Tomorrow is Labor Day, a holiday that recognizes and honors American workers for their contributions to the country. As a national holiday, most of these workers will take the day off to celebrate–unfortunately, for many, this Labor Day will be just like any other day because they have no job to take time off from.
While many Americans will celebrate tomorrow with one last summer barbeque or a trip to the beach, others will be scouring internet job boards and working on their cover letters as usual in the hopes of finding employment. So whichever group you may fall into, let’s take the time to recognize that the U.S. worker is up against quite a few obstacles and examine what finding a job takes these days.
Local and National Unemployment Rates
Today, the national unemployment rate rests as 9.1 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, the number of people who have been unemployed for under 5 weeks decreased by 387,000 in July, though the number of long-term unemployed remained steady at 6.2 million (44.4 percent of the total unemployed population).
(click map for larger view)
Where are the Jobs? Industries Hiring in 2011
According to PayScale.com, there are six industries that are ramping up hires this year. Below is a look at where you’re likely to find open positions:
- Health Care: This is one industry that won’t go anywhere, as people will always need health care and jobs can’t be outsourced to other countries.
- Federal Government: It’s been estimated that 600,000 federal employees will need to be hired by 2013 due to retiring baby boomers and a host of new government programs.
- Human Resources: Most employers can’t hire without a Human Resources department to facilitate the process.
- Manufacturing: Apparently, manufacturing decreased so much during the economic downturn that rapid rehiring must take place as production in this industry ramps up once again.
- Energy: Green jobs are growing due to stimulus funding, but traditional energy sectors, like petroleum, are expanding, too.
- Education: The inner cities are in need of teachers, and while most states required a teaching certificate to get a job, many don’t now.
Tips for Finding Work in Today’s Economy
Even if you’re settled into a job, you likely know someone who’s looking for work. Here are a few tips you may not have considered that could make finding employment a little easier:
- Network Online: Job opportunities grow exponentially when you increase the number of people who know you’re looking. One of the easiest ways to put yourself out there is to create a LinkedIn profile (if you don’t already have one) and let your connections know you’re interested in a new position.
- Get More Training: Studies have shown that a piece of the unemployment problem is a lack of qualified employees. Find out if there is job training or skill sets you’re currently lacking that would make you a much more attractive candidate for the type of job you want.
- Improve Credit: It may not seem fair, but many employers judge job applicants by their credit scores. Unemployment may be the reason your credit took a hit in the first place, but do your best to improve your credit standing while looking for work.
Getting a job today may not be easy, but persistence will eventually lead to work. Whether or not you’re currently looking for employment, enjoy your Labor Day and take the time to recognize America’s hard workers.
forget America and go to another country for a job.
there is no other choice…
Credit score is pure Bullsheet. Most jobs require a force that
could have a score of zero and be just fine. Who need stellar
credit to flip a burger. Too many things look at this and its
irrelevant
This is a pure fluff piece written by someone who knows nothing about being unemployed, and the story is actually harmful to those who are. Casey, just how would you recommend that someone who is unemployed and struggling can improve their credit score, or get more training? It galls me that this kind of pap continues to be published, especially that written by someone who should count their lucky stars that they have employment, given their complete lack of journalistic ability.
There will be no jobful sustainable U.S. recovery until trade is fixed. They broke it to maximize shareholder wealth as quickly as possible. They killed the golden goose because they weren’t satisfied with golden eggs that were the richest in the world. Now we have a 1/2 a trillion a year trade deficit.
Of course decertifying public employee unions, reforming tort, getting rid of the endless amounts of red tape and fees on small businesses (especially startups), etc… needs to compliment fixing trade.
what a pathetic article… you would think that the author could at least give up to date information… really…stats from may 2011???
This article is truly worthless:
I’m on LinkedIn, have been for a year … no worthwhile contacts from it.
I’ve received more training, in fact, I earned a Master Degree in Accounting in May from a major university … no interest in my new “skills”.
My credit score is above 780.
I’ve been in job search mode for an accounting position for 10 months without success. This author has simply repeated information from every other article about finding a job and produced an uninformative and repetitive piece that passes for journalism today. Where are the interviews with successful jobseekers? Where are the facts and figures that prove these suggestions are truly helpful? How about some real insight into the issue Casey Bond.
Hmmm, Get more training and improve credit score. Both require money the unemployed don’t have.
