President Obama came to Pittsburgh on Friday to announce a new initiative to ramp up American manufacturing.
The President toured Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Institute before speaking to a small audience of invited guests about his vision for American manufacturing.
He announced the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. This new initiative will bring together the federal government, industries and universities, such as Carnegie Mellon, to invest in and increase the production of emerging technologies.
The president’s plan will invest more than 500 million dollars to build domestic manufacturing capabilities in national security industries, increase energy efficiency in manufacturing and ultimately keep jobs in those fields in the US.
"And the purpose of this partnership is to prove that the United States of America has your back, is going to be supporting you – because that’s the kind of adventurous, pioneering spirit that we need right now," he said.
His visit also attracted several protesters, curious onlookers and Obama fans. They congregated on sidewalks in Lawrenceville in hopes of a glimpse.
Listen to his speech here.
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
President Obama to Visit Pittsburgh, Announce Manufacturing Initiative
President Obama will be in Pittsburgh Friday to discuss American manufacturing.
President Obama is expected to tour Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Institute before announcing the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. This new initiative will bring together the federal government, industries and universities to invest in and increase the production of emerging technologies.
Carnegie Mellon will be one of the universities involved as will be locally based Allegheny Technologies. The initiative will be led by Andrew Liveris, the Chairman and President of Dow Chemical and Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This initiative came about a little over two years after the President formed an advisory group - the President's Advisory Council on Science and Technology. Eric Lander was co-chair of the council. He says the US serving as a leader in advanced manufacturing is critically important. "Advancing on manufacturing based on new technologies can provide high quality, good paying jobs for American workers. 2nd, manufacturing and innovation are intimately connected. Keeping manufacturing locally helps facilitate more innovation here in The United States. And third, investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities that use advanced technologies is absolutely vital to maintaining national security," he said.
The president’s plan will invest more than 500 million dollars to build domestic manufacturing capabilities in national security industries, increase energy efficiency in manufacturing processes and ultimately keep jobs in those fields in the US.
President Obama is expected to tour Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Institute before announcing the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. This new initiative will bring together the federal government, industries and universities to invest in and increase the production of emerging technologies.
Carnegie Mellon will be one of the universities involved as will be locally based Allegheny Technologies. The initiative will be led by Andrew Liveris, the Chairman and President of Dow Chemical and Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This initiative came about a little over two years after the President formed an advisory group - the President's Advisory Council on Science and Technology. Eric Lander was co-chair of the council. He says the US serving as a leader in advanced manufacturing is critically important. "Advancing on manufacturing based on new technologies can provide high quality, good paying jobs for American workers. 2nd, manufacturing and innovation are intimately connected. Keeping manufacturing locally helps facilitate more innovation here in The United States. And third, investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities that use advanced technologies is absolutely vital to maintaining national security," he said.
The president’s plan will invest more than 500 million dollars to build domestic manufacturing capabilities in national security industries, increase energy efficiency in manufacturing processes and ultimately keep jobs in those fields in the US.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
PA Unemployment Falls a Notch
Although the state’s unemployment rate dropped only slightly from April to May, the number of jobless Pennsylvanians has decreased 1.3% from this time last year.
In what Department of Labor & Industry spokesman Christopher Manlove calls a “mixed bag” of statistics, resident employment fell by 6,000, but the number of unemployed residents was also down by 7,000 over the past month. The unemployment rate slid .1%, to 7.4%.
Manlove says nine of the eleven job “supersectors” have gained jobs over the past year, but eight of them lost ground from April to May. However, he says it’s important to consider that fact in a broader context.
“The decrease in May jobs followed an April increase of 23,900, and that was the second-largest gain in Pennsylvania jobs since 1997,” says Manlove. “So when you see that kind of very large increase followed by a considerable decrease, it could be that it’s due to a shifting seasonal pattern.”
But the Keystone Research Center says the loss of 14,000 jobs in May "raises serious concerns" about a renewed weakness in the economy, both nationally and on a state level.
"With unemployment still high and economic growth slow going, the economic climate in Pennsylvania is translating into severe hardship for tens of thousands of unemployed and underemployed workers across the state," says KRC Labor Economist Mark Price.
Price says state lawmakers should "tap all available revenues" to limit budget cuts and save state-funded jobs.
The Government supersector has experienced the largest yearly drop, losing 33,100 jobs since May 2010. The only other division to experience a yearly decline was Financial Activities (comprising real estate, banking, and insurance jobs); that supersector lost just 100 jobs.
