Michel Cournoyer

Tech Worker Salaries Expected to Rise Two Times Fater

Salaries for tech workers in the U.S. will rise almost twice the national average in 2013 — some will increase even more, up to 12 percent — a symptom of how competitive the competition for talent has become. “The hiring environment for technology talent is only going to become tougher for employers in the year … Continue reading →

Immigrant workers | Boosting The Incomes Of Less-Educated Native Workers

. The Economic Impact of Immigrant-Related Local Ordinances “… provides the first comparative look at the average economic effects of how restrictive versus non-restrictive immigration-related city ordinances affect a city’s business environment” writes the Americas Society. “Since 2005, in a climate of increasing concern and urgency about the nation’s current and future migratory flows, cities and … Continue reading →

Partnership – OECD: Getting the young into jobs (video)

Job Gap – Youth Unemploment: An Interview with ILO Economist Sara Elder (video)

An Interview with ILO Economist Sara Elder

Skills Gap in the US Economy (video)

Higher Education – OECD: The role of universities and strategic partnerships in the local and global context (video)

College – Earnings – US: What different college degrees make?

“Part of the reason people go to college is to get better jobs. It’s by no means the only reason, of course; a liberal arts education can enrich a person’s life in ways besides better employment. But better employment is surely one of the crucial goals, and jobs that require college degrees generally pay better … Continue reading →

Youth Unemployment – UK – Are vocational qualifications a better option than university ?

“In this economic climate, with such high rates of graduate unemployment, should school leavers give far greater consideration to vocational qualifications?” asks Jane Scott Paul in Are vocational qualifications a better option than university? on guardian.co.uk. “Sadly though, youth unemployment is hardly limited to unqualified school leavers: it now extends to many of Britain’s brightest … Continue reading →

US – Unemployment Claims : The good news didn’t last, an increase of 46,000

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 388,000, an increase of 46,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 342,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,500, an increase of 750 from the previous week’s revised average of 364,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent … Continue reading →

Studying beyond age 25 – The case of Australia

Why should we keep studying beyond our mid-20s? ask  Michael Coelli, Domenico Tabasso and Rezida Zakirova in Studying beyond age 25: who does it and what do they gain? (Adapted excerpts by JMM to follow) After all, education and training at a younger age provide for the longest period over which the return on the … Continue reading →

Indiana – Cummins Inc – 126 Layoffs

Cummins Inc. will implement at least 150 layoffs by year’s end in its southern Indiana workforce, the Columbus-based engine maker announced Wednesday. The layoffs will affect workers at the Fuel Systems Plant in Columbus, Columbus MidRange Engine Plant or the Seymour Engine plant, Cummins’ spokesman Jon Mills said… via The Republic – 126 workers also … Continue reading →

Saskatchewan – Potash Corp – Longer than normal layoffs

Longer than normal layoffs are coming a spokesperson for Potash Corp said Wednesday after the company ran into problems with contracts, storage space and profits. Bill Johnson said a yet-to-be-determined number of employees will be given the pink slip after the company discovered its 2012 profits will fall well below earlier projections. “We have about … Continue reading →

Australia – Industry skills councils a barrier to institutional progress

TERTIARY education policy is far too influenced by the institutionalised status quo rather than by principle. A classic case is relations between vocational and higher education. Vocational education was identified with TAFE institutes and higher education with universities from the mid-1970s until the mid-2000s. Since then the number and types of vocational and higher education … Continue reading →

Australia – Mt Gibson Iron cuts 270 mining jobs

Mt Gibson Iron will cut 270 jobs from its mining operations in Western Australia in a bid to cope with volatile commodity prices. The company says most positions will be slashed from its Koolan Island operations off the Kimberley coast. It is believed 140 of those positions will be contractors. In the company’s quarterly report … Continue reading →

OECD – Employment rate at 65.0% in the second quarter of 2012

The OECD area employment rate – defined as the proportion of people of working-age who are employed – was 65.0% in the second quarter of 2012. This figure is 0.1 percentage point higher than in the previous quarter and 0.2 percentage point higher than one year ago. There are significant divergences in the evolution of … Continue reading →