Jobs in Durham NC Created by Car Manufacturer

One local company that makes parts for a well-known car company will soon create hundreds of jobs in Durham NC (Click here).

After receiving a new contract from Toyota, AW North Carolina recently announced that it will add hundreds of jobs during the next two years and invest more than $100 million in the company's Durham plant.

The contract will allow AW North Carolina to add a production line dedicated to making transmissions for may of Toyota's passenger vehicles. Those transmissions are currently made in Japan by Toyota and Aisin AW, the parent company of AW North Carolina.

AW North Carolina opened its Durham factory in 2000. The factory currently makes transmissions for Toyota's heavier, rear-wheel drive vehicles, as well as components for the Camry and other select models.

"Our credibility's been good with Toyota, and they've been very satisfied with our past performance," Will Collins, vice president of AW North Carolina, told The News & Observer. "It's just kind of a reinforcement that our team members are earning these projects."

AW North Carolina, which currently employs about 900 workers, expects to add up to 360 jobs during the next two years as part of the deal. Hiring will begin in spring 2011 for the new production team jobs, which will pay from $11.50 per hour to $16.30 per hour.

Although AW North Carolina is not receiving any funding from the One North Carolina Fund or a Job Development Investment Grant, the company will be eligible for some job-creation tax credits and worker-training assistance.

There are about 160 companies that make and assembler various types of motor vehicles throughout North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, those companies employed more than 17,000 people during 2008.

Arizona Manufacturing Jobs Hit Hard by Recession

Arizona manufacturing jobs are among those that have been hit hardest by the recession.

The Arizona Republic recently released its list of the state's 100 largest employers, which only confirms the negative affect the economic downturn has had, showing layoffs in nearly every industry imaginable.

The total number of workers employed by the 100 largest companies increased by about 1,600 - or less than half of one percentage point - to 424,500. The majority of the added workers came from mergers in the banking industry, where Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase added almost 4,700 jobs.

Of the 100 largest largest companies, 52 percent decreased their workforces, while 38 percent added jobs and the rest remained even.

Among those that cut jobs were manufacturing firms, healthcare fields, retail operations, airlines, hotels, transportation and communication providers, home builders, and financial and business services.

The Republic notes that manufacturing is one of the most important industries in Arizona, because jobs usually pay well and support more secondary positions than most other industries. Unfortunately, manufacturing jobs were among those most hurt by the recession.

Aerospace and defense - which are usually the last to suffer from a down economy and the last to recover amid an improving economy - in particular saw big losses throughout Arizona, with most companies losing workers during the last year.

Honeywell International Inc., an aerospace manufacturer, reduced its workforce by about 200 and doesn't expect to hire many new employees this year. And although Tucson-based missile manufacturer Raytheon added 610 workers, the company recently announced that it has laid off more than 200 workers after cutting three major programs.

Aside from aerospace and defense, manufacturing operations that laid off workers in Arizona during 2009 included semiconductors, medical-equipment makers and manufactured homes. Companies that cut jobs included W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.; Microchip Technology Inc.; Orbital Sciences Corp.; ON Semiconductor, Cavco Industries Inc.; and Medtronic Inc.

A very small number of companies did continue to add workers, including General Dynamics C4 Systems and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

There is some good news in Arizona, however, where job prospects are expected to increase this year and several companies already announcing hiring initiatives. Economists and the Arizona Department of Commerce predict the state will have more employees by the end of this year than it did at the end of 2009.

Los Angeles Medical Jobs, Education Jobs, Information Jobs See Only Yearly Gains

Los Angeles medical jobs and education jobs were one of only two industries to increase over the year during March, falling behind the information industry, which grew by more than 8 percent.

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area's unemployment rate increased from 12.2 percent to 12.3 percent during March, following a decrease from 13.1 percent during February. That increase keeps the area's rate above the national average of 9.7 percent.

The Los Angeles area had a total non-farm employment of 3,780,500 workers during March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 3,770,600 workers during February, but a 2.9 percent decrease from last year.

Eight industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment during March, including: construction by 400 jobs; manufacturing by 1,200 jobs; financial activities by 400 jobs; professional and business services by 1,600 jobs; education and health services by 600 jobs; leisure and hospitality by 3,700 jobs; other services by 1,100 jobs; and government by 3,600 jobs.

Employment in the mining and logging industry remained even over the month with 3,900 jobs. However, only two industries managed to see a yearly increase in employment during March.

The information industry saw the biggest increase over the year. The industry employed 214,400 workers during March, down from 215,700 workers during February, but an 8.8 percent increase from March 2009.

The education and health services industry was the only other industry to increase over the year. The industry employed 525,800 workers during March, up from 525,200 workers during February and a 1.8 percent increase from last year.

Even though it added jobs on a monthly basis, the construction industry took the biggest hit over the year. The industry employed 100,400 workers during March, up from 100,000 workers during February, but an 18.4 percent decrease from March 2009.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• Mining and logging by 9.3 percent
• Manufacturing by 6.1 percent
• Trade, transportation and utilities by 3.6 percent
• Financial activities by 3.4 percent
• Professional and business services by 4.2 percent
• Leisure and hospitality by 1.8 percent
• Other services by 3.4 percent
• Government by 3.5 percent

Las Vegas Teaching Jobs, Healthcare Jobs See Only Yearly Increase

As the area's unemployment rate continued to climb, Las Vegas teaching jobs and healthcare jobs were the only that managed to increase over the year during February.

During February, the Las Vegas-Paradise area's unemployment rate increased from 13.8 percent to 13.9 percent, following an increase from 13.1 percent during January. The latest increase keeps the area's rate above the national average of 9.7 percent.

The Las Vegas area had a total non-farm employment of 799,700 workers during February, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 792,300 workers during January, but a 5.9 percent decrease from last year.