Manlove says the Mining & Logging division continued to gain jobs, making it the fastest-growing sector in the state. He says that is due in large part to Marcellus Shale-related industries.
In what Department of Labor & Industry spokesman Christopher Manlove calls a “mixed bag” of statistics, resident employment fell by 6,000, but the number of unemployed residents was also down by 7,000 over the past month. The unemployment rate slid .1%, to 7.4%.
Manlove says nine of the eleven job “supersectors” have gained jobs over the past year, but eight of them lost ground from April to May. However, he says it’s important to consider that fact in a broader context.
“The decrease in May jobs followed an April increase of 23,900, and that was the second-largest gain in Pennsylvania jobs since 1997,” says Manlove. “So when you see that kind of very large increase followed by a considerable decrease, it could be that it’s due to a shifting seasonal pattern.”
But the Keystone Research Center says the loss of 14,000 jobs in May "raises serious concerns" about a renewed weakness in the economy, both nationally and on a state level.
"With unemployment still high and economic growth slow going, the economic climate in Pennsylvania is translating into severe hardship for tens of thousands of unemployed and underemployed workers across the state," says KRC Labor Economist Mark Price.
Price says state lawmakers should "tap all available revenues" to limit budget cuts and save state-funded jobs.
The Government supersector has experienced the largest yearly drop, losing 33,100 jobs since May 2010. The only other division to experience a yearly decline was Financial Activities (comprising real estate, banking, and insurance jobs); that supersector lost just 100 jobs.
Manlove says the Mining & Logging division continued to gain jobs, making it the fastest-growing sector in the state. He says that is due in large part to Marcellus Shale-related industries.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Legislators Push for E-Verify System
State Representative John Galloway (D-Bucks) and other state legislators are urging Governor Tom Corbett to sign an executive order that would implement the E-Verify program that ensures state workers are legal citizens.
A bill authored by Galloway has sat in the legislature for some time now, mostly being held up in the Senate after overwhelming bipartisan support in the House. Representative Eugene Depasquale (D-York) says the legislature has been too slow.
“With the budget being such a primary focus of the legislature we need this executive order now. So many bills were being told, ‘Well we’re going to have to wait for the fall to deal with that, we’ve got to get through the budget.’ Well, Pennsylvania workers can’t just wait until the fall, they need this executive order now so the middle class recovery can begin in Pennsylvania.”
Galloway’s bill would not only require the verification of current and prospective state agency employees but in addition, it would require any state contracted worker to be eligible for employment through E-Verify.
“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state of Pennsylvania has over 140,000 employees. We have every right to expect that these are legal American workers,” Galloway says.
The E-Verify system is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was recently adopted by executive order in Florida. An executive order would bypass legislative approval, but can be overturned by the next governor more easily than legislative statute. Virginia and Idaho also use the E-Verify system.
Monday, April 18, 2011
First Class of Marcellus Shale Program Ready to Enter Field
The Community College of Allegheny County has completed its first three-week course to prepare students for jobs in the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry.
The intensive course met five days a week and through industry support and input, has prepared 10 students for an entry-level career setting up and maintaining oil and natural gas well sites. The free course is non-credit, but will not affect students chances of being hired. CCAC’s interim Vice President of Workforce Development says many companies in the industry hire from within so those workers can be making around $80,000 within a few years.
The program includes a number of different aspects including safety training, first aid, hands-on work, hazardous materials training, and team cooperation, in addition to working with heavy equipment at a training site the school rented from Westmoreland County Community College.
Savolskis says CCAC provides the essential first step of education in this area.
“One of the disadvantages that we have in this region is this industry hasn’t been here before in any significant numbers. So we’re having to get people who are interested in the industry, we’re having to lay that foundation for them so that was also part of the training,” she says.
Savolskis says her role is to provide relevant education opportunities to prepare workers for every new industry field that arises. She expects another intensive course similar to this to be available, but likely not for free as this graduating class was.
“I think we are at an advantage. I definitely think that if there is a market we would continue to offer the courses, I mean that’s what we do we go on market demand for the training because our goal is at the end of the training we want you to get a job.”
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Local Group Says Economy Good in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance on Tuesday released data that they say shows economic gains for the region.
Speaking at a meeting held in downtown Pittsburgh, Dennis Yablonsky of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development said there were 272 new development deals in the 10 county Southwestern Pennsylvania region that generated about $1.5 billion in capital investment. With those developments come the promise of more than 20,000 new jobs although according to Labor and Industry statistics, only 4,000 new jobs were created last year.
