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+.

Why Credit Risk Management Matters in a Post-Recession World

October 2, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The financial crisis of 2008 is considered by many to be the worst since the Great Depression. A number of large firms that had been in existence for decades went under with little warning that they were going to fail. Therefore, it is important for companies to be aware of credit risk (aka. default risk) management possibilities in the aftermath of such a calamity.

It’s Important to Be Proactive

There are never any guarantees that a client will pay his or her bills on time. In fact, there is no guarantee that a client will pay any portion of an outstanding balance. However, using credit risk management tools can help you predict which customers are likely to live up to their obligations and which ones are less likely to. This can help your company minimize its losses and create objective criteria as to what a quality client or customer looks like.

You Can Prepare to Make Claims in Bankruptcy Court

If you can predict ahead of time that [Read more…] about Why Credit Risk Management Matters in a Post-Recession World

Tips for Finding a Job that Meets Your Needs

October 1, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Finding a job is difficult. Not only does it need to be able to pay you enough, so you can live, but it also needs to be something worthwhile. Too often, jobs pay well enough but end up being a pain. Or they’re your dream job, but they don’t pay enough. To help you find a job that will hit most of the marks of your needs, consider these four tips.

1) Know Your Needs

In order to find a job that will meet your needs, you first need to establish what your needs are. Do you need a certain amount of money each month to cover your bills and other expenditures? You also need to be qualified for the position. If you’re not qualified, then you might need to revisit your needs and sort through them again.

2) Use Job Sites

Going door-to-door and asking for applications can be a pain. It’s much easier to [Read more…] about Tips for Finding a Job that Meets Your Needs

Great Employment Benefits You Should Look For

October 1, 2019 by Tim McMahon

It isn’t uncommon for employers to offer health insurance, a 401(k) plan or other perks in addition to an annual salary. While benefit packages may be largely the same regardless of where you work, it is still a good idea to know what a prospective employer could provide.

A 401(k) Match Is Essentially Free Money

If your employer is willing to match your 401(k) contributions, you are getting the equivalent to a 100% return on your investment. The match usually isn’t unlimited i.e. you couldn’t double your entire salary by contributing all of it but whatever the maximum is you should definitely try to take advantage of all of it. Best of all, this money will grow exponentially and tax-free for many years or decades to come. As an employer match can make it easier to retire comfortably, it is important that you understand how it works and how to best take advantage of it.

Health Savings Accounts Can Accrue Interest

Money kept in a health savings account (HSA) could [Read more…] about Great Employment Benefits You Should Look For

10 Online Radiology Courses Every RT Should Add to Their Resume

September 16, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The medical industry has made a massive amount of leaps in new technology over the past few decades. Keeping up with these changes is vital to giving quality care.

A radiologist is far from exempt from this. As such online radiology courses have become a common standard to further medical education.

Getting those continuing education credits will further your education, your career, and your ability to help those in need. Eager to learn more? Keep reading below.

Furthering Your Education: 10 Online Radiology Courses You Need

Taking online educational courses has been on the rise for many for easy and reliable access to education. Many online courses can work around any schedule, flexing around job hours and other responsibilities.

Some of these 10 sections have a wider variety of fields that they cover. Even if you do not branch out into other wider varieties, the basic courses can prove very useful for radiologists new and old.

When searching through online courses, most will fall into categories like those found below.

1. Radiography

Radiography is the foundation of a radiologist’s career. The science behind digital mapping allows radiologists to view and discern any number of unseen issues with the human body.

These classes might seem like any radiologist would know everything that will be learned here. The truth is that these basics are so necessary that a refresher course can be a valuable tool for keeping a radiologist’s abilities sharp.

2. Bone Densitometry

Stretch Your Dollars While Between Jobs

September 7, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Being in between jobs can have you worrying about how you’re going to pay your bills. Fortunately, there are ways to stretch your dollar so that you can sustain yourself financially until you can find more work. These tips can help you preserve your finances while in between jobs.

