AREA EMPLOYMENT SCENE BRIGHTENS STRIKE INFLATES COUNTY JOBLESS RATE.Byline: - Evan Pondel As the economy shows signs of modest improvement, job prospects are brightening for the recently unemployed in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Consumer confidence is returning, just as job losses seem to have bottomed out. Businesses are spending more money on equipment, and economists are generally more optimistic about California's labor market labor market A place where labor is exchanged for wages; an LM is defined by geography, education and technical expertise, occupation, licensure or certification requirements, and job experience . ``Consumer confidence has returned, and things are looking a little better than they did a year ago,'' said Bradley Kemp, a labor market consultant for the California Employment Development Office in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Nonfarm payroll employment is expected to rise 0.9 percent this year and 2.1 percent in 2005, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the most recent forecast from the Anderson School Anderson School may refer to:
Hiring, when it comes, will be strongest in the service sector, especially in health care and in private education, which includes everything from colleges and universities to privately run nursery schools, to technical training institutes, according to the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Anderson Forecast. Los Angeles County's unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in November, down from 7 percent in October. The supermarket workers' strike and lockout lockout, intentional closing up of a company, factory, or shop by an employer to prevent employees from working during a strike or labor dispute. The term lockout accounted for more than half of the 14,400 jobs lost in November. Grocery store employment decreased by 11,800 jobs in November, the biggest net decline in payroll employment since April 2003. The Southern California strike put county unemployment above the overall state rate, which dropped to 6.4 percent in November. While Los Angeles defied the state's trend in unemployment, Kemp said the discrepancy will most likely stabilize. ``But certain things need to happen for employers to feel even better about hiring more people,'' he said. That includes a resolution to the conflict in Iraq, more stringent cost controls for workers' compensation workers' compensation, payment by employers for some part of the cost of injuries, or in some cases of occupational diseases, received by employees in the course of their work. insurance and keeping down college tuition. Kemp said until those issues are addressed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's employment situation may not recover with gusto. But some employers have already seen a noticeable improvement. Claudia Nissi, manager of a temporary staffing agency, said more jobs have opened up in the last several months. But temporary positions are tricky because it either means employers are too scared to hire full-time people, or they are preparing to hire more people, said Nissi from Royal Staffing Services in Sherman Oaks. ``I believe the latter is true right now.'' In today's economy, companies have become highly selective in their employee search. Computers are replacing more people as technology continues to advance. Rosemarie Wolff is the founder of Royal Staffing Services. She said presentation and attitude are key components when seeking employment. ``And I've seen a lot of people walk through my door in the last 30 years. And to improve your chances, make sure it sounds like you have a smile in your voice,'' Wolff said. helping your job hunt Places to peruse pe·ruse tr.v. pe·rused, pe·rus·ing, pe·rus·es To read or examine, typically with great care. [Middle English perusen, to use up : Latin per-, per- for employment. Employment Development Department, (800) 758-0398 or www.edd.ca.gov www.employmentguide.com www.flipdog.com www.hotjobs.com www.monster.com www.dailynews.com/jobs CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) The Warner Center area in Woodland Hills remains a major hub of jobs in the San Fernando Valley. Hans Gutknecht Box: helping your job hunt (see text) |
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