Employment Trends by Region: June 2008
Posted on June 28, 2008
Filed Under Career News, Employment Trends, General, Job Search |
By Jennifer Boutell, Careers.Org Contributing Editor
Our international employment/unemployment weather report, for June 2008. The overall economic outlook is a little gloomy, with a few bright spots in Texas, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and in the international arena.
United States:
The Associated Press reported yesterday that congress has approved an extension of unemployment benefits for Americans who have already used up their regular 26 week allotment. Under the plan, unemployed workers will receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits, running through March of 2009. To qualify, workers must have been employed for 20 weeks or its equivalent before their lay off.
In June, The American Electronics Association released its “Cybercities Report” - ranking cities according to the success of their high-tech economy, based on 2006 numbers. According to the report, the Seattle area saw the greatest increase in high tech jobs.
The Washington Post Small Business Blog reported this month on a new study commissioned by the Small Business Administration, finding that small, older businesses contribute more private-sector employment and revenue growth to the economy than younger or larger businesses. Read the whole report here. (PDF)
By State:
California - May unemployment rates climbed by the highest one month increase since the state began keeping records in 1976, with construction jobs accounting for the biggest losses. Silicon Valley jobs and unemployment both increase, with employment above the state average. The San Diego County jobless rate hit a five year high.
Illinois - Unemployment rates up in the Metro-East, where locals worry that a full percentage point increase in one month spells bad news for the area economy. However, new construction may create some short-term gains.
Missouri - May unemployment rates stayed the same, with decreases in business and professional services jobs offset by increases in health care, government, and automobile manufacturing.
New Jersey - Unemployment rates remain flat and slightly below the national average.
Texas - Employment is up by 2.8 percent in the Houston area, where the rise in oil prices benefits the local economy. According to AHN, “machine shops [employ] local community college students at $30 an hour even before the students finish their two-year courses.”
Internationally:
Australia - Employment rates slow and are predicted to slow further as construction rates decrease.
Canada - Unemployment rates skyrocket in Ontario with a 98.5 percent increase in Oshawa workers collecting Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. EI rates decline in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. In British Columbia, declines in the US Housing Market lead to an increase in unemployed forest workers.
Italy - Employment gains slow, with unemployment remaining almost stagnant.
Philipines - Employment gains among Metro Manilla’s top 500 firms.
South Africa - employment rates increase modestly by .1 percent between December 2007 and March 2008.
*photo by Daquella Manera
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