"The labor and industry statistics are jobs that have been created up until this point. These job numbers are projected job numbers. So when a company says we're gonna do an expansion project, we're gonna add 40 jobs and spend a million dollars in capital, those jobs may be created over the next one, two or three years," said Yablonsky.
The Regional Alliance keeps track of projected job gains from year to year but does not follow up to see if those predictions proved to be accurate.
Speaking at a meeting held in downtown Pittsburgh, Dennis Yablonsky of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development said there were 272 new development deals in the 10 county Southwestern Pennsylvania region that generated about $1.5 billion in capital investment. With those developments come the promise of more than 20,000 new jobs although according to Labor and Industry statistics, only 4,000 new jobs were created last year.
"The labor and industry statistics are jobs that have been created up until this point. These job numbers are projected job numbers. So when a company says we're gonna do an expansion project, we're gonna add 40 jobs and spend a million dollars in capital, those jobs may be created over the next one, two or three years," said Yablonsky.
The Regional Alliance keeps track of projected job gains from year to year but does not follow up to see if those predictions proved to be accurate.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Dems Say Plan Could Generate 30,000 Jobs
State Senate Democrats are introducing a package of new bills they say could spur the Pennsylvania's economy.
The Democrats say their economic plan would create nearly 30-thousand new jobs, by consolidating Pennsylvania's job training programs so they're all under one agency, and expanding tax credits to small businesses.
Minority Leader Jay Costa says he thinks the package can become law, even though Democrats are in the minority.
"When it comes to matters, I think one of my colleagues says this is about jobs. It's not about Democrats and Republicans. When they're good ideas, I think they're good ideas to everyone. And I think that's what we've put together here: a series of good ideas to allow us to work closely with them. We've provided the governor and some other folks copies of this. We will be sharing it with our Republican colleagues."
Caucus leaders want to use unspent state grant money to generate more private investment in new projects, like infrastructure repairs.
Senator Vince Hughes of Philadelphia says the recent gas explosion in Allentown is the latest sign the state's roads, bridges and pipe lines need to be fixed.
"In many respects they're miles and miles and miles of steel-cast systems running beneath our cities and towns and communities, driving out natural gas. And they're old, and they're breaking down, and unfortunately they're causing tragic accidents."
The Democrats also want to close tax loopholes and adjust corporate tax rates, to provide additional funding for the initiative.
Many of their proposals have failed in previous sessions, but the Democrats and the Corbett Administration agree on a few points, like privatizing more state-owned resources to fund infrastructure repairs.
The Democrats say their economic plan would create nearly 30-thousand new jobs, by consolidating Pennsylvania's job training programs so they're all under one agency, and expanding tax credits to small businesses.
Minority Leader Jay Costa says he thinks the package can become law, even though Democrats are in the minority.
"When it comes to matters, I think one of my colleagues says this is about jobs. It's not about Democrats and Republicans. When they're good ideas, I think they're good ideas to everyone. And I think that's what we've put together here: a series of good ideas to allow us to work closely with them. We've provided the governor and some other folks copies of this. We will be sharing it with our Republican colleagues."
Caucus leaders want to use unspent state grant money to generate more private investment in new projects, like infrastructure repairs.
Senator Vince Hughes of Philadelphia says the recent gas explosion in Allentown is the latest sign the state's roads, bridges and pipe lines need to be fixed.
"In many respects they're miles and miles and miles of steel-cast systems running beneath our cities and towns and communities, driving out natural gas. And they're old, and they're breaking down, and unfortunately they're causing tragic accidents."
The Democrats also want to close tax loopholes and adjust corporate tax rates, to provide additional funding for the initiative.
Many of their proposals have failed in previous sessions, but the Democrats and the Corbett Administration agree on a few points, like privatizing more state-owned resources to fund infrastructure repairs.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Pittsburgh Unemployment Down
The US Department of Labor’s, Bureau of Labor Statistics, says the unemployment rate in the seven-county Pittsburgh region came in at 7.1% in December of 2010. That was lower than the national average of 9.1% and the state average of 8.1%. None of the numbers are seasonally adjusted. All of those numbers are lower than they were in December of 2010 when national unemployment stood at 9.7%, and unemployment in the Pittsburgh Region was at 7.8%.
