Banking, Financial Services, Lending Services, Monthly BLS Report, US News

Your February 2015 First Friday Preview from Jon Burkhart

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How is Your Team’s New Year So Far?

In 2013, Forbes.com research indicated just 8% of people achieve their New Year’s Resolutions.  For many of us, January saw the start and finish of a few resolutions.  While we often hear of resolutions only on a personal level, many of us have business resolutions as well — typically focused around meeting or exceeding the goals set the previous year.

So, how has your team done so far this year?  If your team is doing very well, congratulations.  If not, keep in mind this is only February.  There is still time to turn things around!  Putting the right team in place will allow you to meet and exceed your yearly goals. 

Happy 2015!  We wish you much health, wealth, and happines, and we look forward to being a part of meeting your goals this year.

Central US, Contract Staffing, Education, Engineering, International News, Manufacturing, Marketing, Midwest US, North America, Northeast US, Pacific US, Southeast US, Southwest US, US News

The War For Talent Is Heating Up

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The War For Talent is Heating Up

 2014 was the strongest year for job gains in the US since 1999, and job openings data shows that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills are in high demand among employers. Unemployment for individuals who have a Bachelor’s degree remains below 4%, which is significantly lower than the encouraging 5.6% overall unemployment figures.  There is significant shortage of active job seekers with the proper education or training to be considered for the increasing number of engineering and technical positions in America.  This is becoming a real problem for companies that are not in a position to compete to keep their current employees or attract the talent they need to be successful.  Wages are rising, and the churn in the market place will make for a busy 2015.

US News

Spirits industry thrives in US

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spirits

Spirits Industry

The spirits industry is steadily growing in the U.S., eclipsing the success of brewers for the fifth year in a row. 

According to a press release from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, supplier sales for the sector increased 4 percent in 2014, totaling $23.1 billion. Volume growth also increased last year, rising 2.2 percent for a total of 210 million cases. The report indicated that the spirits industry is responsible for over $20 billion in government tax revenues and hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs. In 2014 the country experienced approximately $70 billion in its overall sales of distilled spirits. While beer continues to be a popular choice across the country, the liquor sector had more market shares than the brewing industry for the fifth year in a row.

Range of options prompt industry growth 
Much of the industry’s recent success is attributed to popular flavored options of products like whiskey, vodka, tequila and rum. Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey volumes increased by 7.4 percent, producing $2.7 billion in revenue, stated the report. Tequila volumes expanded by 5 percent, while Cognac increased by a notable 11.4 percent. Fortune magazine noted that some of the most popular flavored liquors include cinnamon- and honey-infused whiskeys.

Exports are up 
On an international scale, figure show that other nations are consuming plenty of American-produced liquor. Exports increased by 3.7 percent in 2014, amounting to an estimated $1.56 billion worth of revenue. Canada was the largest consumer of American alcohol, spending roughly $212.6 million. The U.K. spent upward of $177 million, while Germany and Australia both spent more than $130 million. France was also a notable consumer, spending an estimated $111.6 million.

Many foreign markets greatly increased their consumption of U.S. spirits, including Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Israel, the Bahamas and the United Arab Emirates. Domestically, sales increased as well, due to a number of states loosening their formerly strict liquor-purchasing laws, explained the report.

Raise a glass to 2015 
The future looks bright as the spirits industry heads into a new year. The report noted that the DSC will continue to advocate for looser sales laws, especially in states where buying and selling spirits is illegal on Sundays. The organization is also looking forward to increasing its support of grocery store sales and smaller, emerging distilleries.

Midwest US, Southwest US

Colorado has biggest unemployment drop in nation

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colorado

Colorado Unemployment drop

At the end of 2014, Colorado experienced the largest drop in unemployment rate compared to all other U.S. states.

Over the course of the year, the state’s jobless rate fell from 6.2 percent to 4 percent, reported The Denver Post. Overall, Colorado added over 62,000 jobs, 4,700 of which were created in December. The Denver Business Journal explained that most of the new jobs in this final month were in the professional and business services, leisure and hospitality and construction sectors, while the trade, transportation and utilities industry saw a slight decline. For the year overall, education and health services, construction and leisure and hospitality experienced the strongest rates of growth.

The Denver Post reported that this growth is expected to persist in 2015 despite steadily declining oil prices. Although oil-related positions account for nearly 2.5 million jobs in the state, the steep decline in prices, which have dropped 57 percent since the middle of 2014, is not expected to have a major impact on overall employment figures. The source explained that, even if layoffs occur in the sector, many of the workers will likely transition to stronger industries, like construction.

Accounting, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Placement Annoucements

Krissy Whitaker & TRG Accounting and Finance Complete Successful Search

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(Richmond, VA) January, 26 2015 – Krissy Whitaker and the TRG Accounting & Finance Search Division are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of our recent Controller search for a highly respected nonprofit organization serving the Richmond community since the 1930’s. Our client engaged us to help them identify, attract and hire an accounting leader, who shared a passion for community involvement.

Because we are continually working with top talent, our team could quickly identify an exceptional player in the Richmond market. We introduced a talented financial professional who offered both technical accounting knowledge in the nonprofit world and a personal drive to contribute to the organization. 

The new controller was a highly recommended individual from our network and her references were impeccable.  She will prove to serve as a valuable asset to the organization and the community. She will become an integral player with the leadership team and the overall continued success of the organization.

Should you desire additional information about this successful search or about our firm please contact Krissy Whitaker, Director of the Accounting & Finance Division at 804-285-2071 or email Krissy at krissy@richgroupusa.com 

US News

Solar industry experiences employment growth

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Solar industry

Solar industry

The solar industry in the U.S. has been experiencing significant growth lately, according to a survey released by The Solar Foundation.

The source reported that the field grew by 22 percent nationally over the course of 2014. About 55.8 percent of the new positions created last year were installation jobs. Over 18 percent were in manufacturing, while nearly 12 percent came from sales and distribution. Project development positions represent 8.7 percent of the growth, while over 5 percent of positions created fell into the miscellaneous category.

Over the past five years, employment in this sector has nearly doubled. In 2010, the solar industry employed 93,000 Americans, while today it has a workforce of 173,807. The growth that occurred in 2014 was widespread throughout a number of demographics, explained the report. Over 21 percent of those hired were women, compared to 18.7 percent in 2013. About 16.3 percent were Hispanic or Latino, representing a .7 percent increase from the previous year, while hiring among Asian workers jumped from 6.7 percent in 2013 to 7 percent in 2014. Additionally, employment grew by .1 percent among black workers over the course of 2014.

This growth is largely attributed to a more environmentally conscious America.

“It’s just really indicative of a very strong, increasingly mature, increasingly specialized and consolidated and global industry,” Andrea Luecke, executive director of the Solar Foundation, told The Washington Post.