The 2009 job market in the U.S. ends with a thud, as the Labor Department reports much higher job
losses in December than expected.
In the report released earlier today, the Labor Department announced that employers unexpectedly
cut 85,000 jobs in December. While the unemployment rate held steady at 10 percent, the results
show that people are leaving the labor force rather than attempting to find a new job.
The news put a cap on a very bad year for job-seekers... one in which many of us felt the pain
of a layoff -- either to ourselves or someone close to us. Job losses for the entire year came to 4.2
million jobs, the most in one year since the government started tracking payrolls in 1939. In total,
the U.S. economy has lost 7.2 million jobs since the start of the recession in 2008.
The news also puts pressure on the government -- both the president and Congress -- to find ways
to help stimulate job growth and help businesses recover and grow.
In the one bit of positive news, November's labor market numbers were revised, showing that
the economy actually added 4,000 jobs rather than losing 11,000 as initially reported.
January 1, 2010
2010 will not be the year of the job-seeker, but that does not mean persistent and well-prepared job-seekers will not find jobs. Jobs are out there.
Several leading experts and numerous surveys in the last few weeks of 2009 predicted that there will
be very little job growth in 2010 -- that even as the economy gets better (assuming it does as predicted),
employers will be cautious and slow in hiring.
So, while it appears that this year will not be the year of the job-seeker, if you are hoping or needing to find
a new job, you not despair. Employers are still hiring – that's the good news. The bad news is that job
openings will be harder to find -- and there will be much more competition for these limited openings.
Thus, if you want a new job in 2010, make it a resolution that you will learn and utilize the best ways to find
a new job. You will need to review and revamp your resume (not just now, but for every job opportunity),
step up your networking and relationship-building (both in-person and online), and persistently pursue and
follow-up every job lead and job interview.
If you have the will to fight for a new job in 2010, we have all the tools and resources on QuintCareers.com to
arm you for winning the battle for better employment. The best place to start your preparations is our
Career Resources Toolkit for Job-Seekers,
but feel free to use our site search engine to find the
specific resources you need to succeed!
Quintessential Resume & Cover Letter Tips Blog,
a blog from another part of the QuintCareers Network, with new resume and cover letter tips daily. A must-see for any active job-seeker.
The Career Doctor Blog,
a blog from another part of the QuintCareers Network, where each day our own Career Doctor Randall Hansen answers one career, job, college, or workplace question.
and reassurance.
The Occupational Adventure
Blog, from Curt Rosengren, a Passion Catalyst. Curt's older blog is great for finding encouraging ideas
(and resources) for moving forward with your career... a career that lights your fire. His newer blog is the
Passion Catalyst -- about loving your work.
Blue Sky Resumes Blog, from career
expert Louise Fletcher, a general career and job-search blog that covers all aspects of the job-hunt.
WorkStrong -- a
candid, completely honest discussion of the job market -- offering information and advice
about what it takes to succeed in the 21st Century world of work. From career and recruitment guru Peter Weddle.