There will be no jobful sustainable U.S. recovery until trade is fixed. They broke it to maximize shareholder wealth as quickly as possible. They killed the golden goose because they weren’t satisfied with golden eggs that were the richest in the world. Now we have a 1/2 a trillion a year trade deficit.
Of course decertifying public employee unions, reforming tort, getting rid of the endless amounts of red tape and fees on small businesses (especially startups), etc… needs to compliment fixing trade.
Oh and MOST people not working for government are NOT in a union. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions was 14.7 million in 2010. When you remove government union employees, the number left was 6.9 million in the entire country. Can we run a country with only 6.9 million people in the private sector employed? Of course not! This myopic focus on unions needs to end. Decertify the public ones first. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm
A one sure way to create new jobs in America is to entice big and small business with the one thing that always works …………..low cost labor…….this is true at all levels of the business world. The last national level demonstration of this theory was when NAFTA opened the doors of Mexico and Canada to emigrants both legal and illegal. This open door policy brought hoards of eager workers across the border which created one of our nation’s largest housing boom. However, being uncontrolled, an excess of building caused an unnatural demands on our banking system. And to make it worst, 10 million workers and their families remained in the US compounding our problems. So, where am I going with this article? It just might be possible to turn this negative into a positive………….. What if we were able to take this alienated labor force and use it to stimulate the job market! Think about it …… we can’t effectively export 15 million people after the barn door was left open by greedy business practices for so long……. Why not use this work force to make our country as strong if not stronger than it ever was? These are not undesirable people. They are industrious, basically honest and law biding, and want a better life than they were born into. These are the type of people that can put a backbone in our economy! They are willing to sacrifice to better themselves and their family. Sure they work for less than we are accustomed to. What’s wrong with that? Every business needs a majority of ground level employees for manufacturing and processes. With the hiring of these ground level employees the business will need higher level employees at the supervision and administrative levels. So, how do we make this happen? By developing a program that allows these alienated people to sign up for the right to work in our country as long as they : register , pay taxes to our government, and obey all laws while they are here. We don’t have to give them Citizenship, just a right to work! If we do this, we will add 10 million workers to our economy, reap the benefit of taxes from 10 million workers, bring millions of unemployed US citizen into the labor force because of business growth, and have these alienated people pay for the many citizen benefits they are using such as: schools, medical, and social services. They might not be given Voting rights , and all the Protection that a Citizen processes, but I know they would be satisfied to have a job and the ability to provide for their family in the World’s greatest country!
The need to rename it to OUTOFWORK DAY
I work at a local airport, I talk to business owners all the time. Yes they need help but they can’t get anybody to work. The ones they do hire are drunk most of the time or they have to go to court.
“Improve Credit”
Well, actually, the state of Illinois made such a practice illegal, and passing this law has helped many get back to work. Illinois’ law should be seen as a model for other states; possibly the country as a whole, considering that many companies these days seem nearly bankrupt themselves because they are using tax avoidance schemes which effectively avoid investment into R&D in the US.
A person’s ability to finance shouldn’t usurp a person’s ability to successfully accomplish “work” which may qualify asresearch, manufacturing something, or other labor. Pushing papers around and moving money from one account to the next hardly qualifies as real “roll-up-your-sleeves” labor.
But those who are unable to finance because they make a decision to not to give up control to financial institutions should be seen as pillars of society, and ushered to the front of the line for not being tempted to take out a loan they don’t need for crap they can’t afford, which will inevitably be paid for out of your children’s inheritance. I.e. Third mortgages and reverse mortgages come to mind.
Here’s the law:
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=8737
But the main thing is this–
If the political environment isn’t favorable for the type of work you are best qualified for, and you’re forced to file bankruptcy, keep your car, pay it off, and then get a number of recommendations from people you helped along your journey through financial hell.
And if that still doesn’t work, call your state and national representative, tell them to provide incentives for manufacturing jobs (or whatever type of job your qualified for) and in the same communication, let them know about Illinois’ law, which was passed as “Illinois House Bill 4658″ and tell them it’s a good start, but in order for it to be more effective, only the industries listed should have a waiver” and leave it at that.
Because here’s the thing- every company has email and any watercooler discussion, phone call, or Facebook update could possibly be considered “confidential”. And should the lawyers get involved, they need a reset too- because we all need good jobs with pensions, healthcare and a retirement. And the more complex the legislation, the more people are excluded from working, and that hurts us all.
