Daily Headlines: What today’s news tells you about tomorrow’s jobs
Toyota recall: As thousands of Toyota owners answer the recall, it is not only likely the demand for skilled mechanics will increase, but also that Toyota owners may rely on call center workers as their first sources of information in navigating their way through this arduous experience. Local dealers are also likely to field more requests for information and scheduling of repairs than usual.
2010 Census: With the turn of another decade comes the taking of the U.S. Census. Temporary workers are in high demand to travel door-to-door so that all Americans are counted. The U.S. Census will employ hundreds of thousands of temporary workers as data entry specialists and managers to keep all the information flowing.
Real estate’s second bubble: While the national U.S. housing market is slow to recover, some communities across the country are seeing home sales increase. As the market improves job opportunities for loan processors and officers, real estate agents, law office staff and insurance personnel are also likely to increase.
Health care: With health care legislation and the need to pay for it being on top of mind for many Americans, job seekers within the health care sector should closely monitor legislation coming from Congress and how it will affect career opportunities. Changes to insurance plans and administration will possibly lead to a need for processors, plan writers and administrators as well as IT personnel to implement the changes to related software.
What are the key economic predictors to watch for?
* A GDP of more than 2 percent indicates temporary staffing opportunities will rise.
* The unemployment rate and job growth are predictors. Consumers feel confident when the job market is expanding. But when job growth contracts to 100,000 or less month to month, the economy is slowing down.
* Index for consumer confidence tells us if consumers will start purchasing again which ultimately impacts jobs. This indicator quantifies consumers’ confidence in the economic situation.
* Institute for supply management’s report on manufacturing sector’s growth determines future economic growth
What do they tell us about jobs?
* Some give us a short term prediction, some are more immediate. Increases in consumer confidence tend to increase jobs in consumer products, i.e. electronics, etc.
* Unemployment still tends to increase slightly at the end of a recession, but temporary positions are increasing substantially at this time.
* Increases in manufacturing indexes tend to increase the GDP which means jobs are going to be created.
What sectors will be hot (and for how long)?
While companies are closely watching the recovery of the economy to ensure it is going to be sustaining, they are also looking at hiring to ensure the health and growth of their businesses long term. Hiring is expected to increase in the following industries in 2010:
- Information technology,
- manufacturing,
- financial services,
- professional and business services,
- health care and
- transportation.
What sectors will take a back-seat?
The non-residential construction sector will still continue to take a back seat for 2010.
Guest post by Shirley Jones and courtesy of Randstad Staffing
