplace Injuries to Include in Your Claim

How to Become a Hairstylist: A Career Guide

June 7, 2021 by Tim McMahon

When your friends need help looking great before they go out on the town, they turn to you. You’re not an experienced hairstylist by any means, but you do know how to cut and style the hair to some degree. You’ve always thought about going to beauty school, but you’ve been worried about what goes into it.

You’re not sure how to become a hairstylist. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to the point where you can have your own salon, but it’s doable.

We can help you get started down this exciting career path. Check out this guide to unlock all the secrets of becoming a hairstylist.

Get the Proper Training

Before you can become a certified salon stylist, you’ve got to get your license which often involves going to school. There should be community colleges in your area that offer programs in the field. Depending on what route you go in, your schooling could last anywhere between a few months to a few years.

It takes a while to learn everything you need to know about coloring, styling, sanitation, and shampooing. Some programs also offer classes in skincare, nails, and other areas of beauty.

Obtain Your License

You can’t begin working at a hair salon until you get your license to do so. You’ll qualify to take a licensing exam as soon as you exit school.

The exact specifications vary from state to state. In most cases, [Read more…] about How to Become a Hairstylist: A Career Guide

May Unemployment Down

June 5, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Highlights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment / unemployment report for May released on June 4^th.

Unadjusted U-3 was Down from 5.7% to 5.5%
Adjusted U-3 was Down from 6.1% to 5.8%
Unadjusted U-6 was Down from 9.9% to 9.7%
Labor Force Participation fell from 61.7% to 61.6%
Unadjusted Employment rose from 144.412 million to 145.385 million

What Qualities Do You Need for a Career in Political Marketing?

June 2, 2021 by Tim McMahon

The world of politics is known for being ruthless, fickle, and incredibly stressful. While many people would run the other way from this career path, but, there are those who embrace the challenge, the excitement, and the possibility of ushering in real change. Perhaps you don’t like the idea of being a political figure but still want to be involved in politics. Perhaps you’d like a career where you get to remain behind the scenes? Then perhaps political marketing is the field for you.

What is Political Marketing?

Political marketing is a key component of politics. Every politician needs a political marketer from Presidents to members of local governments. Market research is used to decide on policies, to understand what the people they serve want. Voter profiling helps decide which segments to target and what political brand is necessary to attract that segment of the population. Internal marketing provides volunteer involvement, etc.

With that said, it takes more than just an interest in politics to succeed in political marketing. There are some specific qualities that can help you to excel in this career path and really make your mark. So, let’s take a look at the qualities needed to be a successful political marketer.

Be Extremely Digital Savvy

In today’s highly reliant digital world, it is absolutely imperative that you [Read more…] about What Qualities Do You Need for a Career in Political Marketing?

April Unemployment Report “Disappointing”

May 10, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Highlights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment / unemployment report for April released on May 7^th.

Unadjusted U-3 was Down from 6.2% to 5.7%
Adjusted U-3 was Up from 6.0% to 6.1%
Unadjusted U-6 was Down from 10.9% to 9.9%
Labor Force Participation rose from 61.5% to 61.7%
Unadjusted Employment rose from 143.309 million to 144.398

MSN classified this unemployment report as “disappointing” and the “greatest test yet of President Biden’s strategy to revive the pandemic economic recovery“.
There has been speculation that expanded unemployment benefits are making people reluctant to renter the labor market since generous unemployment benefits are more than they earn at minimum wage jobs. To counteract this, states like Montana are canceling Federal COVID unemployment benefits in an effort to encourage people to go back to work.

According to CNBC: “Montana opts to end $300 unemployment boost. Other states may, too.”

CNBC KEY POINTS:

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, is ending participation in federal programs that expanded and raised unemployment benefits on June 27.
The American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill President Joe Biden signed in March, offered them through Labor Day.
Gianforte is instead offering a $1,200 return-to-work bonus to address a labor shortage. Some experts question the move.

Buried in the middle of the article is this quote:

“Montana is turning down expanded federal benefits to address a “severe workforce shortage,” Gianforte said. The state’s labor force is 10,000 workers smaller than before the pandemic and its 3.8% unemployment rate is near pre-Covid lows.

So despite the fact that “Some ‘experts’ question the move” unemployment levels are not “disappointing” in Montana at least, in fact, quite the opposite… they are having trouble finding workers.

March Unemployment Shows a Slight Improvement

April 3, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Highlights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment / unemployment report for March released on April 2^nd.

Unadjusted U-3 was Down from 6.6% to 6.2%
Adjusted U-3 was Down from 6.2% to 6.0%
Unadjusted U-6 was Down from 11.6% to 10.9%
Labor Force Participation rose from 61.4% to 61.5%
Unadjusted Employment rose from 142.077 million to 143.400 million