Wednesday, July 9, 2008

BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence decisions of government officials, business people, and individuals. These statistics provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy. The data on are drawn from featured BEA economic accounts.




(Click on image to expand)


To learn more go to: http://bea.gov/newsreleases/glance.htm

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Social Security Verification Upgrade

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

To register or learn more go to: www.uscis.gov/E-Verify

Friday, June 20, 2008

Skilled Worker Shortage Report

ATS recently released a report highlighting the impact of the pending worker shortage. This is not just a Central Illinois issue - but we could become leaders in finding a solution.

ATS Survey

Friday, May 23, 2008

Goldman Sachs - BRIC Report - Amazing!

Goldman Sachs, a global investment firm, has spent considerable resources developing a report about what countries will dominate the global economy. Some of the report is almost five years old but still holds relevant information. The question is - What can Central Illinois to capitalize on the new markets?

(excerpt from Goldman Sachs web page)
The results are startling. If things go right, in less than 40 years, the BRICs (BRIC - an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies together could be larger than the G6 in US dollar terms. By 2025 they could account for over half the size of the G6. Of the current G6, only the US and Japan may be among the six largest economies in US dollar terms in 2050. The list of the world's ten largest economies may look quite different in 2050. The largest economies in the world (by GDP) may no longer be the richest (by income per capita), making strategic choices for firms more complex.

To learn more go to: http://www2.goldmansachs.com/ideas/brics/index.html

Monday, May 19, 2008

Around the World in Eight Charts

http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has put together a great report comparing/contrasting the U.S. to other countries. The first report highlights youth unemployment rates. I think it would be great if the U.S. and/or Peoria focused more on developing apprecenticeship programs. The report covers other topics too.

BLS provides information on employment, unemployment, productivity, compensation costs, and other labor-related measures for countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia and the Pacific.

http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/

Monday, April 28, 2008

Employment Trend: Intern First, Then Full-Time Hire

Increasingly, employers are looking to their internship programs to find new employees, according to results of a new survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Results of NACE’s 2008 Experiential Education Survey show that emphasis on hiring from the intern program is growing. Employers reported that nearly 36 percent of the new college graduates they hired from the Class of 2007 came from their own internship programs, up from 30 percent from the Class of 2005.

In addition, “more interns are getting offers of full-time employment,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. “Currently, employers say they extended job offers to nearly 70 percent of their interns; in 2001, they offered jobs to 57 percent.”

The trend toward using the internship program to feed hiring is fueled, in part, by employer satisfaction with interns and internship programs. “Nearly 90 percent of employers who use their programs to hire say they are very or extremely satisfied with their interns, and employers consistently name the internship program as one of the most effective tools they have for hiring new college graduates,” says Mackes. “Employers see results with these programs.”
Survey findings also indicate that interns who become full-time hires are more likely to stick with the organization than their co-workers who didn’t go through the program: More than one-third of employers (37.3 percent) reported higher retention among those converted from intern to employee within the first year of hire, and nearly half (48.8 percent) said former interns had higher retention five years after hire.

Not surprisingly, employers expect to add to their intern numbers this year: Respondents project a 3.7 percent increase in the number of interns they bring on in 2007-08, building their pool of potential full-time hires for next year.

About the NACE 2008 Experiential Education Survey: The NACE 2008 Experiential Education Survey was conducted from November 21, 2007, through January 11, 2008. Surveys were provided to 1,189 NACE employers members; 311, or 26.2 percent, responded. www.naceweb.org

Peoria County, Illinois 2006 Workforce Article


Contributed by Matt
In Peoria County, Illinois, the total employment throughout all industries has increased by 3.5%, or 3,475 jobs, from 2001 to 2006. From the 140 3-digit NAICS industries, 21 did not experience any change, 55 reported job growth in the duration of the last five years, and 64 industry sectors reported declines during the time period.
Of the industries (3-digit NAICS) in the area, the Professional and technical services industry has brought the most jobs with a total of 7,570 total jobs brought in during the period. The growth in Professional and technical services makes up
3.8% percent of the growth in Peoria County, Illinois.

Top Growing Industries:
1. Professional and technical services (7,570 new jobs)
2. Executive, legislative and general government (2,313 new jobs)
3. Credit intermediation and related activities (1,608 new jobs)
4. Hospitals (1,357 new jobs)
5. Administrative and support services (671 new jobs)
From of the area's 3-digit NAICS industries, the Food services and drinking places industry faced the greatest employment loss with a total loss of 1011 jobs. The declines in Food services and drinking places makes up 2.9% percent of the total job loss in Peoria County, Illinois.
Top Declining Industries:
1. Food services and drinking places (1011 jobs lost)
2. Postal service (636 jobs lost)
3. Nursing and residential care facilities (386 jobs lost)
4. Support activities for transportation (273 jobs lost)
5. Fabricated metal product manufacturing (233 jobs lost)
eCanned - The Economy in a Can
http://www.ecanned.com/V2
Powered by Joomla! Generated: 28 April, 2008, 10:37

