San Antonio Government Jobs See Biggest Yearly Gain

As overall employment in the city saw a monthly increase and yearly decrease, San Antonio government jobs saw the biggest jump when compared to last year.

Although the November unemployment rate for San Antonio has not yet been released, the city has managed to maintain a relatively low unemployment rate compared to most other cities throughout the country. The city's unemployment rate has wavered between 7 percent and 7.1 percent since July.

San Antonio had a total non-farm employment of 849,200 workers during November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 846,800 workers during October and only a .7 percent decrease from last year.

Four industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: trade, transportation and utilities by 2,100 jobs; professional and business services by 800 jobs; other services by 300 jobs; and government by 400 jobs.

Employment in the mining and logging, manufacturing, information and education and health services industries remained even at 3,500 workers, 42,100 workers, 19,800 workers and 122,800 workers, respectively.

Five industries managed to see a yearly increase in employment, with the government industry adding the most jobs. That industry employed 158,300 workers during November, up from 157,900 workers during October and a 2 percent increase from last year.

The other services industry saw the second biggest increase in employment, up 1.9 percent from last year, followed by the leisure and hospitality industry with a 1.2 percent increase, the financial activities industry with a .3 percent increase and the education and health services industry with a .1 percent increase.

The manufacturing industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 42,100 workers during November, the same as during October, but a 9.1 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• mining and logging by 7.9 percent
• construction by 2.3 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 1.3 percent
• information by 4.3 percent
• professional and business services by 2.7 percent

Only San Diego Government Jobs See Yearly Increase

Although the area's unemployment rate decreased and more jobs were added over the month, only San Diego government jobs saw a yearly increase in employment.

During November, the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos area saw its unemployment rate decrease from 10.5 percent to 10.3 percent, following an increase from 10.4 percent during October. Despite that decrease, the area's current rate is still slightly higher than the national unemployment rate of 10 percent.

The San Diego area had a total non-farm employment of 1,251,000 workers during November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 1,246,500 workers during October, but a 3.3 percent decrease from last year.

Four industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: trade, transportation and utilities by 3,400 jobs; professional and business services by 800 jobs; education and health services by 500 jobs; and government by 1,200 jobs. Employment in the mining and logging and information industries remained even at 300 workers and 37,300, respectively.

The government industry was the only one that managed to add jobs when compared to last year. The industry employed 227,900 workers during November, up from 226,700 workers during October and a .1 percent increase from last year.

Employment in the mining and logging industry remained even when compared to last year, while employment in the education and health services remained even at 137,500 workers and employment in the other services industry remained even at 48,600 workers.

The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 65,200 workers during November, down from 65,500 workers during October and a 9.3 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• manufacturing by 7.6 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 4.3 percent
• information by 4.8 percent
• financial activities by 2 percent
• professional and business services by 4.5 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 4.2 percent

Future Texas Tech Jobs Get Scholarship Funding

State officials are doing their part to ensure there are enough workers to fill the tech jobs Texas will have to offer in the future.

Gov. Rick Perry recently announced creation of the STEM Challenge Scholarship, a $100 million initiative through Texas State Technical Colleges to help students pursuing degrees and certificates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields receive the education they need.

The challenge will focus on providing competitive awards to regional partnerships between higher education institutions, school districts and local employers. The ultimate goal of the program is to attract, retain and graduate STEM students.

"Accelerating the number of college students graduating in a high-tech field is essential to maintaining a globally competitive workforce," Perry said. "This scholarship program will encourage higher education institutions to design STEM programs that meet local employer needs, while providing Texas students the opportunity to pursue the education they need as they fulfill their potential."

The State of Texas already has an incentive program that provides $80 million to universities to increase the number of students who graduate, especially those in STEM fields. Perry also has proposed $60 million in additional measures to strengthen STEM education.

Part of that effort would expand the Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program to 50 more schools, increasing the number of students taking AP exams and certifying more AP teachers.

Another proposal is to expand the UTeach program, which recruits college students to become math and science teachers, to five additional higher education institutions. That move would create 2,000 jobs for STEM teachers during the next five years.

A final measure would double the number and scope of Texas's T-STEM academies from 46 to 92, which would in turn significantly increase the number of students attending those academies.

"Texas must intensify its efforts to recruit, retain, and graduate students in STEM fields to ensure we stake our claim in the 21st century economy," Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes said. "The governor's STEM Challenge Scholarship will prove to be an invaluable tool for helping Texas achieve its goals for closing the gaps by 2015."

Nashville Healthcare Jobs Potentially Created by Signature Healthcare

One company could soon create several Nashville healthcare jobs if it chooses to move its headquarters to the city.

Signature Healthcare LLC, a long-term care provider based in Florida, is considering Nashville as a possible location for the company's new corporate headquarters. The company also is considering moving to Louisville, Ky., or remaining in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

According to an article by The Tennessean, the company will evaluate the incentives offered by each city before making a decision. If Signature Healthcare moves, it would result in 100 employees relocating and the creation of 50 new jobs within the next three years.

Signature Healthcare also will base its decision on the availability and quality of potential job candidates, the company's ability to grow and provide new services, the potential for partnerships with universities and other institutions and operating costs.

While officials in Tennessee have yet to verify any incentives, Signature Healthcare could receive a 6.5 percent credit against sales-and-use taxes if the company makes capital investments of at least $10 million and creates 150 jobs that pay about $40,000 per year.

