Some Good News for Job Seekers

With more than 15 million people out of work, unemployment reached 9.8 percent in September, 2009, the highest in 26 years. There were six unemployed people for every job opening across the United States. Even with an up tick in business, joblessness continues since hiring tends to lag behind increased production, even if business and new orders keep rising. Businesses are more reluctant than in the past to start the hiring process. They need to know that the recession really is over and demand for goods and services is increasing. Job seekers are also looking for some positive signs, and there are some positive signs on the horizon.

Recovery.gov is reporting that businesses which received federal contracts from the stimulus allocations have created or salvaged about 30,000 jobs. The contracts are part of the spending authorized under the $787 billion federal stimulus package. This spending will also include about 100,000 grants and loans. Regions benefiting from this stimulus money include Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland which are among the choice states for contracts awarded. To see which businesses are receiving stimulus money, go to Recovery.gov.

The Partnership for Public Service, which assists in finding candidates for federal jobs, posted anticipated new hires between now and 2012. All totaled, the government is expected to hire 600,000 people. These new hires include 19,071 nurses at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 9,800 border patrol agents at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 3,774 criminal investigators for the Department of Labor (DOL), 6,282 contract representatives at the Treasury Department, and 3,500 claims assistants and examiners at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Federal officials are recruiting nationwide to fill these jobs.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) plans to hire 1,690 people. These new hires include foreign service personnel to work on construction and diplomatic issues in developing nations. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to hire about 460 individuals to include engineers in charge of building new nuclear reactors.

To search for these jobs, go to USAJOBS.

The key to finding a job in this tough market is flexibility. Job seekers cannot just look for jobs they want; they must also look for jobs that they are capable of doing. This may involve rethinking their skills set and even relocating. Some employers will pay for relocation expenses.

Only about one-fourth of the $787 billion stimulus money has been allocated so far. Government outlays will certainly increase. Innovative new companies are coming to market in the areas of robotics, life sciences, solar energy, biotechnology, and synthetic fuel production. As business conditions improve and companies are able to react to increased demand for goods and services, more hiring will follow. An economic turnaround is predicted by the second quarter of 2010.

Sources:
Alec MacGillis, "30,000 Stimulus Jobs, Many in D.C. Area, Reported," The Washington Post
V. Dion Haynes, "Federal Hiring Boom Would Benefit D.C. Area," The Washington Post
James C. Cooper, "Business Is Lean, Fit, and Ready To Grow," Business Week