Your Source for Employment and Unemployment Data
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Employment and Unemployment rates for the month of April 2015 on Friday May 8th. The commonly quoted Seasonally Adjusted U-3 Unemployment rate was 5.4% down slightly from 5.5% in both February and March.
The unadjusted U3 was 5.1% while the broader unadjusted U6 [Read more…] about BLS Releases Unemployment Rates for April
This time a year ago, the oil industry’s biggest problem was finding a way to deal with the “retirement tsunami” about to crash down on it as older oilfield workers hung up their cork boots to enjoy freedom-55. Now, with oil prices still in the doldrums, many of those same workers are lucky to be hanging onto their jobs, while others have been booted from the payroll as an ugly wave of layoffs takes hold.
One of the worst-affected areas is [Read more…] about 100,000 Layoffs and Counting: Is this the New Normal?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the February Unemployment figures on Friday March 6th. According to the BLS the Current Unemployment Rate (Seasonally adjusted) for February was 5.5% down from 5.7% in January. Along the same lines we see the Unadjusted Unemployment rates fall from 6.1% to 5.8%. However, according to Gallup the Unadjusted Unemployment rate was actually 6.7% and the U-6 unemployment rate was 16.1%.
| Unadjusted U-3 | Unadjusted U-6 |
|
| BLS | 5.8% | 11.4% |
| Gallup | 6.7% | 16.1% |
| Difference | 0.9% | 4.7% |
Once again the BLS numbers are quite a bit different than the [Read more…] about BLS Releases February Unemployment Numbers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the November Unemployment figures on December 5th. The Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate was 5.8% the same as the October. The Unadjusted Unemployment rate was also flat at 5.5% for November.
Once again the BLS numbers are quite a bit different than the independently generated Gallup numbers. This is no surprise, based on the long-term comparison between the BLS numbers and the Gallup numbers the BLS numbers consistently present a rosier picture than the Gallup numbers do.
According to surveys by [Read more…] about November Unemployment Rate Flat
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the October Unemployment figures on November 7th. The Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate was 5.8% down from 5.9% in September. The Unadjusted Unemployment rate was also down from 5.7% in September to 5.5% in October but traditionally October has one of the highest employment (lowest unemployment) levels of the year.
For July and August the BLS numbers were surprisingly close to the Gallup numbers but it appears that the period of sanity has ended. In September the BLS numbers went down while the Gallup numbers went up. Although both sets of numbers went down in October the gap between them is still big enough to drive a truck through.
Gallup says the unadjusted Unemployment rate is 6.2% while the BLS says it is only 5.5% for a 0.7% difference. That is a 12.7% margin of error. Notice the major divergence at the end of the chart. [Read more…] about October Unemployment Figures
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the July Unemployment figures on August 1st. The Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate was 6.2% up from 6.1% in June. The Unadjusted Unemployment rate was also up from 6.3% in June to 6.5% July. Of course the spin-doctors at the BLS said it was “virtually unchanged”.
In a surprising turn of events, the unadjusted BLS numbers actually agree with the Gallup numbers with the rare occurrence that the BLS numbers are actually higher than the Gallup numbers for the first time in 17 months.
Of course, we shouldn’t get too excited because the “adjusted numbers” are still a bit on the low side and the smoke and mirrors coming out of the BLS have simply shifted to the Employment numbers.
According to the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly report, “Total non-farm payroll employment increased by 209,000 in July, the same as its average monthly gain over the prior 12 months. In July, employment grew in professional and business services, manufacturing, retail trade, and construction.”
So we might begin to wonder if Employment went up, how did unemployment also go up? Of course, the [Read more…] about BLS Releases July Unemployment: 6.2% Up from 6.1% in June
With the abundance of college graduates with degrees in “soft” subjects like Psychology, Drama, Anthropology, Liberal Arts, English and History unable to find jobs when they graduate you might think that a more job specific major like Business, Economics or Criminal Justice might be more appropriate. But recent findings by Payscale have found that Criminal Justice majors have little advantage over High School grads and end up working security or as entry level police officers, Economics majors “should have learned in Econ 101: In the job market, the supply of econ majors outstrips demand”. And even business majors “need a concentration in quantitative courses such as statistics or finance” in order to succeed.
