Michel Cournoyer

France / Struggling to get back to work

As Mr Hollande approaches the anniversary of his election next month, his approval ratings languish at a measly 27%. No president has fallen faster or further in the first year of office and no doubt it is unemployment that weighs on those poll figures. With the economy stalled and the government planning some 60bn euros … Continue reading →

Australia / The IT skills crisis

Australia’s IT sector pours $42 billion into the economy every year. But industry groups say there’s nowhere near enough skilled workers to make that happen. They’re describing it as a skill crisis and say without more workers, Australia will lose business to innovators overseas. Transcript ELIZABETH JACKSON: Australia’s IT (information technology) sector has warned that … Continue reading →

UK / Could be forced to take jobless immigrants from around Europe

BRITAIN could be forced to accept unemployed migrants from the rest of Europe, Brussels chiefs declared yesterday. The European Commission said there was “no evidence” that they would take jobs from British nationals. It also insisted that immigrants should have the same access to benefits as people already living here — and even be shown … Continue reading →

India / Jobless Growth ? (Video)

Job Search Approach: the “spray-and-pray” approach or the “investment” approach ?

While trolling the Internet awhile back, I came across an article about two different marketing strategies: the “spray-and-pray” approach and the “investment” approach. To me, the expression “spray-and-pray” — using tactics like mass mailouts, ads on the side of buses, and bombarding email in-boxes, then sitting back and praying someone will notice and respond — … Continue reading →

Twinkies are coming back

Twinkies are coming back from the dead, and the Indianapolis Hostess plant on Shadeland Avenue is expected to be fired up again.  Additionally, the Columbus plant may be used as a distribution center. “Well they need to be out here [because] no one can take their place,” said former employee Kevin Townsend. “That’s for sure.” … Continue reading →

AOL Music Is Closing

AOL employees revealed Friday on Twitter that news website AOL Music and properties associated with it will close and employees in the division will be immediately laid off. Spinner, a rock news website under the AOL Music umbrella, tweeted (and then deleted) this message to its 48,000 followers: “Hey guys. Just found out from AOL … Continue reading →

US / Middle Class More Anxious than Aspirational poll says

While the American middle class is still optimistic about getting ahead, they have become increasingly fearful that they may fall behind, according to poll results by The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) and National Journal. The 16th quarterly Allstate-National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll focuses on the American middle class and seeks to uncover important insights about … Continue reading →

Gen Y / The largest generation in American history in the cradle

The nearly 3.7 million American babies born in 1982 weren’t special, except to their families. But in the eyes of demographers, they were categorically different from the 3.6 million Americans born in 1981. They were the first members of a new club: Generation Y. This so-called millennial cohort, the largest generation in American history, landed … Continue reading →

Spain / Co-operatives create 8,000 new jobs while unemployment hits record level

At a time when more then six million people are unemployed across Spain, co-operatives have managed to not only maintain, but also increase the number of jobs by 7.2 percent in the third quarter of 2012. By contrast, the unemployment rate in Spain has reached 27.2 per cent, the highest since 1976. Although it has … Continue reading →

Spain / Should the euro be abandoned ?

The mind goes numb. Spanish unemployment jumped by another 237,000 people in the first quarter to 6.2 million, or 27.2 per cent. The country is losing 3581 jobs a day. There are 1.9 million households where no member of the family has a job. The unemployment rate has reached 36.8 per cent in Andalusia, Spain’s … Continue reading →

France / Hollande will miss job target poll says as unemployment hits record level

An overwhelming majority of French people believe President Francois Hollande’s government will fail to reduce record high unemployment this year, a poll showed on Friday. The government is clinging to the Socialist leader’s pledge to revert a relentless unemployment rise even as data showed on Thursday that more people were jobless than any time on … Continue reading →

UK / Capgemini to create 500 new jobs

French call centre operator Capgemini has said it will create 500 new jobs in Inverness over the next three years. The company employs about 500 people in the Highlands at the moment and more than 120,000 worldwide. First Minister Alex Salmond, who attended the jobs announcement in Inverness, described the move as “immense”. Capgemini is … Continue reading →

US / The Skills Gap is good for technical college graduates

Tabetha Moore was a year away from earning her associate’s degree in human resources when a local manufacturing company gave her a full-time job in her field and agreed to pay for her last two semesters of school. The 21-year-old hasn’t yet negotiated the salary she’ll earn after obtaining her diploma from Fox Valley Technical … Continue reading →

Sri Lanka / Youth unemployment one of the highest in the world, especially for young females

The World Bank’s flagship report World Development Report 2013 highlights the burning issue of youth employment in Sri Lanka, especially among females. Jesko Hentschel, Co-Author and Deputy Director of the World Development Report 2013: Jobs said, “One of the biggest challenges facing Sri Lanka is to improve women’s employment opportunities, especially for the young female … Continue reading →