Within the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, the city of Pittsburgh notched a 7.5% unemployment rate in December 2010, while Allegheny and Butler counties lead the way at 7.1%. Fayette and Armstrong counties in the region were the only counties in the region with rates higher than the national average. They posted 10.2% and 9.5% respectively. Bureau of Labor Statistics Mid-Atlantic Spokesperson Shelia Watkins says it is not a surprise to see higher rates in the more rural counties. “Pretty typical is that in your more rural counties, there has been a reduction, a lot, in the Retail Services and Trades areas, so you will see a reduction in employment for those reasons.”
Westmoreland County posted 8.0% unemployment, Washington County saw 7.7% and Beaver posted a 7.4% rate. While all of the rates were better than they were a year ago, Watkins points out that they all lag the rates seen in December of 2008.
Watkins says among the sectors leading the region in job gains was Mining and Logging, Construction, Education and Health Services and Professional and Business services. Work in the Marcellus Shale formation has been linked to pushing rates in all of those categories other than Education and Health Services.
Watkins says like the nation as a whole, the recession in the Pittsburgh region began in December of 2007 and unemployment hit its trough in June of 2009.
Within the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area, the city of Pittsburgh notched a 7.5% unemployment rate in December 2010, while Allegheny and Butler counties lead the way at 7.1%. Fayette and Armstrong counties in the region were the only counties in the region with rates higher than the national average. They posted 10.2% and 9.5% respectively. Bureau of Labor Statistics Mid-Atlantic Spokesperson Shelia Watkins says it is not a surprise to see higher rates in the more rural counties. “Pretty typical is that in your more rural counties, there has been a reduction, a lot, in the Retail Services and Trades areas, so you will see a reduction in employment for those reasons.”
Westmoreland County posted 8.0% unemployment, Washington County saw 7.7% and Beaver posted a 7.4% rate. While all of the rates were better than they were a year ago, Watkins points out that they all lag the rates seen in December of 2008.
Watkins says among the sectors leading the region in job gains was Mining and Logging, Construction, Education and Health Services and Professional and Business services. Work in the Marcellus Shale formation has been linked to pushing rates in all of those categories other than Education and Health Services.
Watkins says like the nation as a whole, the recession in the Pittsburgh region began in December of 2007 and unemployment hit its trough in June of 2009.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Group Aims to Diversify Workforce
The Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative held their monthly meeting on Tuesday. The non-profit organization works to diversify the workforce in the region.
The meeting, titled, Riveting Diversity, attracted a few dozen people. They listened to Paul Hawkins, a consultant speak about how diversity can make companies more profitable.
Neal Homles, president of the group says a diverse community doesn't necessarily equate a diverse workforce. He says he works with a few dozen companies in making sure their workforces represent the diversity of the region- including racial, religious, age, gender and socio-economic class.
He added that diversity growth is an ongoing process.
"I would never lead any company or organization to think this is something that's a one-quick fix solution. Diversity will continue to evolve," he said.
The meeting, titled, Riveting Diversity, attracted a few dozen people. They listened to Paul Hawkins, a consultant speak about how diversity can make companies more profitable.
Neal Homles, president of the group says a diverse community doesn't necessarily equate a diverse workforce. He says he works with a few dozen companies in making sure their workforces represent the diversity of the region- including racial, religious, age, gender and socio-economic class.
He added that diversity growth is an ongoing process.
"I would never lead any company or organization to think this is something that's a one-quick fix solution. Diversity will continue to evolve," he said.
Friday, January 7, 2011
CCAC and Employers Cooperate to Fill Jobs
Unemployment across the nation dropped to 9.4% in December down from 9.8% the previous month. Employers added 103,000 jobs but economists say the jobless rate dropped in part due to people giving up searching for work.
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is offering programs and certifications that correlate with job openings in the Pittsburgh area. A report by the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB) found the top occupational "clusters," which represented 50 percent of online job postings. Charles Blocksidge, executive director of the CCAC Allegheny Workforce Alliance says, "Management, Computers, Technology, Office Administrative Support and Healthcare" jobs are in demand for the future.
CCAC's Career Specialists cooperate with employers by telling them of the qualified graduates. "That's the key component: to make that linkage. If employers have opportunities and their looking for individuals with those kinds of skill sets we always tell [employers] that if you need someone with particular, specific set of skills that we're able to produce those individuals."
CCAC has 170 educational programs, not including those offered in the Dislocated Workers Program which offers those who have lost their jobs because of the economic recession the opportunity to become educated without charge.