So unless you want to major in one of the “hard science” subjects like Engineering or Computer Science you might be better off skipping college and attending a Technical School that will train you for a specific profession. ~Tim McMahon, editor.
Technical schools–also known as vocational schools, trade schools or career colleges–prepare students for specific jobs that they can pursue after graduation. Occupations taught at technical schools include electronics technician, automotive technician, welder, paralegal, licensed practical nurse, radiology, medical assistant, hair stylist and truck driver. [Read more…] about Tips for Selecting the Right Technical Training Program
Bread. Clothing. Gasoline. You need all of these things, but they all depend on the trucking industry. With uncertain gasoline prices and the country still trying to claw its way out of a recession, the trucking industry faces serious challenges on all sides. The shipping, airline, and railroad industries all need the same business that the trucking industry now captures. Will it be able to innovate while fighting off fierce competition from outside industries? Is the trucking industry going under?
The trucking industry faces many challenges. One of them is competition from other industries. Obviously, rigs aren’t the only way to transport goods and services across the country. Airfreight, trains, and shipping all pose a threat to the trucking industry. For example, in the 1980s the freight railroad business was shrinking quickly. However, after 1990, the industry saw steady growth that didn’t stop until the late 2000s.
New engines and enhancements to existing technologies are pushing the shipping industry forward. For example, “G” type engines promise an increase in fuel efficiency between 4-7 percent over existing engines. Hybrid engines are emerging that make use of gasoline and diesel as well as wind as an auxiliary source of power. If the shipping industry can capitalize on emerging technologies, [Read more…] about Is the Trucking Industry Going Under?
Your first engineering job is always special. After completing four years of studies graduates are eager to get their dream job. This article will provide tips on how to get an engineering job.
Engineering graduates always want to have their first job in a well known organization. Many engineering colleges offer placement assistance to Seniors. But students need to do their part to get the job of their dreams. Whether you are an electronic engineer or a computer engineer, following certain recommended rules can help land that desirable engineering job in a well-known company.
Engineers, whether in the civil, mechanical or computer domain require a specialized resume. The resume or CV should be customized according to the job requirements listed in the help wanted ad. Engineers looking to join the job market cannot prepare a generic resume for every position. Applying for Civil Engineer Jobs will require a different resume from a computer engineer job. Many hiring managers complain that they receive generic resumes. Only a few candidates take the pains to create a customized resume. Engineering students applying for different job classifications should keep in mind that for 5 different employers, they should have 5 different resumes.
The content of your resume is very important. The content should have correct figures, degrees obtained and flawless English. Further, the skills mentioned should match the job profile demand. Each company has a specific set of requirements and the person doing the initial screening of the resumes will most likely not be an engineer. So they will be scanning for key phrases that are in the job requirement. So if you [Read more…] about How to Get Your First Engineering Job
Job hunting success can be difficult in a tough economy. There is a lot of competition from other job seekers and fewer positions available. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to make yourself more employable. These tips will help you stand out among the competition.
A poor resume is the reason many applicants do not get a call back from a potential employer. Even if you have a good record of work experience, it may not be fully demonstrated in your resume. Take time to really flesh out the work and academic history portions of your resume. Make note of your accomplishments and awards you may have received. Use numbers and statistics whenever possible to demonstrate proof of performance. If you have leadership experience, be sure to mention it. Keep all of the details to one or two pages maximum. If you need more room to go into detail about your work history, get rid of things like the resume “objective”–it’s fluff. The objective of every job seeker is to get a job that matches their qualifications, desires, and knowledge level; the potential employer knows that. If necessary, get help with your resume from a friend, family member, or a professional resume writer. [Read more…] about Job Hunting Success: How to Make Yourself More Employable