Chemical, Engineering, Manufacturing, US News

Cautiously Optimistic

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The job outlook blooms slightly this April with the employment rate dipping below 7.5 percent and the economy adding 165,000 new positions. It is time to remain cautiously optimistic this progress will continue. Historically staffing slows during the vacation months of summer due to conflicting schedules and unavailable interview participants. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of firms have job requisitions and/or postings for positions that have remained open since last year. Employers are having difficulty filling multiple positions leading to an overworked staff. It is time to buckle down over the next 6-8 weeks to accomplish 2013 staffing levels. 

Other positive news is that candidates are more enthusiastic and interested in seeking out new opportunities today than they were a few years ago.  Yet employers are frustrated when they cannot find the right talent. There must then be a disconnect with the job opening and the candidates who are lining up to meet the employer. Candidates are frustrated because they are being dismissed for only narrowly missing the criteria for the job. Employers are also spending more time on the hiring process.  Reducing the time to fill a job and being more flexible on the job requirements will increase the company’s success filling open positions.

Monthly BLS Report

BLS Employment Situation Report: April 2013

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The United States economy added 165,000 new jobs in
April, as the unemployment rate dropped again to a new
post-recession low of 7.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The job growth exceeded analysts’ expectations
that the economy would add approximately 140,000 jobs during the
time period. Further, jobs figures have been revised sharply up for
February and March by a combined 114,000. February’s adjusted total
now stands at 332,000 new positions added – the largest
one-month increase since May 2010. March’s employment numbers were
revised up to 138,000, 50,000 more than originally reported.

The strongest performing industries in April included business
and professional services, restaurants, retail trade and
healthcare, which added 165,000, 38,000, 29,000 and 19,000 jobs,
respectively. The public sector was the largest drag on national
employment, as federal, state and local governments cut 11,000
jobs in April as the effects of the sequester continued to be
felt.

Educational attainment remained an important factor for
employment prospects. The unemployment rate among those who only
had a high school degree was 7.4 percent, whereas workers with some
college or an associate’s degree had a rate of only 6.4
percent. Employees with a bachelor’s degree fared the best,
with unemployment rates almost half the national average at 3.9
percent.

Fewer workers dropped out of the labor market during April, as
opposed to the previous month when the 0.1 percent drop in the
unemployment rate was largely attributed to discouraged
workers – those who are available to work but who have
stopped looking for work because they believe there are no
positions available for them. They do not count toward unemployment
figures because, like other potential workers who are marginally
attached to the labor force, they have not sought employment during
the last four weeks. There were 2.3 million marginally attached
workers in April, 835,000 of which were classified as
discouraged. Though the marginal attachment rate was almost
unchanged year-to-year, the number of discouraged workers declined
by 133,000 from the previous April. The remaining marginally
attached individuals had discontinued their job
search for reasons such as school attendance or family
responsibilities.

Though the numbers are widely regarded as a positive sign
and fears of a spring slow-down have been relieved, finding
full-time work remains difficult for many in the workforce. The
number of people classified as involuntary part-time workers
increased by 278,000 to 7.9 million nationwide. Involuntary
part-time workers are those who cannot find full-time work or who
have had their hours cut down. The process to replace jobs
lost during the Great Recessions remains gradual, as the economy
lost 8.6 million positions during the economic downturn, 6.2
million of which have returned.

However, the stronger than expected jobs numbers in April,
combined with the drastic upward revisions in February and
March, indicate that the economy is recovering and beginning
to gain steam. The recovery is particularly evident for workers
with a four year degree, as their unemployment rates continue
to come in 3.5 percent below the national average.

Engineering, Manufacturing, US News

Bruce Peacock & TRG Manufacturing Complete Successful Senior Manufacturing Engineer Search

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RICHMOND, May 2, 2013 – Bruce Peacock & The Manufacturing Search Team of The Richmond Group USA (TRG) are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of a Senior Manufacturing Engineer search for a fast growing commercial products manufacturer.