Blocksidge says that we can match [graduates'] skill sets with job opportunities if we know where they are and what the demand is." Registration is closed for the Spring 2011 semester, but Summer Registration is in February and March.
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is offering programs and certifications that correlate with job openings in the Pittsburgh area. A report by the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB) found the top occupational "clusters," which represented 50 percent of online job postings. Charles Blocksidge, executive director of the CCAC Allegheny Workforce Alliance says, "Management, Computers, Technology, Office Administrative Support and Healthcare" jobs are in demand for the future.
CCAC's Career Specialists cooperate with employers by telling them of the qualified graduates. "That's the key component: to make that linkage. If employers have opportunities and their looking for individuals with those kinds of skill sets we always tell [employers] that if you need someone with particular, specific set of skills that we're able to produce those individuals."
CCAC has 170 educational programs, not including those offered in the Dislocated Workers Program which offers those who have lost their jobs because of the economic recession the opportunity to become educated without charge.
Blocksidge says that we can match [graduates'] skill sets with job opportunities if we know where they are and what the demand is." Registration is closed for the Spring 2011 semester, but Summer Registration is in February and March.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Extended Jobless Benefits to Expire
Nearly 2 million Americans, including 83,000 Pennsylvanians, are set to lose their extended weekly unemployment benefits starting tomorrow, December 1st. That's because Congress has not reauthorized the program that extends the benefits for many jobless up to 99 weeks.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania says reauthorizing the emergency benefits is the right thing to do "to help people get from here to there...meaning a point in their lives where they're jobless to a point where they're back to work. These are folks who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and just need a little help to get over that bridge."
However, there is also no vote scheduled in either the House or Senate. Casey says he and 28 other Senators have circulated a letter calling for a unanimous consent resolution on the floor late this afternoon that calls for a vote on the extension. But if a Senator stands up on the floor and says "no," then the resolution asking for a vote is defeated..."then we have to think of another way to get it done."
Casey says in addition to helping the jobless, there is a bang for the buck even though the cost would add to the deficit........."Goldman Sachs has said expiration of these benefits will cause economic growth to fail by one half of a percentage point...that's a big number. The Economic Policy Institute says extending the benefits would increase the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 7 tenths of a percentage point...that's also a bit number in the context of keeping the recovery moving in the right direction."
Casey rejects suggestions by critics of the program that extending benefits discourages people from looking for work.
Unless Congress acts quickly, beginning tomorrow, people who apply for the first time can expect a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits, while many of those receiving them now will lose them before the 99 weeks are up.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania says reauthorizing the emergency benefits is the right thing to do "to help people get from here to there...meaning a point in their lives where they're jobless to a point where they're back to work. These are folks who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and just need a little help to get over that bridge."
However, there is also no vote scheduled in either the House or Senate. Casey says he and 28 other Senators have circulated a letter calling for a unanimous consent resolution on the floor late this afternoon that calls for a vote on the extension. But if a Senator stands up on the floor and says "no," then the resolution asking for a vote is defeated..."then we have to think of another way to get it done."
Casey says in addition to helping the jobless, there is a bang for the buck even though the cost would add to the deficit........."Goldman Sachs has said expiration of these benefits will cause economic growth to fail by one half of a percentage point...that's a big number. The Economic Policy Institute says extending the benefits would increase the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 7 tenths of a percentage point...that's also a bit number in the context of keeping the recovery moving in the right direction."
Casey rejects suggestions by critics of the program that extending benefits discourages people from looking for work.
Unless Congress acts quickly, beginning tomorrow, people who apply for the first time can expect a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits, while many of those receiving them now will lose them before the 99 weeks are up.
Friday, November 19, 2010
PA's Jobless Rate Dips Below 9%
Pennsylvania’s economy added nearly 16-thousand jobs last month.
The state’s unemployment numbers dropped by 10-thousand last month, lowering unemployment to 8.8 percent....down from 9.0% in September.
The percentage has been above nine since February.
Governor Ed Rendell says his administration can take partial credit for the dip, citing two reasons.
"Number one, the incentives that we have invested into the economy. Investments to promote economic growth clearly work, and they work here in Pennsylvania. And number two, the superb job that Secretary Vito’s department has done in training. Pennsylvania Careerlinks, etc."
Pennsylvania’s statistic is now nearly a full point below the national 9.6 percent unemployment rate.
