Where Are the New Jobs?

The American economy is gradually regaining strength and, in due course, the sorely needed new jobs will follow. But when is the big underlying question? And, what occupations will return the strongest, adding the greatest number of employees? What retraining of workers will have to take place for these jobs and who will do the training? What additional course-work will be required to prepare those just entering the workforce? What regions of the country will emerge as the recipient of these jobs and what migration of workers will be required – so they are in the right place at the right time?

We are probably all aware that there are about 15 million people unemployed at present, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), equaling about 10% of the total labor force. It is imperative to note that this figure does not include the approximately 11 million people who have either expended all unemployment benefits and/or have given up looking for jobs - many out of work for years. So the critical challenge will be to matchup these 26 million workers (in total) and the new entrants to the labor pool each year (of which there about 3 million) to these jobs, in the locations where they will emerge.

The BLS states that there are twenty occupations which will account for more than one-third of all new jobs between now and 2018. It is remarkable to note (due in a large part to the aging of the baby-boomers) that one-half of the fastest growing occupations are related to the healthcare industry. Some of the occupations, which will add the most new jobs in this period, are: Registered nurses 581,500; Home health aides 460,900; Customer service representatives 399.5; Personal and home care aides 375.8, Retail salespersons 374,700; Office clerks (general) 358,700; Accountants and auditors 279,400; Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 276,000; Postsecondary teachers 256,900; Construction laborers 255,900, and Elementary school teachers 244,200. The remainder can be on the BLS’s Web site.

The twenty fastest rate of growth professions (not the largest number of employees added but highest growth rate) are Biomedical Engineers, Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts, Home Health Aides, Personal and Home Care Aides, Financial Examiners, Medical Scientists, Physician Assistants, Skin Care Specialists, Biochemists, and Biophysicists. These jobs will require an associate degree or higher for 12 of the occupations; whereas 6 are in the on-the-job training category; 1 is in the work experience in a related occupation; and 1 in the postsecondary vocational degree category. Eleven of these occupations earn at least $10,000 more than the National annual median wage, which was $32,390 last year. Nine of the occupations earned at least twice the National median wage.

There is some good news in that many of the occupations that will add the most new jobs are "people" related, e.g. healthcare, retail sales, customer service, office clerks, etc., which will be added in large, urban centers and will not necessitate the costly movement of people from across the country. The “specialty” professions may require a move, but moving costs are more likely to be reimbursed by the recruiting company. As mentioned, 12 of the professions with the highest growth rates will require associate or higher degrees. So the unemployed or underemployed workers may want to consider adding a degree or certification to their resume and set their sites on one of these fields of interest. This may be much easier said than done, as it's difficult to pay for more education when you are at the rock bottom of your earning potential, but it may crucial to do once you start a new or temporary job. There may be some government grant money available for retraining under one of the current jobs recovery acts.

All employees in the future are going to have to be more “proactive” than they have been previously. You will go nowhere by saying it would be wonderful to be a Network Systems Analyst and then hope positions become available – and somehow you find out about them. You must research an occupation first, for its’ range of opportunities, and then set a goal to get the required education completed. You should also focus on a specific organization (or three or four) and perhaps get to know them (by taking a lesser or temporary position). This will give you much needed visibility with them as well.

The rule of all job searches is to network with colleagues, former colleagues, classmates, trade association members, and civic organizations to learn of opportunities in field(s) of your interest and in the area you want to live. In the networks you develop, there is bound to be someone who knows an insider in a company you have targeted. Your resume can be presented to the recruiting department head and not just be placed in a stack of the hundreds received.

There is an entrepreneur in many of us and quite a few of the professions listed provide new opportunities for small companies or employment contracts. These include the fast growing occupations of computer consulting, network administration, home health aides, personal and home care aides, information technology, and others. The large company trend of outsourcing services gives you the opportunity to create a new business around one of these services, where you have expertise. You have to take charge of your own career. Jack Welch, author and former Chairman and CEO of GE states, “Take charge of your career of someone else will.” It is more important than ever to be proactive in planning, networking, and getting the best educational experience you can - for securing jobs now and in the future.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of “5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track,” available on Amazon.com. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working on facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com

Politicians Lack Vision and Common Sense for Tax Break Compromise

The definition of compromise is “something accepted rather than wanted.” The self-interests of politicians trump what is good for the country (in many instances) and nets, us the citizens, something not wanted and not in our long-term interests. Politicians are typically so tainted with their own agendas (of getting re-elected) that they see issues only in “black or white.”

Let’s take the debate on extension of the Bush tax cuts. Both Republicans and Democrats are so hell-bent on winning that they have failed to see the real issue and best-interest compromise for the country. There are 25 million businesses in this country – with only 27,000 having more than 500 employees. These medium and large-size companies, as a whole, have been stagnant in job growth over the past two decades. Where new jobs have come from, and pulled the country out of the past recessions, is from small businesses. From entrepreneurs who have ideas for businesses, start small, and then add employees as their businesses begin to make money. This “sweet spot” of job creation is generally funded by the founder, perhaps with some loans, but typically not by the so-called rich folks.

The “black and white” issue addressed here is that there is a big difference between a small business owner moving up in tax brackets, to a combined income of over $250,000, compared to people earning $1 million a year all the way up to tens or hundreds of millions a year. If the small businessperson knows the government is going to take half his earnings in taxes (combined state and federal), he or she has no incentive to grow their business. When George Soros, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or Bill Clinton espouse the position that the rich should be taxed more, I doubt there is anyone who would disagree – even coming out of a recession. Because they don’t typically invest in small businesses – their holdings are in large corporations – the business segment that hasn’t had a net gain in jobs in two decades.

There is an obvious compromise here, so easy to see by anyone who has studied the job market and jobs growth history. It is to realign the tax brackets. What makes lumping the combined wife/husband income of $250,000 in with the same tax bracket of George Soros sacrosanct? Why not give the small business owner the ability (funds) to grow their business and add employees? Why not keep the tax cuts in place for those with incomes below $500,000 or even $750,000 to give them the confidence to reinvest in their businesses? And terminate the tax cut for higher incomes (the true rich in our society), who invest in big business – which has shown no signs of job growth, in the aggregate, for decades?

The American public is solidly behind the premise of not burdening our children and their children with a national debt that will erode their quality of life, and perhaps be so deep that we (nor they) can never dig our way out of it.

Politician’s need to study our own Department of Commerce statistics on jobs creation and make a common sense compromise – not one (illogically) perceived to get their party re-elected.

Richard S. Pearson is the Author of “5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track,” available on Amazon.com. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working on facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com