Labor Market Update and Job Blasts!

Each month, the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives releases their monthly Area Labor Market Analysis.  One of the reports is specific for the Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Mid-Michigan regions.  The report for March 2011 was recently released and offered some promising news for the Lansing MSA (Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties).  It showed that in our MSA, the jobless rates continue to show improvement (8.6% in March 2011 vs. 11.1% in March 2010!) over the year as total employment and payroll jobs showed increases over March 2010.  (DELEG, April 2011)

The report further shows that "payroll jobs pushed upward by 1,000 (0.5 percent) over the month in the Lansing MSA as many private service-providing industries started to pick up seasonal hiring."  Some of the areas registering job gains included, leisure and hospitality (400) with private educational and healthcare services chipping in an additional 200.  While government jobs fell by 300 (primarily support positions in state government education), a 300 job increase in retail trade offset the loss.  Reffitt also indicated that "since March of 2010, the Lansing metro area's payroll total increased by 2.5 percent (+5,300 jobs)."  (DELEG, April 2011)

So, what does this mean?  Well, first, it indicates that Lansing is moving forward in job growth following the recession.  It is important to note that while employment is not at the pre-recession level, the Lansing MSA is making strides. 

Further, as I have indicated in earlier blogs, employers are hiring.  They are looking for individuals with the skills needed to 'hit the floor running', so to speak.  This points to the need to be sure to review your skill sets and evaluate where the strengths and weaknesses may be found.  In doing so, evaluate what 'next steps' may be necessary to update areas that are weak. 
Registration is now open for Lansing Community College's Summer 2011 semester (begins June 4th).  Are you looking for updating computer skills?  If so, check out some of our CABS seminars (Computer Applications Using business Software), or some of the Computer IT Application classes.   For more information on what classes are available this summer at Lansing Community College, check out our Summer schedule!


Reffitt, Mark, Michigan Department of Energy, Area Labor Market Analysis--Ann Arbor, Lansing, Mid-Michigan, Labor & Economic Growth:  Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives, www.michigan.gov/lmi, Retrieved April 21, 2011.

JOB BLASTS!  
The Michigan Talent Bank is one of the sources available for locating current employment postings.  To view MTB postings below, click on the posting number to be taken directly to the MTB Job Posting. 

Tallis & Associates (Lansing):  Accounting Assistant/Receptionist,  MTB # 3049371

Michigan Assn. of United Ways (Lansing):  MBAI Manager,  MTB # 3059000

RSDC (Holt):  Maintenance Associate,  MTB # 3057967

Days Inn (Lansing):  Front Desk Position,  MTB # 3057891

Franchino Mold & Engineering (Lansing):  CNC Operator,  MTB # 3048754

Flagstar Bank (Okemos):  Financial Service Representative,  MTB # 3049636


REMEMBER: When applying for a position, it is very important to follow the instructions on the posting in regards to how to apply. 

Appreciating Home: Happy Earth Day!

Since 1970, April 22nd has marked the anniversary of what is considered our first, modern-day event addressing our environment.  Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, was inspired by national events to create an opportunity to instill a public consciousness towards awareness about air and water pollution.  He recruited other key leaders and the 'movement' went live as 20 million Americans demonstrated for a healthy and sustainable environment during massive coast-to-coast rallies.  This event was so far reaching over the political environment, that the United States Environmental Protection Agency was born with the subsequent passages of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.  For more information on the history of Earth Day, be sure to click on this link.  (Earthday.org, retrieved 04/18/2011).

