Job Market Monitor
Michel Cournoyer
Arab region / Youth unemployment highest in the world
Youth unemployment in the Arab region is the highest in the world, according to a report by the U.N. International Labour Organization (ILO) released on Tuesday. The investigative body stated that the Arab uprisings have exposed skewed development policies, social justice deficits and over twenty years of poorly managed economic liberalization. “As a region, youth … Continue reading
India / Unemployable engineers on menial jobs
Seven years ago Raja Kumar, a butcher, did not think twice about mortgaging his land to fund his son’s engineering education. Little did he know that his son Senthil Kumar would pass out four years later learning less than enough to get a job suitable to his level of education. After searching for a job … Continue reading
Fujitsu / To Cut 5,000 Jobs
Fujitsu Ltd., a Japanese maker of computers, network equipment and mobile phones, will eliminate 5,000 jobs and merge its LSI chip business with that of Panasonic Corp. to boost global competitiveness. The venture will design large-scale integration, or LSI chips, and contract out their manufacture, according to a joint statement the companies released yesterday. The … Continue reading
Indonesia / Minimum Wage / 80 percent of Companies request for exemption accepted
Hundreds of companies will be exempt from paying their employees the new minimum wage to prevent bankruptcy, the manpower and transmigration minister said on Thursday. “There are 941 companies requesting the delay of the minimum wage increase, we will grant about 80 percent of them, but please note that the delay was needed as a … Continue reading
US / Academic Library / Hiring
If you do the math, academic librarianship is a growing field. Therese Triumph, Reference Librarian at Rutgers University, and Penny Beile, Associate Director of Information Services at University of Central Florida, did just that, analyzing positions advertised in 2011 on the ALA JobList, ARL Job Announcements, and in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Triumph and … Continue reading
Russia / A Village of Art and Jobs
Quirky art configurations dot a vast, snowy plain: a giant silver cylinder curves upwards into the sky, a wooden ship tosses on an icy sea and long-winged insects cling to a pole. In some ways, the Russian village of Nikola-Lenivets in December looks like Burning Man’s creativity was copied and pasted onto the tundra. The … Continue reading
Canada/ Trade Deal with EU Bad for Manitoba writes the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Recent leaks from the negotiations between Canada and EU confirm concerns that a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) would infringe on Manitoba’s ability to promote economic development and advance public interests. The proposed precedent-setting agreement would expand investor rights and extend the reach of international economic agreements, fully covering for the first time the … Continue reading
India / Railway Protection Force (RPF) to start hiring 18,000 policemen
Almost a decade after an internal survey conducted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) showed that it would require at least 24,000 policemen in its jurisdiction, the nationwide recruitment for 18,000 will begin in June. At present, the force has around 65,000 personnel. However, a senior railway official pointed out that the whole exercise is … Continue reading
HMV / 930 layoffs as 66 stores close
Almost 1,000 HMV staff are facing redundancy as administrators for the failed music store chain revealed they will close 66 shops across the country. The loss-making stores, including all five Edinburgh sites, three in Glasgow and four in London, will close over the next two months and comes as administrators from Deloittes plan to sell … Continue reading
J.C. Penney / Layoffs at headquarters to come
J.C. Penney (JCP) is planning layoffs at its headquarters in Plano, Texas, according to reports Wednesday. The expected layoffs were first reported by the New York Post, which said chief executive Ron Johnson plans a 10% cut of the 3,000 employees who work at the home office. J.C. Penney already let go 600 workers in … Continue reading
DreamWorks Animation / Layoffs to come
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the Glendale-based entertainment company led by Hollywood film veteran Jeffrey Katzenberg, is expected to lay off up to 20% of its 2,200-employee workforce, following a decision to shelve production of the movie “Me and My Shadow.” The animation industry giant, home of the animated “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Madagascar” films, … Continue reading
Uganda: Minimum Wage Board being organized
The Government of Uganda has embarked on the process of constituting a minimum wage board to ensure Ugandans get rational salaries from employers. State Minister for Labour Mwesigwa Rukuntana said the board is being constituted to give the Government advice on how to fix the minimum wage and when to do it. “The board will … Continue reading
US / The Middle Class Retirement Crisis
Retirement security for those currently or recently in the middle class is no sure thing. 49% of the private work force has neither defined benefit (traditional pensions) or defined contribution (401(k)) retirement plans, while public sector pensions are coming under increasing attack. The United States has the highest elder poverty rate, 25% (measured as 50% … Continue reading
North Carolina / Unemployment Bill Would Cut $600 Million In Federal Extended Benefits
North Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill that would slash unemployment benefits and cause the state to lose roughly $600 million worth of extended jobless compensation paid entirely by the federal government. The measure would reduce the maximum weekly benefit from $530 to $350 per person. If it passes, North Carolina workers will no longer … Continue reading
US Skills Gap / What if these assumptions are all wrong?
It is conventional wisdom that the United States is suffering from a severe skills shortage, for which low-performing public schools and inadequate teachers must shoulder part of the blame (see here and here, for example). Employers complain that they cannot fill open slots because there are no Americans skilled enough to fill them, while pundits … Continue reading
Jobs – Offres d’emploi – US & Canada (Eng. & Fr.)
The Most Popular Job Search Tools
Even More Objectives Statements to customize
Cover Letters – Tools, Tips and Free Cover Letter Templates for Microsoft Office
Job Market Monitor 