The figure was at 5.8 percent when Rendell first took office. It dropped below 5 halfway through 2005, and stayed there until early 2008. It hit its high point for the last 8 years in July at 9.3%.
The state’s unemployment numbers dropped by 10-thousand last month, lowering unemployment to 8.8 percent....down from 9.0% in September.
The percentage has been above nine since February.
Governor Ed Rendell says his administration can take partial credit for the dip, citing two reasons.
"Number one, the incentives that we have invested into the economy. Investments to promote economic growth clearly work, and they work here in Pennsylvania. And number two, the superb job that Secretary Vito’s department has done in training. Pennsylvania Careerlinks, etc."
Pennsylvania’s statistic is now nearly a full point below the national 9.6 percent unemployment rate.
The figure was at 5.8 percent when Rendell first took office. It dropped below 5 halfway through 2005, and stayed there until early 2008. It hit its high point for the last 8 years in July at 9.3%.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Local Postal Jobs Open
The United State Postal Service is looking for people to fill several seasonal positions that pay between $11.00 and $17.50 and hour. Tad Kelley is the Post Office spokesperson for the Pittsburgh region. He says the $11.00 jobs involve mail processing, handling and in some cases delivery. Kelley says applicants must be 18 years old or be a high school graduate. The higher paying jobs involve driving a truck and require a Class “A” CDL. Kelley says the jobs usually run out in January and the numbers of hours per week varies.
Applications are being taken on line. Search for Pittsburgh and casual. Search Applicants will not have to take a civil service test but Kelley says they will be asked to take a drug test and will have to pass a background check.
Kelley encourages applicants to get to the website as soon as possible. “We are accepting applications right now, this will go through the end of the month of November,” says Kelley, “We really need to get people on board right away as we are seeing the Christmas mail come early this year and there are a lot of opportunities to gain hours and earn some holiday money.”
Applications are being taken on line. Search for Pittsburgh and casual. Search Applicants will not have to take a civil service test but Kelley says they will be asked to take a drug test and will have to pass a background check.
Kelley encourages applicants to get to the website as soon as possible. “We are accepting applications right now, this will go through the end of the month of November,” says Kelley, “We really need to get people on board right away as we are seeing the Christmas mail come early this year and there are a lot of opportunities to gain hours and earn some holiday money.”
Monday, November 8, 2010
US Airways Begins Callbacks
US Airways says it will be calling back 500 crewmembers in the coming year. The airline says it will need to make the personnel moves in order to deal with planned retirements and projected attrition. Company officials say they will start by recalling employees currently on furlough and will then move on to hiring new crewmembers. The company expects to go through its entire list of flight attendants but it does not expect to get all the way through its list of pilots. The majority of the callbacks are expected to be made by July.
In a written statement, US Airways President, Scott Kirby says, "We look forward to welcoming our colleagues back to US Airways, and bringing new crew members onto the team." The company expects to grow international capacity by 8 percent n the coming year, which will also drive demand for crewmember callbacks. In all US Airways is looking to fill 420 flight attendant positions and 80 pilot positions. A spokesperson for the company says when the recall and new hire process is complete, the airline will have approximately 4,970 active pilots and 7,300 active flight attendants. The airline employs more than 31,000 individuals worldwide with hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix.
In a written statement, US Airways President, Scott Kirby says, "We look forward to welcoming our colleagues back to US Airways, and bringing new crew members onto the team." The company expects to grow international capacity by 8 percent n the coming year, which will also drive demand for crewmember callbacks. In all US Airways is looking to fill 420 flight attendant positions and 80 pilot positions. A spokesperson for the company says when the recall and new hire process is complete, the airline will have approximately 4,970 active pilots and 7,300 active flight attendants. The airline employs more than 31,000 individuals worldwide with hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Dept. of Labor Promotes Older Workforce
This weekend marked the conclusion of National Employ Older Workers Week, an effort by the U.S. Department of Labor to promote the hiring of people 55 and older.
Experience Works administers the Senior Community Service Employment Program in Pennsylvania. The program pays older workers minimum wage for community service work as they receive skills training and job search assistance.
Experience Works Office Administrator Marcia Wilson says while the program helped more than 1,100 seniors in the past year, the need for assistance is growing beyond its scope. Wilson says age discrimination among employers is a contributing factor.
“Whether we like to admit that or not, it is there. And people oftentimes think that an older person either can’t keep up with the younger people, can’t get along with the younger people, can’t learn anything new, or don’t want to do today’s jobs. Those are all myths that we have to dispel.”
