In the News

EU Youth Unemployment / Germany and France meet today

As Germany and France meet today (28 May) over a joint youth employment initiative, EU officials have rebuffed as “groundless” and “dangerous” criticism from the German finance minister that the Commission is failing to address joblessness, EurActiv Germany reports. Ministers from both countries will unveil in Paris the initiative blueprint and allow the European Investment … Continue reading →

College Grads / A demand problem, not a skills problem

The same factors that are hurting the job market are making it hard for start-ups and small businesses to succeed: consumers aren’t spending enough money to create an expansion on their own, and austerity-driven cuts in government spending are weakening economic growth. As Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute puts it, the declining prospects … Continue reading →

Canada / Can we do it better in Skilled trades?

A great deal of discussion is going on now about whether Canada is facing a shortage of skilled workers. Whether you are in the camp that believes it is or not, I think most people would agree that a country whose population has a diverse set of skills is able to respond more effectively to … Continue reading →

China / Growing competition pushes migrant worker pay growth down in 2012

The annual increase in pay for China’s 163 million migrant workers almost halved in 2012, an official survey showed on Monday, signaling a looser labor market as economic growth slows. The average monthly wage of migrant workers grew 11.8 percent in 2012 from the previous year to 2,290 yuan ($370). That marked a sharp slowdown … Continue reading →

Scotland / About 70% of young people involved in a programme have moved into jobs or further education

About 70% of young people involved in an employment skills programme have moved into jobs or further education, according to the Scottish government. The Activity Agreement scheme sees vulnerable 16 to 19-year-olds sign up to activities and qualifications that could improve their job prospects. More than 2,600 young people from across all 32 council areas … Continue reading →

Bangladesh / Workers Demand Better Working Conditions

The future of Bangladesh lies in the power of international cooperation and the implementation of concrete political measures to end unfair labor practices. Violence has erupted in Bangladesh, following the world’s worst garment industry disaster last month, as thousands of workers gathered in the country’s capital on Monday demanding better pay conditions. Police charged batons … Continue reading →

US / Education / Investment in student falls for first time ever

The amount of money spent per public school student fell in 2011 for the first time since the Census Bureau began keeping records more than three decades earlier, as economic woes finally caught up with educational realities. “This is clearly the fallout from the Great Recession,” said Michael Petrilli, executive vice president of The Thomas … Continue reading →

US / 68 percent willing to take pay cut for more personally meaningful careers

Today’s top professionals and recent graduates expect their careers to provide more than just an income, a survey released by Philips North America found. The Philips Work/Life Survey examined key factors of Americans’ job happiness, with a particular focus on their ability to bring personal interests to their workplace career as a way to create … Continue reading →

LinkedIn looks to build on its impressive resume

How To Strengthen Your LinkedIn Network

Originally posted on Kamal Bennani Photography:
LinkedIn is a powerful social platform if used properly, when connections are cultivated repeatedly over time. Also: news on Twitter ad products and Pinterest. See on http://www.businessinsider.com

Rio Tinto / At least 230 jobs in jeopardy in Sorel-Tracy

At least 230 jobs are on the line at Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium in Sorel-Tracy. The company’s management met with the union this week to present a restructuring plan that could result in significant job losses. The plan foresees cutting 75 jobs at the Montérégie-region plant between now and September, with another 155 cuts … Continue reading →

US/ Older workers underutilized or not ? It depends

In the U.S. non-federal sector, older workers are more likely than younger counterparts to report being able to put their best skills to use, a survey says. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index involving 115,000 U.S. adults — including 8,000 who identified themselves as federal workers — was conducted Jan. 2-Dec. 30, 2012. About 85 percent of … Continue reading →

Canada’s Skills Gap / Needs to do a better job of collecting and disseminating reliable labour market information

Canada needs to do a better job of collecting and disseminating reliable labour market information, the kind employers, students and policy-makers can rely on to make good decisions, observers say. “Our data is horrible,” said Rick Miner, a former Seneca College president who took part in a federal labour market advisory panel in 2009. The … Continue reading →

Casino / Australia / Job cuts at Crown

The $9.35 billion casino company Crown has confirmed rumours of job cuts, as Victoria’s largest single-site, private-sector employer seeks a slice of the Sydney casino market. Sources close to Crown said redundancies were on the way for administration, marketing and back-office staff. It is believed the job losses are triggered by a desire to cut … Continue reading →

South Africa / Minimum Wage / 1 988 farmers seek exemption

Nearly 2 000 farmers, many from the Western Cape, have applied for exemption from the minimum wage for farm workers. Labour Minister Mildred Olifant told a press briefing on Thursday, following her department’s budget vote speech, that 1 988 farmers had applied for exemption from the new R105-a-day wage included in the sectoral determination for … Continue reading →