| Make no mistake about it, we're still mired down in | | | | "post-bubble-era" of any market and indicates U.S. |
| the worst job market since the Great Depression of | | | | businesses are slowly regaining their footing, albeit |
| the 1930s, but nonetheless, there are some "silver | | | | not yet at a rate that will reduce the unemployment |
| linings" in the "dark clouds," as is illustrated by recent | | | | rate. |
| (August 2010) economic statistics. Here are four of | | | | 4. For the last three months, approximately 3.8 million |
| those "silver linings" for you to consider: | | | | positions have been filled each month in the private |
| 1. Manufacturing added 36,000 positions during July, | | | | sector and 2.5 million openings have been left unfilled. |
| for a total of 183,000 new jobs since December | | | | No, we're not quite "out of the woods" yet, but I |
| 2009. | | | | believe you'll agree that these very positive economic |
| 2. The professional, management and related | | | | indicators demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt |
| occupation unemployment rate in July was 5 percent, | | | | that we seem to be headed in the right direction and |
| down from 5.5 percent a year ago. The | | | | that the sky isn't exactly "falling," quite yet, either. |
| unemployment rate for college educated workers | | | | Despite this positive news, job seekers today still |
| (those with a bachelor's degree or higher) stood at | | | | need to keep in mind that, even though there are |
| 4.5 percent, down from 4.7 percent a year ago. | | | | jobs being created, there are not enough being |
| 3. Overall, total private sector employment increased | | | | created to put a meaningful dent in the overall |
| for the seventh month in a row, adding 71,000 | | | | unemployment picture. That means today's job |
| positions. The slow, but relatively stable growth of | | | | seeker must do what is necessary to "stand out" |
| private sector jobs over the last seven months is | | | | from the competition, in order to be a viable |
| reminiscent of what would be expected in a | | | | candidate for the positions that are available! |