Wilson says one area where seniors have an advantage is part-time employment: combined with social security or retirement funds, seniors can thrive on multiple income streams. She says people 55 and older often take these jobs when younger workers turn them down.
Experience Works administers the Senior Community Service Employment Program in Pennsylvania. The program pays older workers minimum wage for community service work as they receive skills training and job search assistance.
Experience Works Office Administrator Marcia Wilson says while the program helped more than 1,100 seniors in the past year, the need for assistance is growing beyond its scope. Wilson says age discrimination among employers is a contributing factor.
“Whether we like to admit that or not, it is there. And people oftentimes think that an older person either can’t keep up with the younger people, can’t get along with the younger people, can’t learn anything new, or don’t want to do today’s jobs. Those are all myths that we have to dispel.”
Wilson says one area where seniors have an advantage is part-time employment: combined with social security or retirement funds, seniors can thrive on multiple income streams. She says people 55 and older often take these jobs when younger workers turn them down.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
50 State Workers to Lose Jobs
Two and a half months after Pennsylvania’s budget was signed into law, eight state agencies are laying off employees. Most departments suffered budget cuts this year, and Governor Ed Rendell had predicted hundreds of layoffs.
However, due mostly to higher-than-usual retirement rates, only fifty state workers are being let go this week.
Office of Administration spokesman Dan Egan says notices went out Monday, but due to seniority and union “bumping rights,” the specific workers losing their jobs might not be known until weeks’ end.
"If they do, it goes to the next employee, who may or may not have a bump, and so on and so forth. So in order for all the furlough notices to go out on – happen by Friday, some need to occur earlier in the week. Which is why we need to announce as early as Monday. To allow for that bumping process."
The cuts come from the Department of Corrections, Education, Health, and Military and Veterans Affairs, as well as other agencies.
The Department of Agriculture, Education and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency also lost workers. Egan says departments had the last few months to figure out their approach.
"They are left to determine how they want to go about absorbing those cuts. Whether they want to reduce programs, reduce staff, try and reduce their operating costs. So those decisions are made in each agency, on how they’re going to absorb their budget cuts. And in some cases, those decisions resulted in individuals being furloughed from the agency."
Friday will be the last day on the job for most of the workers, who will be given up to ten days of paid leave.
However, due mostly to higher-than-usual retirement rates, only fifty state workers are being let go this week.
Office of Administration spokesman Dan Egan says notices went out Monday, but due to seniority and union “bumping rights,” the specific workers losing their jobs might not be known until weeks’ end.
"If they do, it goes to the next employee, who may or may not have a bump, and so on and so forth. So in order for all the furlough notices to go out on – happen by Friday, some need to occur earlier in the week. Which is why we need to announce as early as Monday. To allow for that bumping process."
The cuts come from the Department of Corrections, Education, Health, and Military and Veterans Affairs, as well as other agencies.
The Department of Agriculture, Education and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency also lost workers. Egan says departments had the last few months to figure out their approach.
"They are left to determine how they want to go about absorbing those cuts. Whether they want to reduce programs, reduce staff, try and reduce their operating costs. So those decisions are made in each agency, on how they’re going to absorb their budget cuts. And in some cases, those decisions resulted in individuals being furloughed from the agency."
Friday will be the last day on the job for most of the workers, who will be given up to ten days of paid leave.
Monday, September 6, 2010
"State of Working Pennsylvania"
An annual study of employment and wage conditions in Pennsylvania estimates the jobless rate in the state would be around 14% without the economic policy actions of the Bush and Obama Administrations, Congress and the Federal Reserve. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate for July was 9.3%.
Mark Price, labor economist for the liberal-leaning Keystone Research Center, says the economy is a product of conscious choices..."Federal policy stopped the economic free fall and policy choices at the national and state level will powerfully shape the future healthy of the economy for middle-class families."
Price says before the federal stimulus program Pennsylvania was losing nearly 30,000 jobs a month, and during the first half of 2010 actually added 64,000 jobs.
Price says Pennsylvania is still nearly 300,000 jobs short of full employment and to close the gap in the next 5 years, the state would have to create 7,900 jobs a month, but that's 3 times larger than the average job growth during the last economic expansion.
"The longer people remain unemployed, the greater the risk they will become permanently detached from the labor market. These are folks whose skill will atrophy and they are people who may find it difficult to get a job because an employer will look at their resume and see they've got a big gap in their employment history."
