Houston Job Market

I think it’s safe to say that most people hate working in customer service. It’s an often degrading, humiliating experience where the person buying your goods or services thinks everything is your fault (I’ve worked in food service, though I hear retail, product services, etc. are all the same) and takes it out on you—sometimes quite cruelly. We used to have this theory that customers are not really themselves when they are buying something (particularly food); that they are more aggressive and monstrous than normal. Sometimes, though, I think that they’re actually themselves. Some people think they’ll get better treatment by being mean, and some bullies just never grow up. Read more

Now that the Copenhagen summit is done and everyone is heading back home to figure out what to do with it, everyone is publishing articles about just that- what they think of the deal and what they are going to do about it/ with it.

I read a great one for about four sentences that said the Copenhagen agreement meant essentially nothing to entrepreneurs- as in there are no clear things like targets or markets to walk away with and use as goals or building blocks. I read a great interview with the New York Times’ Thomas Freidman where he says what Obama should have done is told China that the U.S. would bury them in clean tech and essentially start an arms race- style international battle for clean tech supremacy. Great idea- Obama’s not much of a battle starter, though. He’s more on the diplomatic side, trying to keep everyone on ok terms with each other. Read more

Unemployment Benefit Extension

The last time the nation's unemployment rate was over 10% was in 1983.  It’s been 26 years and October’s numbers reflect a worsening of the recession.  The official US unemployment rate is 10.2%, but this does not count people who no longer qualify for unemployment benefits, those who are under employed, and those who are discouraged and no longer looking for work.  The real unemployment rate, if these groups were considered, would rival that of the Great Depression, when 25% unemployment was seen.  At least back in the 1930’s the official numbers were not skewed and changed to try and reflect a rosier-than-reality employment environment.

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Houston has been able to rely on its diverse and healthy economy to help keep its head above water during the recession.  While government jobs have shown some net losses, many other sectors have actually posted gains in the face of poor economic conditions.  These sectors include the businesses services, leisure, hospitality, health services sectors, and even the manufacturing sector.  The reason for the growth is not completely clear, but Houston has redefined itself as a southwest hub of economic growth and diversity. Read more

Excellent Customer Service

If you’ve even worked retail you know that salespeople can go a long way in influencing a purchase or even in helping customers decide how much money to spend on a product or service.  Since the beginning of the recession, people have been more and more reluctant to spend their money on products and services that are not completely necessary.  This behavior is natural, and to be expected of a population that has been flung head first into the largest economic hiccup since the Great Depression.  There is little wonder why economic microcosms like Las Vegas have seen some of the highest unemployment levels ever.  Nevada’s unemployment rate ranks second in the nation, at over 13%.  Both Reno and Las Vegas have been hit hard by these tough times. Read more

Doctors and Nurses

Without a doubt, one of the most secure sectors for employment is the healthcare industry.  The US has more healthcare professionals working inside its borders than many other European countries combined.  Human beings will always be breaking in one way or another, and society will always need professionals to put them back together again.  There are so many different occupations inside the health care industry; it’s tough to really pin down one or two in order to accurately represent the entire industry or even a single sector. Read more

Legal SysyemThere will never be a shortage of lawyers.  It’s just a byproduct of a hyper-litigious society.  Even during the world’s most massive recession in nearly two generations, lawyers and legal assistants are in demand.  As companies are looking to squeeze every last penny out of a contract or begin to really audit and go through their payroll and books with a fine-tooth comb, lawyers will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder, ready to jump into the fray at a moment’s notice.  Even as the government expands, more and more lawyers are needed to settle more frequent disputes between businesses, the government, and individuals. Read more

Not all news regarding unemployment numbers and shrinking industry sectors is bad.  There have been a few sectors where unemployment has dropped since 2008 and others that have held steady in the midst of the economic turmoil and uncertainty.  Upon examining these industry sectors, one will find that an overarching theme begins to assert itself.  The theme is related to the idea that even during a massive recession there are a few key industries that are in such great demand that they are immune to the negative effects of the economic crisis.  Perhaps during this examination of these industries it will be easier to see why this is the case, and to begin to prepare yourself for the next recession by recession-proofing your skill sets and enhancing those characteristics and works experiences that employers are eager to find in employee candidates. Read more

The current unemployment rate may be as high as 30% for non-farm workers in the US.  The official numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) state that nationally, it’s closer to 10%.  But if you take a look at the way the government measures unemployment, and how that scale has changed over the past half century, you will begin to see that the numbers coming out of the Government’s Bureau and the actual numbers are quite different. Read more