Michel Cournoyer

US / At 2012 pace, full employment won’t come until 2022

The jobs numbers have been crunched and re-crunched, and it turns out that the U.S. economy added an average of 181,000 jobs per month in 2012. That’s a faster rate than in 2011 or 2010. But it’s also relatively sluggish, given the deep, deep hole the economy is still in. If the United States keeps adding … Continue reading →

US / Closing the Gap: German Skills Initiative hosted in Washington

On Tuesday, January 29th, the German Embassy in Washington, DC hosted “The German Skills Initiative” with many heads of both U.S. and German corporations in attendance. Alongside German Ambassador Peter Ammon, the speakers included U.S. Secretary of Commerce Dr. Rebecca Blank, German Deputy Chief Executive of International Economic Affairs Dr. Volker Treir, CEO of Siemens … Continue reading →

US / Delaying retirement / From 42% in 2010 to 62% in 2012 among workers between the ages of 45 and 60

According to a new report released by The Conference Board, older workers intend to postpone their retirement now more than ever, despite a recovering U.S. economy. Using data from the August 2012 Consumer Confidence Survey, Trapped on the Worker Treadmill? documented a sharp increase in plans to delay retirement among workers between the ages of 45 … Continue reading →

Boston, England / The influx of immigrants in a small British city

When Ziedonis Barbaks arrived in Boston, England, to work at a meat-packing plant nine years ago, the city was a pretty lonely place for someone from Latvia. Almost nobody came from his home country or from just about anywhere else outside of Britain. Today there are not only hundreds of Latvians in Boston but thousands … Continue reading →

Israel / GE planning wide-scale layoffs

Corporation to fire about half of 500 employees in healthcare division’s R&D centers in Israel, company worker tells Ynet. Management sources say only 10% of workforce to be dismissed According to a company source, more than half of the division’s 500 employees in all research and development centers in Israel will be fired. The company … Continue reading →

Originally posted on owenzidar:
Brad Plumer has a post today on rough projections that we will not reach full employment until 2022. Here are four ways that failing to address the unemployment problem today could lead to long-lasting (and potentially permanent) reductions in human capital, employment, and social welfare: Unemployed workers lose opportunity to maintain and update skills If…

Guyana / Minimum wage overdue, says FITUG

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), representing some 30,000 workers, has welcomed the government’s “somewhat overdue” plans to set a national wage. Choosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor from via Minimum wage overdue, says FITUG – Stabroek News – Georgetown, Guyana.

Lloyds / 38,000 jobs cut since HBOS rescue

The job toll at Lloyds Banking Group since the rescue of HBOS has reached 38,000 after another 940 cuts were announced. “This is a bleak start to the year for hard-working Lloyds employees and bad news for the UK economy on a day when the small fall in the numbers unemployed was supposed to be … Continue reading →

Commerzbank / To Cut 4,000 to 6,000 Jobs

Commerzbank AG (CBK), Germany’s second- biggest bank, will cut 4,000 to 6,000 jobs over the next four years to reduce costs and meet its profit goals. The job reductions will apply to all units worldwide with the retail bank having “significant overcapacity,” according to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg news, the contents of which … Continue reading →

Barclays / To Cut 2,000 Jobs

Barclays has launched a consultation with staff in its investment bank whose jobs are at risk following a strategic review by new Chief Executive Antony Jenkins, the bank said on Tuesday. Jenkins, who took over in August having previously run Barclays’ retail operations, is revamping the bank following the departure of Bob Diamond when the … Continue reading →

Boston Scientific to cut up to 1,000 jobs

Boston Scientific Corp., the Natick medical device maker that already has eliminated more than 1,000 jobs over the past three years, said Tuesday it plans to cut another 900 to 1,000 jobs worldwide. The company did not specify where the job cuts would take place, but new chief executive Mike Mahoney said in an interview … Continue reading →

Texas / Amazon.com hiring 1,000

Amazon.com Inc. (US:amzn) said Wednesday it’ll hire 1,000 workers as part of its plan to open three new fulfillment centers in Texas. The sites will be in the cities of Coppell, Haslet and Schertz. Amazon.com shares jumped 8.5% after the onlnie retailer reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter sales but strong operating profit. Choosen excerpts by Job Market … Continue reading →

Air Canada’s Rouge airline: hiring 150 flight attendants

As Air Canada’s discount carrier Rouge gets set to take off in July, hiring is getting under way for 150 flight attendant jobs based in Toronto. “The most important quality that we’re looking for is people who like being around people,” said Renee Smith-Valade, head of customer experience. “And people who enjoy children and engaging … Continue reading →

France / Minister Michel Sapin: There is a state but it’s a totally bankrupt state

France’s government was plunged into an embarrassing row yesterday after a minister said the country was ‘totally bankrupt’. Employment secretary Michel Sapin said cuts were needed to put the damaged economy back on track. ‘There is a state but it is a totally bankrupt state,’ he said. ‘That is why we had to put a … Continue reading →

US / The 40 Million Immigrants, Including the 11 Million Unauthorized

The nation’s total immigrant population reached a record 40.4 million in 2011, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center. Over the last decade, the number of immigrants in the U.S. has steadily grown. Since 2007 alone, the number of immigrants living in … Continue reading →