Tarrant Business

Overqualified and biding time?

Here's a great story from the New York Times.

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram

Debate on jobless benefits rages on

Here's our story from Sunday's newspaper on the debate over extended unemployment benefits.

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram 

More on February's Texas jobs numbers...

The Fort Worth-Arlington area gained 100 jobs to 845,600 in February, from January, after accounting for seasonal factors, Texas Workforce Commission data shows.The DFW area lost 5,100 jobs to 2.845 million. - Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram 

Texas jobless rate stays same in February; state sheds 13,000 jobs

Texas shed 13,000 jobs in February, offsetting a gain the previous month, the Texas Workforce Commission said Thursday.

 

The state’s jobless rate stayed the same at 8.2 percent, unchanged from January, as the state’s civilian labor force grew by another 40,200 workers during the month.

 

Texas continued to fare better than the nation as a whole, which had a 9.7 percent unemployment rate in January.

 

“The Texas unemployment rate remained at 8.2 percent for the fourth month in a row,” Tom Pauken, the commission chairman, said in a release. “Although this serious national recession continues to have a negative impact here in Texas, the unemployment rate appears to have stabilized.”

 

Four industries added jobs stateside in February: Professional and business services employment, which added 9,000 jobs, its largest monthly gain since January 2008; manufacturing, up 2,900 jobs; mining and logging, up 1,200; and information, up 200.

 

Industries losing jobs included: Leisure and hospitality, down 4,300; education and health services, off 3,000; and financial activities, off 3,200. Construction was off 4,600 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities, off 7,700.

 

“Although we sustained overall job losses in February, we experienced job gains in critical industries, such as manufacturing and professional and business services,” said Andres Alcantar, a TWC commissioner.

 

The Fort Worth-Arlington area added 100 jobs in February over January, after adjusting for seasonal factors.

 

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram

AAA Texas holding a job fair Thursday in Irving

AAA Texas is holding a job fair, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Thursday at the Omni Mandalay Las Colinas, 221 East Las Colinas Blvd. in Irving. AAA Texas says it plans to hire inside sales agents to sell membership and insurance products, including property and casualty coverage. Interested people should visit www.aaa.com.

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram

 

Does March Madness cost worker productivity?

Here's our story from Thursday's paper on the all-important question of whether March Madness and other office pools cause a drop in office productivity.

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram 

Census still hiring in DFW area

The U.S. Census is still hiring for temporary jobs in Texas. The jobs range from clerk to field supervisor and pay $10.75 to $13.75 an hour, S-T reporter Steve Campbell notes in his Monday print story about the Census.

Most of the jobs will start in mid-May and last through July, Campbell reports. Info: 866-861-2010 to schedule a skills test in your area.

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram

"Worst may be over" for Texas economy, Dallas Fed Bank says

Here's the headline on the Texas economy from today's Dallas Fed Bank report:

"While conditions remain weak, it appears that the Texas economy is on a steadier course after a rough ride last year. Recent economic data and anecdotal evidence suggest the worst of the state’s economic woes may be over. Activity is growing in several sectors. The state maintains its traditional advantages—relatively low living costs, modest taxes, a central location and an attractive business climate. Barring further setbacks, the Texas economy should pick up steam in 2010 and beyond."

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram

Fort Worth Career Search Network fetes first birthday

Here's our story from Monday's paper on the first birthday of the Fort Worth Career Search Network.

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram

 (Photos, clockwise from upper left: Paul Vercher and Foster Williams; Monday meeting at North Fort Worth Baptist Church; Milo Rixe; Marla Lee; Ret Martin.)

Texas labor market's leading indicators continue to improve, Dallas Fed Bank says

The Dallas Fed Bank is out with its first-quarter economic update. Here's what the Fed said about the labor outlook in Texas:

• "Despite the still-weak employment picture, the Texas labor market’s leading indicators are improving. Initial jobless claims peaked in spring 2009 and have been falling since, suggesting the unemployment rate is at or near its high point. From October 2009 through January 2010, the state payroll survey reported increases in weekly hours worked in manufacturing, a positive sign because hours worked tend to rise before hiring."

• "Since September, the Dallas Fed’s Beige Book—an anecdotal survey of current economic conditions—has been reporting that most employers are finished with job cuts and are holding employment levels steady. In addition, staffing firms are noting increases in temporary hiring, a favorable indicator because growth in short-term employment typically leads Texas job creation by about five months."

 

- Scott Nishimura, jobs and workplace reporter, Star-Telegram