File for Unemployment

It seems unemployment always lasts longer than you think so, the first step when you become unemployed is to always file for unemployment if you are eligible (even if you think you will only be unemployed for a short time). Remember there is processing time before your benefits start and if you wait too long you might miss out on some benefits. Also, be sure to keep up with your paperwork so you don’t miss some benefits during your unemployment. These days you will probably be able to file online so the process should be relatively quick and painless. However, if you have a special situation you may have to call or visit your local unemployment office. Be sure to check to see how much your state allows you to earn and still be eligible to receive unemployment. Then you can consider picking up some side gigs.

Cut Expenses to the Bone

Generally, unemployment benefits don’t equal your previous salary so [Read more…] about Stretch Your Dollars While Between Jobs

August Unemployment Report

September 7, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its employment / unemployment report for August on September 6^th. Unemployment is still near record lows. According to the BLS, the “Seasonally Adjusted” Unemployment Rate for August is unchanged at 3.7% for the 3^rd month in a row. But up from 3.6% in May and down from 3.8% in February and March.

According to the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in August, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment in federal government rose, largely reflecting the hiring of temporary workers for the 2020 Census. Notable job gains also occurred in health care and financial activities, while mining lost jobs.”

Of course, he is talking about “Seasonally Adjusted Jobs” in reality there were 151.517 million people employed in August up from 151.169 million employed in July. Although the BLS originally reported 151.183 jobs for July.

For more info see our Current Unemployment Chart and Current U.S. Employment Chart commentary:

Key August Employment and Unemployment Numbers

This month’s Unemployment report was full of positive news.

Seasonally adjusted Unemployment remained at historically low levels.
Unadjusted U-3 was Down.
Unadjusted U-6 remains good.
Labor Force Participation Up Again
Unadjusted Employment Up

Key factors in the BLS report were:

Health care employment increased by 24,000 and 392,000 over the past 12 months.

Financial activities employment rose by 15,000, with nearly half of the gain occurring in insurance carriers and related activities (+7,000). Financial activities has added 111,000 jobs over the year.

Not sure if this is good or bad but…

“Social assistance employment continued on an upward trend in August (+13,000). Within the industry, individual and family services added 17,000 jobs. Social assistance has added 100,000 jobs in the last 6 months.”

Injury at Work? Know Your Rights to Compensation and FMLA

September 2, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Workers in the American workplace have certain protections under the law. Two of the most important are the right to a safe workplace and the right to leave for medical conditions. It’s your job as a worker, though, to know your rights to compensation and under the FMLA.

Know When an Injury Counts

One of the most important things you’ll need to know is if an injury counts as happening at work. Generally speaking, an injury that occurs during the regular commission of your job – whether on-site or off will count as a work-related injury. So long as you are on the clock or doing something as part of your duties, your injuries should be covered.

Who is Eligible for FMLA

Not every employee is eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You must be employed by a company that is not exempt (that is, has fifty or more employees) and you must have worked for the company for at least a year before you become eligible. There is also an hourly requirement – you must have worked for at least 1,250 hours during the course of those twelve months. If you meet all of these criteria, you are covered under the FMLA.

What to Do If You Don’t Get What You are Owed

From Testing to the Bar—4 Tips for Starting Law School

August 20, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The field of law is not designed for the faint of heart. If you’re considering pursuing this career path, a daunting and precarious journey awaits. However, you shouldn’t allow these unknowns to dull your passion. While in law school, it’s particularly essential to tackle your responsibilities with unbridled ambition. Here are some tips on how to stay afloat while undergoing law school.

