Saint Louis Job News & Opportunities St. Louis Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in St. Louis, Missouri and Southwest Illinois. St. Louis News Community Info St. Louis Job News St. Louis CitySide Business News St. Charles News Southwest, IL News Fairview Heights,IL Art Gallery News Hotel News Restaurant News Style St. Louis Not Just For Kids   Downtown Map America's Center Busch Stadium Gateway Arch Savvis Center Laclede's Landing Old Courthouse Union Station Washington Avenue   Metropolitan Map Casinos Clayton, MO Grand Center Grant's Farm Forest Park Kimmswick, MO MO Botanical Garden Soulard St. Charles, MO West Port Plaza Transportation Lambert Airport How To Reach Us: St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com Women-owned Firms Increase Nearly 20 Percent ST. LOUIS (PRNewswire), August 20, 2006 - Women-owned firms increased nearly 20 percent over the latest period studied, according to a report released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. During the five years between 1997 and 2002, women-owned firms grew by 19.8 percent while all U.S. firms grew by seven percent. A wealth of data on women in the work force and women-owned business is presented in Women in Business: A Demographic Review of Women's Business Ownership, written by Office of Advocacy senior economist Dr. Ying Lowrey. The report uses newly released U.S. Census and other data to describe women's contributions to the economy. Statistics documented in the report include: In 2002, women owned 6.5 million or 28.2 percent of nonfarm U.S. firms. More than 14 percent of these women-owned firms were employers, with 7.1 million workers and $173.7 billion in annual payroll. Women-owned firms accounted for 6.5 percent of total employment in U.S. firms in 2002 and 4.2 percent of total receipts. Of all women business owners in 2002, 85.95 percent were White, 8.43 percent African American, 8.33 percent of Hispanic heritage, 5.25 percent Asian, 1.23 percent American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.18 percent Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (total does not add to 100 due to some double counting across ethnic groups). According to 2002 data, significant proportions of women-owned businesses were in professional, scientific, and technical services, and in health care and social assistance. The Office of Advocacy, the "small business watchdog" of the government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues. Be Prepared for Pre-Employment Testing ST. LOUIS (PRNewswire), August 20, 2006 - Job seekers shouldn't be surprised when a potential employer asks them to take a test or other assessment for a job, says CollegeJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal's guide for career-minded college students. According to a report published on CollegeJournal.com, pre- employment testing is on the rise. There's always an element of risk when taking on a new employee. Pre- employment testing helps hiring managers make informed decisions about who to bring into the company. "Candidates should take these assessments seriously because they can measure and predict job success," says Laura Lorber, managing editor, CollegeJournal.com. "They often evaluate how well your work style or personality might fit into the corporate culture." CollegeJournal.com offers these tips to job candidates about pre- employment testing Curb your antagonism. Many candidates scoff at having to take a test. "It's better to have a positive attitude about testing and assessments," says Ms. Lorber. "This shows that you are open-minded." Your candidacy can benefit. Testing can be an accurate judge of personality and ability. Clear your schedule. Find out how long a pre-employment assessment might take and make sure you won't have any interruptions or distractions. Some tests can take up to several hours to complete. Exercise your brain. Familiarize yourself with pre-employment assessments by taking free ones on the Web. eTest Inc., a pre-employment testing and assessment company in Atlanta offers a free online personality quiz. Weak results may not matter. Pre-employment testing is only a part of the hiring process. Candidates who do well in interviews and have the right skills for the job may be offered a position even if they don't do well on pre-employment testing. CollegeJournal.com is The Wall Street Journal's free site for undergraduate, graduate, and MBA students to obtain the job-search and career- guidance information they need to make the successful transition from collegian to professional. Archived: More Women Choose Business Ownership to Gain Control, Flexibility and Family Time St. Louis Takes the Lead in Training Service Disabled Veterans in New Technologies Telecommuting Part-Time Is Ideal Work Situation From Summer Travel to Hobbies, Workers Are Cutting Back CEOs With Military Experience Outperform S&P 500 Index Illinois Led Nation in New Jobs Created in April Missouri Employment Reaches All-Time High Industry Leaders Are Not Concerned That Women Executives Are Leaving the Workforce Missouri Launches "Safe Jobs for Youth" Awareness Campaign Plants, Decor and Furniture Among The Items Office Workers Admit To Stealing Innovation Key to Success and Survival for Small Business Owners People in the 35 to 44-Age Bracket Volunteer the Most Money Magazine Names Occupational Therapist as One of 50 Best Jobs Bioscience Industry Fuels Jobs and Growth for States Health Care Expenses Dampen Hiring and Pay Raise Plans Among U.S. Business Owners Health Care Expenses Dampen Hiring and Pay Raise Plans Among U.S. Business Owners College-Educated Workers Migrating to Bigger Metro Areas Rather Than Rural Communities Fireman's Fund Expands in St. Louis Area With 190 New Jobs Bosses Not 'On The Same Page' As Employees Regarding Recognition Payroll Employment Increases in Metropolitan Areas During November 'Tis the Season for Career Resolutions U.S. Workers' Optimism Surfaces After Tough Year Survey Shows Almost 70 Per Cent of Employee Email May Pose a Threat to Businesses Missouri Unemployment Remains at Lowest Level in Four Years Small Employers Offer More Flexibility; Large Employers Offer More Benefits Offsite Workers Feel Less Connected With Employers    The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. 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