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Trade Assistance Adjustment for Firms

What is Trade Adjustment Assistance?
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a U.S. Department of Commerce program designed for manufacturers adversely affected by imports. This program offers 50/50 cost sharing of projects aimed at improving a firm's competitive position, up to a total of $150,000 in projects with a maximum TAA cost share of $75,000. The amount the program can costshare is dependent upon the demand on program, funding level and company size and sales. Funds are applied toward the cost of consultants, engineers, or other outside professional service providers a firm chooses to implement projects such as:

MANUFACTURING

  • ISO/QS 9000 Preparation & Registration
  • Quality Assurance
  • Product Development, Design & Testing
  • Product Certification (CE Mark, UL etc)
  • Operations Analysis
  • Manufacturing Technology Review
  • Productivity Improvement
  • Process Engineering
  • CAD/CAM Selection & Implementation

MARKETING

  • Market Research
  • Marketing & Sales Strategy
  • Advertising/Sales Promotion/Brochure Design
  • Web Site Design
  • Distribution Analysis & Development
  • Distributor & Sales Representative Search
  • Export Development

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

  • Hardware/Software
  • System Conversion & Enhancements
  • Custom Programming
  • Integrated Manufacturing Systems
  • E-Commerce

FINANCIAL AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT

  • Profit Planning/Cash Management/Budgeting
  • Debt Restructuring
  • Cost Management
  • Quality Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Expansion, Diversification & Executive Search
  • Succession Planning

What are the eligibility requirements for Trade Adjustment Assistance?

To qualify, a manufacturing firm must have lost some domestic business to imports, and experienced sales and employment declines over the last two years.

How does a firm apply?

Interested firms should contact their local Trade Adjustment Center (TAAC) to get started. A TAAC professional will initially assess the eligibility and prepare an application on a firm's behalf. To find the nearest TAAC and more information, visit www.taacenters.og

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Workforce Development gets $2 million grant

PEORIA - The U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $2 million grant last week to Peoria's Workforce Development office that's expected to help bridge the area's health care gap.
As a growing medical center, the Peoria area is expected to add more than 4,000 health care jobs over the next six years. The resulting worker shortage, particularly among technicians, medical assistants and nurses, calls for increased training, noted Workforce officials.
The Central Illinois Health Care Community Job Training Grant will provide training for 120 people who will receive an associate's or master's degree through the program or move from being a licensed practical nurse to a registered nurse.

The Peoria award was one of 69 grants announced across the nation as part of the Bush Administration's $125 million community-based job-training program.

"The Peoria grant is designed to improve the ability of community colleges to provide workers with the skills needed to compete in the workplace," said Jennifer Kaplan, a Labor Department spokeswoman speaking from her office in Washington, D.C. "The basic idea here is to provide as much education for the workforce as possible."

Workforce will annouce how individuals may apply for the grant money in the near future.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Spring 2008 Career Fair

Careers 2008!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Northwoods Mall

Workforce Development in conjuncntion with the Journal Star (http://www.pjstar.com/) and Northwoods Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=188) are offering the areas best job fair. The event allows area businesses access to job seekers from across the Central Illinois Region.

Businesses that would like to learn more may contact Ben Brewster, bbrewster@workforcenetwork.com or 309-495-8931.

Participating businesses include:

  • Addus Health Care
    Advanced Quality Solutions
    Affina
    B. Moss
    Brickford House & Brickford Cottage
    Build-A-Bear Workshop
    Caterpillar
    CDL Training
    Christopher Banks
    City of Peoria, 911 Dispatcher
    City of Peoria, Fire Department
    City of Peoria, Police
    Comcast
    County of Peoria
    Evonik Goldschmidt Corp
    Excel Foundry
    Express Employment Professions
    Graham Hospital
    Hotel Pere Marquette
    Illinois Air National Guard
    Illinois Welding School
    Job Corps
    Journal Star
    Kay Jewelers
    Lutheran Hillside Village
    Macy's
    Manpower
    Marquette Group
    MetLife
    Midstate College
    Morton Welding Co.
    New Horizons
    OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
    Par-a-dice Hotel & Casino
    Pekin Insurance
    Primerica Financial Services
    Progressive Housing Inc.
    Riverview Health & Care Center
    Trade Home Shoe
    Trillium Staffing
    Trinity Services
    Uftring Autogroup
    Washington Division of URS
    Workforce Network
    Xpac

State of Working Illinois Report

The 2007 State of Working Illinois Report is an honest, comprehensive review and forecast of the Illinois economy. The report was produced by:
1. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
2. Office for Social Policy Research, Northern Illinois University
3. Center for Government Studies, Northern Illinois Univserity

To review the executive summary and complete report go to:
http://www.stateofworkingillinois.niu.edu/swil/index.html