Networking Matters

Even if your phone is chock-full of contacts, you should always make efforts to network. Your classmates will likely evolve into your colleagues, so it’s wise to forge relationships while your career is in its infancy. As a result, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate your domain when your profession blossoms. Internships and corporate events are excellent ways to get involved.

https://youtu.be/CnEkBAWy4H4?t=40

Take Practice Exams

Preparation is key in schooling. Even if you feel primed for an exam, it’s prudent to take the practice test. Experienced law students suggest that there’s no more efficient way to bolster your confidence than by partaking in these exercises. After all, exams make up the lion’s share of your overall grade. With that said, if your professor offers these opportunities, it’s in your best interest to avail yourself of this perk. [Read more…] about From Testing to the Bar—4 Tips for Starting Law School

How Those With Autism Can Strengthen Their Odds in Applying for Jobs

August 14, 2019 by Tim McMahon

Diagnoses of autism have become more prevalent over the last several years, as has the awareness of the condition. There are many adults on the autism spectrum who are more than capable of holding down jobs and participating in business activities, but many still have problems with the application process. Below are four of the ways that adults with autism can strengthen their chances when it comes to applying for a job.

Work Within Areas of Strength

The next logical step to take is to look at those areas that speak to an individual’s areas of strengths. If you have issues with significant social interactions, for example, it might make sense to look for positions that require less team-based work. If certain physical stimuli are an issue, on the other hand, you may want to seek out fields that don’t tend to regularly feature those problems. Finding a workplace that allows you to embrace your strengths is always a good idea, and it’s usually the best way to put your own unique skills to their best use. In the following video, we can see that some companies are actually looking for people with the special skills Autistic people have. The problem, of course, is the interview. But now companies are finding alternative ways to screen autistic candidates.

The Interview

The best solution would be to [Read more…] about How Those With Autism Can Strengthen Their Odds in Applying for Jobs

July Unemployment Unchanged But…

August 3, 2019 by Tim McMahon

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its monthly unemployment survey results for July on August 2^nd. Unemployment is still near record lows but this month’s Unemployment report was a bit of a “mixed bag” with some positive news and some not quite so positive.

According to the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 164,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent. Notable job gains occurred in professional and technical services, health care, social assistance, and financial activities.

The July increase in payroll employment was in line with the average monthly job gain in the first half of the year (+165,000), but below the average monthly job gain of 223,000 for 2018. (Incorporating revisions for May and June, which decreased employment by 41,000, monthly job gains have averaged 140,000 over the past 3 months.) ”

Of course he is talking about “Seasonally Adjusted Jobs” in reality there were 152.307 million people employed according to the BLS’ June report and then they adjusted it down to 152.242 million but in July there are only 151.183 million employed so there was either a decrease of -1.059 million jobs based on the new numbers or a decrease of -1.124 million based on the original numbers. But there were only 148.295 million employed in January so there about 2.88 million more people employed in July than in January.

For more info see our Current Unemployment Chart and Current U.S. Employment Chart commentary:

Key July Employment and Unemployment Numbers

Adjusted U-3 Unemployment- 3.7% Unchanged from June
Unadjusted U-3 Unemployment- 4.0% Up from 3.8% in June and 3.4% in May but still below 4.1% in February, and 4.4% in January.
Unadjusted U-6 Unemployment- 7.3% down from 7.5% in June Up from 6.7% in May. It was 7.5% in March, 7.7% in February and 8.8% in January.
Unadjusted Employment (Establishment Survey)- 151.183 million down from 152.307 million in June up from 148.295 million in January.
Labor Force Participation Rate- 63.0% up from 62.9% June, 62.8% in April and May but unchanged from 63.0% in March and still below the peak of 63.2% in February.

Although they rose a notch in June (and stayed there in July), current Seasonally Adjusted U-3 levels are still below the 3.8% lows of 2000. Prior to that, we have to go all the way back to 1969 to see better unemployment levels than we have currently. If we break below 3.4% we have to go all the way back to 1953 (during the Korean War) to find lower levels. And we must remember that there was a massive loss of the workforce due to the war, and a higher percentage of the population was not counted due to “farming”, so we probably won’t see levels that low again. The 1969 lows occurred during the Vietnam war. Prior to 1969 was a low of 3.7% in 1957 so we are currently at that level. As we can see from the above chart we are in one of only 5 “green zones” where unemployment levels are below 4%. Not even the “boom” period 2006-2007 reached such low levels.