Happy Labor Day
Thanks for your comments everyone. The problem of unemployment is obviously a huge issue in our country and one that sparks a deeply emotional reaction. I hope those of you who need work find it soon.
@LongTerm Unemployed
I have actually been unemployed–not too long ago either–and it sucks. I’m well aware.
Instead of the usual “revise you resume” or “try monster.com” I’m simply bringing to light addtional factors that affect your chances of finding a job that many people aren’t aware exist.
I am, however, very grateful that my lack of journalistic ability landed me a gig as the editor of a very popular national website. How did that happen?
@phil
Only the map I provided for your viewing pleasure uses data from May. All the statistics in this article are as current as possible. Perhaps you should contact the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and let them know they need to update their data for you.
@RWindle
That tip is from personal experience. I actually know several people who were recruited via LinkedIn, one of whom wasn’t even looking for work.
Also, I didn’t say simply having a Masters will guarantee you a job. Employers are looking for applicants with more relevant education and skills, not more expensive. Congrats on the great credit though.
@Val Shires
Interesting point, though I wonder how long it would take for the positive effects of hiring illegal immigrants to trickle down to actual U.S. citizens who need a job. Also, do you think it’s really ethical to use these workers to save our economy but disregard them when it comes to things like voting rights and medical care?
@CMR
Wow. You would think that people who are lucky enough to find a job would at least try to show up sober…or not get arrested.
Hello Casey,
I apologize for making my comments personal, I am not familiar with your work other than this article. Attacking the messenger is something I never should have done; however the message is deeply flawed.
For starters, the lede sentence ends with a preposition. The second paragraph follows with a reference to “quite a few obstacles” the worker “is up against,” but just links to a story that regurgitates unemployment statistics, mentioning nothing about the very real obstacles faced by the unemployed. It then states that the story will “examine what finding a job takes these days,” although the article does not even come close to an examination or analysis of what it takes to find a job.
That is followed by a graphic with four-month-old employment data.
The next section is a repeat of information from another source, listing industries hiring in 2011. Well, just because the industries are hiring doesn’t mean that there are anywhere near enough jobs to meet the demand, although the implication is that the jobs are out there for the taking. And by the way, the information is stale – the “green” jobs supposedly created by the stimulus money are disappearing. Perhaps you hadn’t covered the story about the solar panel factory that closed in California last month after receiving $500 million in stimulus funds just last year.
Then you list three “tips” for finding work in today’s economy:
Networking: sorry, but this is generally ineffective, especially for the long-term unemployed (why would working professionals want to network with unemployed “losers” who are just looking for a job?)
Get more training: Right. Being long-term unemployed means not only being broke, but having to use all of your time looking for work, in addition to trying to survive. Imagine trying to do homework when you’re trying to figure out where to park your car / home for the night, or are consumed with worry over unpaid bills and a failed career. Not to mention paying for the education – it’s not free, and is generally unattainable to the long-term unemployed.
Improve credit: To think that someone who has little or no income to cover a mountain of bills that were accumulated while he or she was gainfully employed can improve their credit rating is so disconnected from reality that I don’t even know where to start explaining how incorrect and insulting this is. At least you recognize that credit ratings have been used as a hiring decision, which is one of the factors that finally makes the long-term unemployed unemployable.
And that is why the last paragraph’s statement “Getting a job today may not be easy, but persistence will eventually lead to work” is so very wrong. It implies that the unemployed aren’t being persistent enough in looking for work, which shapes attitudes that the unemployed are where they are because they’re not trying hard enough.
Let me tell you Casey, there is a downward spiral that occurs after being unemployed for a period of time, which often results in an unemployed person becoming unemployable, and results in a total loss of everything in that person’s life – home, material possessions, family. That is why the light and incorrect treatment of this very serious topic pushed my buttons. And again, I apologize for making it personal.
We actually look for people on Linkedin all the time to fill new positions. You get to see where they have been and their skills as well as other information you can’t get off a resume or job board.
Thank you for mentioning that, Wally. It’s hard to tell from reading headlines how many employers will absolutely not hire the long-term unemployed (as is commonly reported), so posting one’s job information on a networking site can cut both ways. I’m very glad to hear that you focus on a person’s experience and skills rather than their lack of recent work history.