Price says Congress can still take action on legislation that "makes a lot of sense" before the mid-term elections...including a bill to improve credit conditions for small businesses and tax cuts directed at workers and businesses.
Mark Price, labor economist for the liberal-leaning Keystone Research Center, says the economy is a product of conscious choices..."Federal policy stopped the economic free fall and policy choices at the national and state level will powerfully shape the future healthy of the economy for middle-class families."
Price says before the federal stimulus program Pennsylvania was losing nearly 30,000 jobs a month, and during the first half of 2010 actually added 64,000 jobs.
Price says Pennsylvania is still nearly 300,000 jobs short of full employment and to close the gap in the next 5 years, the state would have to create 7,900 jobs a month, but that's 3 times larger than the average job growth during the last economic expansion.
"The longer people remain unemployed, the greater the risk they will become permanently detached from the labor market. These are folks whose skill will atrophy and they are people who may find it difficult to get a job because an employer will look at their resume and see they've got a big gap in their employment history."
Price says Congress can still take action on legislation that "makes a lot of sense" before the mid-term elections...including a bill to improve credit conditions for small businesses and tax cuts directed at workers and businesses.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Onorato Talks Economics at Pgh. Training Center
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato visited a vocational training facility in Pittsburgh today, praising the site as an important part of Pennsylvania’s economic recovery.
The Pittsburgh Job Corps is training about 350 youths in 10 vocational programs, including healthcare, energy, and maintenance. The center also helps students get college degrees from the Community Colleges of Allegheny and Butler Counties.
Onorato says sites like this are part of his four-point plan to turn around the state’s economy.
“One of those four points is making sure that our Votech schools, our community colleges, our training facilities, our four-year degree colleges, that we have curriculums that match the needs of our companies or the industries that we have today and what we expect to have tomorrow,” says Onorato. “When you see placements of 90% to 100% depending on what field here, it’s working.”
The Allegheny County Executive says he also wants to lower the corporate tax, and make the state more attractive to businesses by loosening Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation regulations. He says as governor, he would try to close loopholes that allow corporations to avoid corporate taxes.
The Pittsburgh Job Corps is training about 350 youths in 10 vocational programs, including healthcare, energy, and maintenance. The center also helps students get college degrees from the Community Colleges of Allegheny and Butler Counties.
Onorato says sites like this are part of his four-point plan to turn around the state’s economy.
“One of those four points is making sure that our Votech schools, our community colleges, our training facilities, our four-year degree colleges, that we have curriculums that match the needs of our companies or the industries that we have today and what we expect to have tomorrow,” says Onorato. “When you see placements of 90% to 100% depending on what field here, it’s working.”
The Allegheny County Executive says he also wants to lower the corporate tax, and make the state more attractive to businesses by loosening Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation regulations. He says as governor, he would try to close loopholes that allow corporations to avoid corporate taxes.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Huntington Bank To Move Downtown
185 Huntington Bancshares employees will be moved into the Grant Building next Spring. Sixty new jobs, all in the banking sector, will also be created.
Dave Hammer, Regional President of The Huntington Bank said bringing all of their employees from branches in the the suburbs and surrounding counties will make it easier to conduct business with the existing downtown businesses.
They will also open a branch at this site.
Huntington's lease will last through 2025. The company plans to continue investing money in the region.
Rob Stephany, Director of the URA, said the move will bring another anchor to downtown's renaissance.
Dave Hammer, Regional President of The Huntington Bank said bringing all of their employees from branches in the the suburbs and surrounding counties will make it easier to conduct business with the existing downtown businesses.
They will also open a branch at this site.
Huntington's lease will last through 2025. The company plans to continue investing money in the region.
Rob Stephany, Director of the URA, said the move will bring another anchor to downtown's renaissance.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Displaced Workers Can Get Free Training
If you are over the age of 50, have lost your job and have been in management before, you would qualify for courses at Community College of Allegheny County at Boyce in Monroeville. As part of their dislocated worker tuition waiver program, they are holding a free course in medical office management. It is designed to help workers gain new skills and find new avenues of employment.
The training is being offered through a grant from the Met Life Foundation and Civic Ventures.
Cassandra Hough, a spokesperson for the college said these programs are the direct result of the downturn in the economy. The courses will begin August 17th.
The training is being offered through a grant from the Met Life Foundation and Civic Ventures.
Cassandra Hough, a spokesperson for the college said these programs are the direct result of the downturn in the economy. The courses will begin August 17th.
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