This past weekend I was reading an interesting article that I found in one of my newsletters.  It contained some interesting information about our 'home'...Earth, that I thought I would share with you.  Here are just a few of the 50 items found in the article, Earth Facts, Tips and Advice:  Do your part in protecting it (AARP Bulletin, April 1, 2011):

• In the last 50 years:
• Since 1960, world automobile production has increased by 370%.
• The average price of a gallon of gas grew from 25 cents to $3.51.
• The average cost of a new car rose from $2,600 to $27,958.
• World oil consumption grew 401%, from 21.3 million to 85.8 million barrels a day. U.S. consumption rose (up 198%), so did China’s (up 458%), Japan’s (724%), India’s (1,850%) and Germany’s (409%).
• Modern Footprints:
• The last decade had the highest average temperatures on record.
• Global temperatures may rise as much as 10.4 degrees by 2100.
• More than 70 million barrels of crude oil are produced a day.
• The 806 million cars and light trucks in the world burn 260 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel a year.
•  Extreme weather may force relocation of 150 million to 200 million people by 2050.
•  Every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of plastic trash.
• Renewable energy provides 8% of total U.S. energy. Other sources: petroleum (37%), natural gas (25%), coal (21%), nuclear (9%).
• Sources of greenhouse gases: electric power (35%), transportation (27%), industry (20%), agriculture (7%), commercial (6%), residential (5%).
• Easy Ways to Tread Lightly:
• Set your water heater at 120 degrees. Many are set to 140 degrees, which is both wasteful and hazardous.
• Reduce your time in the shower by 5 minutes and save 25 gallons of water a day.
• Loading dirty dishes without rinsing saves up to 20 gallons of water per dishwasher load.
• Add native plants to your garden; they need less water and fertilizer.

 For more Earth Facts, visit the site by clicking on the title, above or check out  Energysavers.gov for a list of some simple things each of us can do.


JOB BLASTS! For more information on Michigan Talent Bank postings, click on the job posting number.  Or, for other Job Blasts, follow the employer's instructions.

Clearview Apartments (Lansing and St. Johns):  Maintenance Person,  MTB # 3047113

TIC International (Lansing):  Medical Claims Examiner,  MTB # 3056133

McDonald Broadcasting (Lansing):  Market Manager,  MTB # 3055922

Lansing School District (Lansing):  Speech & Language Pathologists,  MTB # 3055907

Smart Homes, Inc. (Okemos): 

• Home Automation and Theater Installation (f/t),   MTB # 3049064
• Information Technology System Support and Deployment,   MTB # 3049062

Estate Planning & Preservation (Jackson, Flint, Novi, Grand Rapids, or Harrison): 

• Insurance Advisors who already HAVE A LIFE INSURANCE LICENSE, 
• MTB # 3043132  

Lansing Community College UPDATES:

Summer 2011 Semester registration begins this week!  The "Assigned Web Registration" is as follows:

Number of credits earned     Register any time after:        Date:
as of Fall 2010:

  60 or more                           9:00 a.m.                           Tuesday, 4/19
  30 or more                           9:00 p.m.                           Tuesday, 4/19
  12 or more                           9:00 a.m.                         Wednesday, 4/20
   1 or more                            9:00 a.m.                         Thursday, 4/21
   All                                       9:00 a.m.                            Friday, 4/22

Remember:  All NEW students, Transfer students, and Returning Adult Students (who have been away from the College for five or more years) are required to attend a Mandatory Orientation.  For more information on this or other LCC questions, please contact LCC's "Center for Workforce Transition" at lccadvisor@lcc.edu, or (517) 492-5580.

Have a good Earth Day and consider trying one new thing that is sustainable and will benefit everyone, including our 'home'.

Job Blasts Updates!

JOB BLASTS!

G C Services (Lansing):  Account Representatives (47 needed),  MTB # 3038597

• MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  A recruiter from G C Services will be onsite at the Capital Area Michigan Works! Lansing Service Center on Thursday, April 14, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer (St. Johns):  Marketing Assistant,  MTB # 3049017


Did You Know...  Staffing agencies are used by many employers to assist in finding the right people for available positions.  For more information on 'General Labor' positions (as well as other available positions) within the Lansing area, visit Indeed.com.

