In the News

US / Tech Talent Shortage: A Myth ?

So it turns out the United States is not, in fact, the educational wasteland tech industry lobbyists would have you think. Companies like Microsoft often claim that America is suffering from an economically hobbling shortage of science, math, and computer talent. The solution, they argue, is to let employers fill their hiring gaps by importing tens of … Continue reading →

German Latest Data / Unemployment Climbs

German unemployment rose for a second month in April, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economy is struggling to recover from a slump at the end of last year. The number of people out of work climbed a seasonally adjusted 4,000 to 2.94 million, the Nuremberg-based Federal Labor Agency said today. Economists predicted an increase … Continue reading →

Europe / Unemployment Sets Another Record

Eurostat estimates that 26.521 million men and women in the EU-27, of whom 19.211 million were in the euro area (EA-17), were unemployed in March 2013. Compared with February 2013, the number of persons unemployed increased by 69.000 in the EU-27 and by 62.000 in the euro area. Compared with March 2012, unemployment rose by … Continue reading →

UK / Tata Steel Europe to shift two R&D centres to India, Netherlands

Tata Steel, Europe’s second-largest steel producer after ArcelorMittal, plans to close down two research and development facilities in the UK and shift them to the Netherlands and India, resulting in 300-400 job losses. Citing unnamed sources, The Sunday Times yesterday said that Tata Steel Europe (earlier known as Corus) plans to close two technology centres … Continue reading →

America Youth Unemployment: A Growing Problem

Did you know we have a youth unemployment problem? Employers of every size in every sector lament the lack of skills available to them in the talent pool.  Whether you’re reading reports from McKinsey, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, or countless other research organizations, the message is all too similar:  our … Continue reading →

US / Vets program to be unveiled

First lady Michelle Obama on Monday will announce the launch of a credentialing program that the White House says will help members of the armed forces leaving military service  earn the certification needed for many high-tech jobs in the private sector. Many departing service members have faced problems landing high-tech jobs in the private sector … Continue reading →

Skills Gap / Banks struggle to recruit compliance experts

Nearly nine in 10 financial services executives are struggling to recruit staff with the right skills as regulatory changes boost demand for experts in areas such as compliance and accounting, a report suggested on Monday. Regulators around the world imposed tighter controls over the financial services industry following the financial crisis, including lifting capital requirements … Continue reading →

Greece’s Bailout / 15,000 public sector jobs cut

The dust is beginning to settle in Athens following the approval of mass layoffs of government workers by the parliament on Sunday. Over 15,000 people face redundancy by the end of next year in a move which overturns the constitutional guarantee for civil servants to have a job for life. The move was was necessary … Continue reading →

France / To cut 34,000 jobs in defence

Proposed cuts to France’s military spending met with stiff resistance from lawmakers and the army on Monday, although the flat budget of 179.2 billion euros over a five-year-period will mean 34,000 job losses by 2019. France will keep its defence budget broadly stable for the next five years, after meeting stiff resistance from lawmakers and … Continue reading →

Rio Tinto’s London HQ / Almost half of jobs to be cut

Mining group Rio Tinto plans to almost halve the size of its London head office, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, cutting more than 200 jobs as it tries to slash more than $5 billion in costs by the end of next year. Rio has been reviewing high-cost office locations including London since … Continue reading →

The horror of Bangladesh Sweatshops

Originally posted on The Islamic Workplace:
Video of Fire in 2012, Nov 27 Following Saturday’s deadly garment factory fire in Bangladesh, some wonder if greed is being put before safety? Robin Stickley reports. Building Collapse of April 24, 2013 An eight storey block housing factories and a shopping center collapsed on the outskirts of the…

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)