Six industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment, including: information by 100 jobs; professional and business services by 2,300 jobs; education and health services by 1,600 jobs; leisure and hospitality by 2,500 jobs; other services by 100 jobs; and government by 2,000 jobs.

Employment in the mining and logging and manufacturing industries remained even over the month with 200 jobs and 20,200 jobs, respectively.

The education and health services industry was the only one that saw a yearly increase in employment. The industry employed 69,900 workers during February, up from 68,300 workers during January and a 4.5 percent increase from last year.

The mining and logging industry took the biggest hit over the year, losing 33.3 percent of its workforce between February 2009 and February 2010.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• Construction by 30.9 percent
• Manufacturing by 9.4 percent
• Trade, transportation and utilities by 6.1 percent
• Information by 8.1 percent
• Financial activities by 6.6 percent
• Professional and business services by 1 percent
• Leisure and hospitality by 3.6 percent
• Other services by .4 percent
• Government by 5.1 percent

Phoenix Management Jobs as Administrative Services Managers

Those looking for Phoenix management jobs should consider a career as an administrative services manager.

Administrative services managers are responsible for planning, directing and coordinating supportive services for an organization. This can include record-keeping, mail distribution, telephone operation, receptionist duties and other support services. They also may oversee the planning, maintenance and custodial operations of a company.

Education and experience requirements for these managers vary widely, depending on the size and complexity of the organization. In small organizations, experience may be the only requirement. In large organizations, however, administrative services managers may need a bachelor’s degree and appropriate experience.

During 2007, administrative services managers in Arizona earned an average wage of $26.41 per hour, with the average entry-level wage coming in at $15.13 per hour, and the average experienced-level wage reaching $32.05 per hour.

According to the Arizona Workforce Informer, employment for administrative services managers throughout the state is expected to increase from 5,130 workers during 2006 to 5,965 workers by 2016, accounting for 835 additional jobs and a growth rate of 16.3 percent.

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment throughout the nation is expected to increase by 12 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is about as fast as the average growth rate expected for all occupations.

The top 15 industries that employed administrative services managers throughout the state during 2006 were:

1. Employment services - 8.1 percent
2. Colleges and universities - 5.2 percent
3. General medical and surgical hospitals - 3.9 percent
4. Offices of physicians - 3.5 percent
5. Religious organizations - 2.4 percent
6. Services to buildings and dwellings - 2.3 percent
7. Automobile dealers - 2.2 percent
8. Office administrative services - 2.1 percent
9. Outpatient care centers - 2.1 percent
10. Elementary and secondary schools - 1.9 percent
11. Traveler accommodation - 1.9 percent
12. Offices of dentists - 1.6 percent
13. Semiconductor and electronic components - 1.6 percent
14. Junior colleges - 1.4 percent
15. Non-depository credit intermediation

Staffing Software Webinar for Health Pros

Anyone in the healthcare industry who is in charge of implementing their company's staffing software solution may benefit from an upcoming Webinar.



"Successful Healthcare Recruiting Strategies: Lessons Learned At DaVita" - a free Webinar from DaVita and iCIMS - will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. April 21. The Webinar will show how DaVita has implemented five core principals and learned from some of the mistakes made along the journey to create a top recruiting organization.



The Webinar is meant for HR executives and technology decision-makers who are in charge of ensuring their organization selects the right staffing software.



Others who will benefit from the Webinar include: staffing directors and vice presidents, recruitment managers, corporate recruiters, CEOs and HR executives in talent-driven industries, and other Hr professionals who are in charge of evaluating and selecting software.



DaVita's intent statement that guides the company's activities is to "create competitive advantage through recruiting excellence, ultimately reflected in leading patient and financial outcomes."



The company achieves this by implementing five core principles, including: strategic alignment with operations, service excellence, relentless sourcing, hiring and developing top recruiters, and clear brand differentiation.



By using those five principles, DaVita's internal recruiting team has managed to improve the company's attraction of top clinical talent throughout all operations groups and reduce teammate acquisition costs.



The Webinar has been approved for up to one re-certification credit hour toward PHR and SPHR re-certification through the Human Resource Certification Institute.

Houston Teaching Jobs Attracting Out-of-State Candidates

Some Houston teaching jobs may soon be filled by workers from another state.

Officials from the Houston Independent School District recently traveled to California to host recruitment sessions for available teaching jobs. They hoped the effort would attract some of the 5,000 teachers in California who were recently laid off.

According to the California Department of Education, about 20,000 teachers could be laid off during the near future. Because of that, HISD officials are targeting California as part of the district's revamped recruitment program, which is aimed at more focused efforts

"We also thought it would be worthwhile to open up recruitment to teachers who may receive a pink slip," Carmen Rowan, HISD recruitment team leader, told the Houston Business Journal.

Many of the new hires will be made in "critical shortage areas" such as bilingual education, secondary math and secondary science. Rowan said HISD is having trouble finding true bilingual teachers, meaning those who speak both languages fluently and can effectively teach, as well as math teachers who can help students connect current and previous classes.

Teachers who are hired in these areas could receive a $6,000 hiring bonus and special education teachers could receive a $5,000 hiring bonus. In addition, the district approved a $1,500 relocation incentive for those hired outside the state.

In order to receive these incentives, a teacher must be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification and have full-time classroom and school-based instructional experience in critical shortage areas.

Aside from the hiring efforts in California, HISD officials plan to travel to Louisiana, Michigan and Florida during the coming months to search for qualified teachers.

In addition, former HISD employees who have not been on a teacher contract with the district since May 2001 also are eligible for the recruitment incentives. Current HISD teachers who refer top employees for critical shortage positions could receive $1,000.