Jobs Connection Workshop:  For more information on how to 1.) target your Job Search, such as who are the employers, what skills are needed, and, how to communicate valuable skills and knowledge; or, 2.) to learn more about career options, the popular Jobs Connection Workshop is offered most Tuesdays from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. at the Capital Area Michigan Works! Lansing Service Center.  For a schedule of the Center for Workforce Transition activities, check out our website with the link to our monthly calendar.

Job Blasts!

JOB BLASTS!
This past Friday, 65 employers participated in the Job Zone portion of the Greater Lansing Journey to Jobs event.  The available positions were varied and provided Job Seekers of all educational levels with several opportunities.  I asked one of our CAMW! agency partners how many of their clients attended the event.  They had spoken to two of their clients with one person having two interviews scheduled for today and tomorrow from their meetings with employers!  These events do provide results to those individuals who attend and are well-prepared to meet potential employers.

For those postings with a Michigan Talent Bank posting number (MTB #), click on the posting number to be taken directly to the Position Description with application information.

Goodwill Industries (Lansing):  Assistant Store Manager,  MTB # 3052943

Franchino Mold & Engineering (Lansing area): 

• CNC Boring Mill Operator,  MTB # 3053740
• Manual Boring Mill Operator,  MTB # 3053743  FILLED

Michigan Athletic Club (East Lansing):     FILLED

• Looking for temporary help to remove domes covering pool and tennis courts
• May 11, 12, 13th (dates needed)
• $9.00/hour with lunch provided

Nuwave Technology (Lansing):  Systems Engineer,  MTB # 3052890

Lansing Community College (Lansing):  For more information on available positions at Lansing Community College, visit our Jobs Website at:  http://www.jobs.lcc.edu/

LCC Events Just Around the Corner...

While spring is trying to break through winter's tough grasp (read that as SNOW on April 3rd...of course!), Lansing Community College is readying it's Spring 2011 semester wrap-up and gearing up for the Summer 2011 semester.  Here are some important deadlines/dates that will help prepare for a smooth transition.

Summer 2011:

• Orientation (mandatory for new LCC students) begins. 
• Online Orientation (requires a Reading Level of 5) begins April 1st.
• Face-to-Face Orientation sign-up begins April 5th
• Schedule Books will be available online beginning April 5th! 
• Registration will begin April 19th!
• Financial Aid (FAFSA submission) deadline is May 1st!
• Womens Resource Center/Returning Adult Program Grants submission deadline is May 1st!
• Admission deadline is May 25th!
• Orientation deadline is May 31st!
• Registration deadline is June 1st!
• Classes will begin June 4th!
• Deadline to submit an Associates degree/Certificate Application is July 1st!
• The College will be closed July 2, 3, 4th for the Independence Day holiday.
• Semester's last day of class:  August 1st!

New Student Orientation:  Lansing Community College now requires Orientation for students working on Certificates of Achievement, Degrees, or Transfer programs.  As well, returning students who have been away from the College for five or more years. 

For more information on Orientation, please visit this link.

To stay on top of the deadlines, or for more information on any of the above dates, be sure to visit the LCC website.

JOB BLASTS!: 
To view these and other postings visit the Michigan Talent Bank website.  As well, the following Job Blasts postings can be accessed by clicking on the MTB number.

Agape Total Healthcare (Lansing): 

• Certified Nursing Aide (URGENT, IMMEDIATE NEED),  MTB # 3050825
• Home Health Aide (URGENT, IMMEDIATE NEED),   MTB # 3047598
• NOTE:  CNA and Home Health Aide applicants need to complete an application at CAMW! in Lansing, St. Johns, or Charlotte.  Job Seekers for the following Agape Total Healtcare positions should submit a cover letter and resume to CAMW! in Lansing, St. Johns, or Charlotte and should NOT complete an application!
• Community Outreach Specialist,  MTB # 3051178
• Marketing Coordinator,  MTB # 3051509
• Office Administrator,  MTB # 3051075