While the general unemployment rate may remains relatively high, for professionals and those with a college degree, the unemployment rate is closer to three percent. Employers have increased demand for qualified candidates in certain sectors, including Financial Services, Human Resources, IT and some entry-level positions.
PSG’s President Aaron Green recently shared his thoughts with Boston.com about what makes some industries and jobs ‘hot.’
Read the full article here.
Massachusetts’ monthly unemployment rate ticked up in September, from 5.8 percent to 6 percent, and is now higher than the national average unemployment rate of 5.9 percent. However, experts attribute the rise to more than 15,000 workers entering the job market and say that, combined with the addition of 9,400 jobs, is a good sign for the Massachusetts economy.
Other positive signs for the local job market:
For the second consecutive year, PSG has been named to Workforce Magazine’s “Hot List” of temporary staffing providers as part of its annual special report on the staffing industry.
The report noted that the staffing industry is “still soaring” and enjoying high demand, which is predicted to continue for the foreseeable future. Aaron Green, PSG’s founder and president, spoke with Workforce about some of the trends driving demand for staffing services, including the temp-to-hire practice and the competitiveness of the current hiring market, also referred to as the “war for talent.”
Read the full article here.
The unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose to 5.8 percent in August, up from 5.6 percent in July. The state lost 5,300 jobs in August, according to a report from the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development that specified “temporary employment disruptions in the retail sector” contributing to the loss of 9,800 jobs in the retail sector.
The U.S. unemployment rate is 6.1 percent.
Job seekers stymied by the ‘summer slow-down’ can take heart: your in-box will start buzzing again soon.
PSG’s President Aaron Green recently shared his thoughts with Boston.com about the best and worst job-seeking ‘seasons.’ However, while some periods may be slower than others in some industries or at some firms, Green advises that the best time to look for a job is “when you need one.”
Read the full article here.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate rose slightly – from 5.5 percent, its lowest rate in almost six years, to 5.6 percent in July, according to the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Massachusetts also added 13,800 jobs to the economy last month.
In July, the professional, scientific and business services, as well as education and health services sectors, added the most jobs. A net of 67,300 jobs have been added to the Massachusetts economy over the past year.
The national unemployment rate is currently 6.2 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate for June dropped to its lowest rate in nearly six years – to 5.5 percent – and the state added 3,700 jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent report.
Compared to figures from one year ago, Massachusetts’ total unemployment rate is down 1.6 percent and the state has added a net total of 48,900 jobs, 48,400 in the private sector and 500 jobs in the public sector.
The biggest jobs producers were in the education and health services sectors, which added a combined 6,000 positions in June. Retailers added 1,800 jobs, while local government grew by 900 positions. Manufacturing jobs lost 1,100 in June.
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent in June.
Last month, CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl (EMSI) announced the results of data analysis showing that the two largest population groups in today’s workforce, baby boomers and millennials, have weathered the recession differently and hold unequal percentages of jobs in today’s economy.
The labor market data that EMSI analyzed shows that the number of jobs held by baby boomers (age 55-64) grew 9 percent from 2007 to 2013, a gain of 1.9 million, while the millennial workforce (age 22-34) shows an increase of only 110,000 jobs and employment in 2013 only increased .3 percent from 2007. The numbers point to an older population that is holding on to its jobs, postponing retirement, and even increasing its labor force participation rate and employment-to-population ratio. Millennials, on the other hand, entered the workforce at a time when there were very weak entry-level job prospects and left the workforce in greater numbers or took lower paying jobs than they may have otherwise done.
Aside from being discouraging for young workers, the analysis is a wakeup call for employers. While some employers have been maintaining a “steady as she goes” approach to staff retention and minimal turnover, they may soon be facing numerous vacancies when large numbers of employees retire. The open positions these workers vacate could also leave a skills shortage if new workers aren’t being trained or if there isn’t adequate professional development being offered.
At PSG, we encourage workers of all ages to take advantage of the staff assistance and development opportunities we offer. For instance, the temp-to-perm route to employment can be a successful option to finding the right fit in a job and/or gaining a foothold in a particular company or industry.
A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicates that Massachusetts’ unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent in May, down from 6 percent in April, and the lowest monthly rate in six years. More than 9,000 jobs were added to the Massachusetts economy in May.
The last time the state’s unemployment rate was below 6 percent was in July 2008. The current national unemployment rate is 6.3 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate fell to 6 percent in April, down from 6.3 percent in March, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, while Massachusetts added more than 9,000 jobs in March, the state lost 1,600 jobs in April.
One explanation for the lower unemployment rate and fewer jobs is that people who become discouraged and stop looking for jobs are no longer counted as part of the workforce.
Professional Staffing Group 