Officials in the State of Kentucky have already given preliminary approval of up to $4 million in tax benefits for up to 10 years if the company creates 121 news jobs with an average salary of $40 per hour. The state also will offer Signature Healthcare a tax-exempt financing option if the company purchases a building for its headquarters.

Signature Healthcare currently operates 66 nursing homes in seven states, 22 of which are located throughout Tennessee, including Donelson Place Care & Rehabilitation Center in Nashville, Montgomery Care and Rehabilitation Center in Clarksville and Signature HealthCARE in Columbia.

The added jobs would only improve the Nashville area's prosperous healthcare industry, which has managed to see a monthly and yearly increase in employment, despite the current economic recession.

The Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin area's education and health services industry employed 112,200 workers during October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 112,000 workers during September and a .5 percent increase from last year.

State of Nevada Jobs Decline

More State of Nevada jobs were lost during October. Visit http://nevada.jobing.com to learn more.

During October, Nevada saw its unemployment rate decrease from 13.3 percent to 13 percent, following an increase from 13.2 percent during September. Despite the decrease, the state's current rate was still higher than the national unemployment rate at the time of 10.2 percent.

Nevada had a total non-farm employment of 1,174,800 workers during October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 1,179,700 workers during September and a 6 percent decrease from last year.

Five industries saw a monthly increase in employment, including: mining and logging by 100 jobs; information by 100 jobs; financial activities by 1,000 jobs; education and health services by 1,200 jobs; and other services by 100 jobs. Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry remained at an even 307,600 jobs.

Only one industry managed to add jobs on a yearly basis. The education and health services industry employed 99,400 workers during October, up from 98,200 workers during September and a 3.4 percent increase from last year.

The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 82,100 workers during October, down from 82,600 workers during September and a 26.9 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• mining and logging by 2.4 percent
• manufacturing by 7 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 3.3 percent
• information by 5.4 percent
• financial activities by 3.3 percent
• professional and business services by 5.5 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 6 percent
• other services by .8 percent
• government by 3.4 percent

Orlando Hotel Jobs with Westin Available

A small number of Orlando hotel jobs will soon be available.

Officials at the Westin Lake Mary Orlando North, a $50 million hotel that opened during November, recently announced that the facility plans to add 15 more staff members during 2010. The hotel currently employs about 150 workers.

Steven Ragsdale, general manager of the hotel, told the Orlando Business Journal that the company will need to hire new staff next year as the hotel enters the busy business travel season.

"After we get past the (traditionally slow) holiday season, we expect to pick up our staff to about 165 total employees," he said.

The available jobs will include positions at all levels of the hotel, including guest services and cleaning staff. Workers at the hotel earn anywhere between $20,000 and $40,000 per year.

It is currently a questionable time to open a new hotel and expand staff numbers. Smith Travel Research found that during October, the Orlando area had a hotel occupancy rate of 57.5 percent, which is a decrease of 8.7 percent from last year. At the same time, room rates decreased by 14.6 percent to $91.36.

However, the Orlando area is willing to take its chances. Rich Maladecki, president of the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, said new hotels such as the Westin not only create jobs for local workers, but also provide the area "with something fresh to attract individuals from outside locations."

Recent figures show that the area could certainly use the added jobs. Although the Orlando-Kissimmee area saw its unemployment rate decrease from 11.6 percent to 11.4 percent during October and managed to add 1,800 jobs during the month, the area has seen a 4.5 percent decrease in employment since this time last year.

In particular, the area's leisure and hospitality industry employed 193,100 workers during October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 192,000 workers during September, but a 2.1 percent decrease from last year.

Phoenix Construction Jobs Created by Federal Funding for Weatherization

Federal stimulus money is continuing to create much needed Phoenix construction jobs and help make the city a greener place.

The Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department previously received $7.2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help fund the city's Weatherization Assistance Program. Officials recently announced that so far, about 400 homes are being weatherized using those funds, with several more homes soon to follow.

"This is just the beginning," Jerome Miller, director of the Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department, said. "We will continue to put these federal dollars to work to provide maximum benefit to the residents of Phoenix."

The city's Weatherization Assistance Program is available to low-income residents who meet specific criteria and homes are tested to determine eligibility. The types of work available include: sealing duct systems; insulation; cooling and heating systems; repairing appliances with carbon monoxide emissions; and lowering heat-gain through windows and doors.

"This program is a win for everyone," Mayor Phil Gordon said, "creating jobs in the construction industry and helping realize my goal of making Phoenix the ‘greenest’ city in the nation."

The construction industry in Phoenix has been hit hard by the current economic recession. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area's construction industry employed 101,400 workers during October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 103,100 workers during October and a 24.6 percent decrease from last year.

As of the end of September, a total of $139 million in contracts had helped to create or save about 657 jobs in Arizona. While that may seem like a large number, naysayers think it is only a small number compared to the total number of jobs the stimulus is expected to create throughout the state.

Overall, Arizona is expected to receive about $14.6 billion in federal stimulus money, but so far the state has only seen about 1 percent of that. However, President Barack Obama has estimated that the stimulus could help create or save 70,000 jobs throughout the state, including indirect benefits from provisions such as tax cuts and extended unemployment benefits.

White House officials recently reported that the stimulus has created or saved anywhere from 600,000 jobs to 1.5 million jobs throughout the country.