As part of a multi-billion dollar corporation, our client company has an aggressive growth strategy that includes new product launches and strategic acquisitions. Recent significant capital investments into one of their main plants led us to search for a talented and experienced Senior Manufacturing Engineer who has the skills and abilities to provide mentorship to a team of up and coming manufacturing engineers while ensuring their production capabilities continue to grow and improve. This critical position required us to find someone who had the proven technical skills and abilities but also the “x factor” traits such as; the desire to live in the geographical location, strong intrapersonal skills as well as the motivation to join a company and make a long term investment in their corporate objectives and goals. Working closely with the Director of Manufacturing Engineering and the Director of Human Resources, we took on the challenge to find an individual who had hands on experience and possessed the ability to make an immediate impact.

Due to specific qualifications this role required, a comprehensive national search was conducted to uncover and attract a pool of qualified candidates.

The new Senior Manufacturing Engineer will bring the technical strength and communication skills that will not only help with the continued growth of the company, but also help raise the bar for their up and coming employee talent.

US News

Small business owners support increasing the minimum wage

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A strong majority of small-business owners support raising the minimum wage, according to a March 2013 poll of independent entrepreneurs by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research on behalf of Small Business Majority.

This new report is contrary to the stance of sector advocacy group, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), which opposed an increase from the current rate of $7.25 an hour. The NFIB argues that such an increase would cut into already narrow margins experienced by independent owners and cause a net decrease in hiring.

Small business is credited with employing as few as one-third and and many as two-thirds of American’s workforce, reports the Washington Post.

The Small Business Majority poll revealed that 67 percent of respondents support increasing the federal minimum wage and adjusting it yearly to keep up with the cost of living. The results were somewhat surprising since almost half of those surveyed identified themselves as Republicans and were all employers.

“I’m not surprised the poll indicates strong business support for increasing the minimum wage. That’s what our members have told us. It makes good economic sense. A minimum wage increase will boost the consumer demand that spurs businesses to hire and grow,” said Mark Jaffe, CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce.

US News

Data analytics viewed as key to business success

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A joint study by MIT and the SAS institute reveals that 67 percent of companies believe they are gaining an advantage by employing business intelligence (BI) solutions.

The study also notes that some enterprises are doing this better than others, and that broadly they can be understood as existing in one of three categories: innovative, practicing and challenged. Interestingly, even organizations that are challenged in data management can move closer to the innovators by emulating their attitudes, practices and leadership models when it comes to incorporating BI utilities.

According to the MIT/SAS survey, the future of BI is in the midst of transition. Fewer than half the analytical innovators questioned considered their capture, analysis, distribution and use of data very efficient, demonstrating that the field is still in development.

The report recommends increased flexibility among managers and executives.

While the report points to a needs for more data scientists, such professionals can be few and far between in the current economy. Some, like Gartner research VP John Rizutto have called for the creation and development of data stewards to pick up some of the heavy lifting in developing BI models.

 

US News

The vast majority of employers value critical thinking

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More than 90 percent of employers value a demonstrated critical thinking capacity over a degree in a specific undergraduate major, according to a new study by The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)

“No matter what careers students seek, their college education must equip them with intercultural skills, ethical judgment, and a sophisticated understanding of the diversity of our society and of any successful business or organization,” said the president of the AAC&U board of directors Mildred García.

The study also found that almost three quarters of business and non-profit leaders surveyed would recommend a liberal arts education and that 80 percent believe all college graduates should enter the workforce with a solid background in the liberal arts and sciences. Employers also believe that more critical thinking development needs to be part of college education, with 75 percent reporting they would like to see more focus on communication, complex problem solving and applied knowledge in real-world settings.

According to career consultant Andrew Kay, students who major in liberal arts subjects such as English or Philosophy may find they develop an edge in desirable critical thinking skills that will make them attractive to future employers.