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Congressman Carnahan to Host Regional Jobs Summit
ST. LOUIS (SLFP.com), December 11, 2009 - On Saturday, December 12, Congressman Carnahan will host a Regional Jobs Summit at Washington University to meet with community and business leaders about developing a strategic jobs action plan for the St. Louis region.
Over two dozen of the top business and community leaders from throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County and Ste. Genevieve County are scheduled to take part in Saturday's summit. Participants include the CEOs of several St. Louis-based Fortune 500 companies as well as executives from major health care, manufacturing, energy, life science, and financial services companies, small business owners and other business and labor organizations.
In a release, Congressman Carnahan said a comprehensive approach is needed to creating jobs. "We've seen a handful of positive economic indicators. But historically, there's a one-year-plus lag between the indicators and the creation of jobs. It's our job to shorten that lag time. We need to make strategic investments in things that we know are strong job creators, like transportation, infrastructure, and small businesses."
Job Seekers Can Apply for Free Technology E-Learning Program to Improve Job Prospects
ST. LOUIS (SLFP.com), December 8, 2009 - Michael K. Holmes, Executive Director of the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) Career Center, has joined State workforce development officials in urging the region's job seekers to take advantage of a recently launched program to provide free technology education to thousands of Missourians.
On Nov. 2, Governor Nixon announced Missouri's participation in the Microsoft Elevate America program that provides access to free, specialized e-learning programs for various Microsoft programs and platforms, such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access Windows Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, and more.
Just four weeks after the launch of the program, more than 10,000 people statewide have already applied to receive one of the 24,750 available vouchers for e-learning and certification programs, according to an announcement from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
"Due to the high unemployment rate, this is a great opportunity for individuals to get free training in technology. Individuals should not let lack of owning a computer deter them from taking advantage of this opportunity. There are many location sites available to them such as the St. Louis Public Library, the SLATE Missouri Career Center or the Central Missouri Career Center," stated Director Holmes.
The Elevate America program was designed to be as convenient and accessible as possible. By clicking on a link from the state's Web portal, www.mo.gov, applicants can fill out a simple electronic form which asks basic information necessary to obtain a voucher. Staff members from the Division of Workforce Development provide online learning and exam vouchers along with access information.
Missourians have until Jan. 31, 2010, to claim a voucher and then one year to complete the program. Holmes encourages anyone in St. Louis City to contact the SLATE Missouri Career Center at 314-589-8000 to learn more about Elevate America.
November Jobs Report Shows Employers Face Continued Challenges
ST. LOUIS (PRNewswire-FirstCall), December 6, 2009 - Unemployment data released by the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that although job losses have slowed significantly, the economy continues to face challenges, noted the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).
According to the report the U.S. economy shed 11,000 jobs in November, the smallest decline since the recession began in December 2007. The unemployment rate edged down to 10.0 percent. Retail job losses slowed to 14,500, compared to the more than 44,000 jobs lost in October.
"Today's unemployment report gives hope to consumers and retailers that a recovery may not be far off. However, it is also a reminder that employers seeking to grow their workforces continue to face challenges," said RILA President Sandy Kennedy. "Policymakers intent on stimulating job growth and the economy must focus on reducing the challenges employers face rather than erecting new barriers to job creation - which elements of the health care legislation under consideration threaten to do."
The average of 87,000 jobs lost per month in the overall economy over the past three months is down considerably from the 700,000 per month pace of job loss at the depth of the recession.
The retail industry shed 14,500 jobs last month, an improvement over the more than 44,000 retail jobs lost in October and considerably better than the 90,800 jobs lost in November 2008. The retail industry averaged 33,000 job losses over the past three months, compared to an average of 70,000 over the same period last year.
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Other economic data likewise show that the economy has begun to recover. Initial claims for unemployment insurance have fallen back to the level of last September before the worst part of the financial crisis, while increases in personal income and spending in October suggest improved prospects for families. The housing market remains weak but has stabilized, with home prices up over the past two quarters, and rising home sales whittling down the elevated inventory of homes for sale.
"Today's data confirm that the labor market is beginning to heal," said Donald B. Marron, visiting professor at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and RILA outside economist. "Layoffs have slowed dramatically in recent months, but new hiring remains restrained. Employers are adding hours but not yet jobs, though employment has increased in a few sectors, including temporary help services and department stores. We have a long way to go to get back to the strong economic performance that Americans have come to expect, but the economy and the job market are turning up."
Health Care Reform and Jobs
RILA has been a proponent of health care reform that expands coverage to more Americans and addresses the unsustainable cost increases faced today. However, the costly burdens, such as those imposed by the health care reform legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, could undermine economic recovery and cost more jobs for the retail industry, while also pushing insured retail employees from the health care plans they currently have and like.
"Congress simply should not pursue major initiatives that could add significantly to the cost and regulatory burdens faced by the retail industry, thus providing a disincentive to the hiring and business investment critical to ongoing economic recovery efforts," said Kennedy.
Of specific concern to RILA and its members are provisions within the Senate bill that would shift costs on to employers to pay for a public plan, reduce benefit-design flexibility and innovation, or not take into account the unique needs of the retail workforce such as separate treatment of part-time and holiday hires. Without significant changes RILA will be left with no choice but to oppose the legislation.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association is the trade association of the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and operate more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.
Archived Stories:
 Nearly One-Third of Workers Plan to Holiday Shop Online While at the Office
Holiday Job Hunting Can Reap Rewards
Women-Owned Businesses Can Recharge the Global Economy
St. Louis County Opens River City Casino Boulevard to New Jobs
U.S. Travel Industry to Add 90,000 American Jobs in 2010
Employers May Be Generous with Thanksgiving Holiday Paid Time Off in 2009
Getting a Job is a Lot Easier, If You Don't Limit Yourself to One Industry
Nearly One-in-Five Employers Plan to Hire Seasonal Workers This Year
Potential for Green Jobs Grows with Economy
Wellness Programs May See Boost Next Year
Missouri Receives $2 Million for Jobs from Strengthening Communities Fund
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