Sales Jobs in Phoenix Thankful for Black Friday

An influx of Black Friday shoppers should support many sales jobs in Phoenix (Click here) this week.

A new report from the National Retail Foundation is predicting that the number of Americans who shop on Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving, will increase from 138 million last year to 152 million this year.

"Though many retailers are already touting select Black Friday ads, there's no doubt we'll all be blown away by what retailers still have in their bag of tricks for shoppers, " Matthew Shay, president and CEO of NRF, said in a press release. "We fully expect to see excited shoppers as early as midnight at stores around the country, as many holiday shoppers would rather stay up all night to take advantage of retailers' Black Friday deals than set their alarm to wake up the next morning."

Some highlights of the report include:

• 74 million people will definitely go shopping on Black Friday, while another 77 million are waiting to see what bargains stores will offer.
• 50.5 percent plan to use advertising circulars to find deals, while 31.7 percent will watch retailers' commercials., 23.1 percent will use coupon websites, and 32.3 percent will use e-mail coupons from retailers.
• 17.3 percent will monitor retailers' Facebook pages, while 11.3 percent will use deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial.
• Of those who own tablets, 31.2 percent will monitor retailers' Facebook pages and 21.3 percent will use group buying site.

"Social media will play a big role in how shoppers follow company sales announcements this holiday season," Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategic initiatives for BIGresearch, which conducted the study, said. "From Facebook to Twitter and even group buying sites, 'social' retailers may be rewarded this season in terms of additional holiday sales."

Dallas Hotel Jobs to Grow as Construction Projects are Completed

Plenty of Dallas hotel jobs (Click here) should be created in the coming months, as the city ranks high for its number of hotel rooms in construction.

According to the October Construction Dodge Pipeline Report from Smith Travel Research and McGraw Hill, there are currently 2,835 hotel projects underway totaling 310,387 rooms, which is a 9 percent decrease from last year.

Dallas ranks fourth in the nation for the number of hotel rooms in construction. The report includes projects in the "In Construction," "Final Planning," and "Planning" stages, but not those in the "Pre-Planning" stage.

The top 10 markets by number of rooms in construction include:

1. New York City - 7,459
   
2. Orlando - 2,835
   
3. Washington, D.C. - 2,674
   
4. Nashville - 1,490
   
5. Dallas - 1,400
   
6. Phoenix - 1,156
   
7. Philadelphia - 1,071
   
8. Miami-Hialea - 1,036
   
9. Las Vegas - 794
   
10. Chicago - 724

"New room supply growth will remain muted for the overall industry in the coming years," Vail Brown, vice president of global sales and marketing for STR, said in a press release. "An exception is the New York City market; they are in the middle of a new hotel construction explosion. Currently, rooms under construction represent around 7 percent of their existing supply base; this is a robust number.

"One very interesting observation is this is the first time in several years STR hasn't seen Las Vegas in the top five for new construction," she added.

Grad Schools for OT Jobs Arizona

Those considering the OT jobs Arizona has to offer among their future career options should be sure to first gain the proper education.

Occupational therapists work with patients who suffer from mental, physical, developmental, or emotional disorders. Their goal is to help patients improve their quality of life and work by better performing basic functions.

All students must first earn their master's degree before becoming eligible to work as an entry-level occupational therapist. Most employees work in ambulatory healthcare services, while others are employed by hospitals, officers, other healthcare practitioners, educational services, and nursing care facilities.

According to Education-Portal.com, the top 20 graduate schools for occupational therapy include:

• Ohio State University
• University of Florida
• New York University
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Washington
• University of Southern California
• San Jose State University
• Boston University
• University of Kansas
• Colorado State University
• University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• University of Pittsburgh
• Columbia University
• Eastern Kentucky University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Duquesne University
• Tufts University
• St. Catherine University
• University of Puget Sound
• University of Texas Medical Branch

Nursing Jobs in Arizona Grow Along with Nation

Nursing jobs in Arizona and across the country are continuing to grow.

A recent report from American Traveler found that nursing jobs - including registered nursing and travel nursing positions - have increased by 56 percent over the last year. This is great news for anyone wondering what RN jobs Phoenix has to offer.

The majority of that growth is due to larger employers that are recovering from the recession and beginning to hire again, as well as an influx of ambulatory outpatient care centers that have opened throughout the nation.

"It looks like healthcare is back in business," Deborah Bacurin, RN, clinical resource manager for American Traveler, said in a statement. "The demand for ambulatory nurse jobs has skyrocketed and almost half of all jobs created in September went to healthcare."

Here are some key findings of the report:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that hospital job growth during the first nine months of 2011 was four times that of 2010.
• Of all the jobs created during September, 42 percent were healthcare related.
• The number of ambulatory healthcare jobs doubled last month.
• About 344,000 new healthcare jobs should be created by the end of the year, more than in manufacturing and construction.

"It's a really good time for nurses to consider a career in travel nursing, and for some to look beyond the hospital," Mary Kay Hull, vice president of recruitment for American Traveler, said. "New business models have pervaded healthcare. These include not only ambulatory care centers, but skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgery clinics and various types of physician practices subject to a seasonal census.

"The nurse jobs are out there," she continued. "They pay good and come with great benefits. On the other hand, healthcare employers are looking for the 'cream of the crop.' They've raised performance standards for nurses and are keeping better track of where and how they spend labor dollars."

Physician, Nursing Jobs Arizona Recognized

Those with physician and nursing jobs Arizona were recently recognized for their excellence in patient care.

Physicians at Arizona Heart Institute were recently awarded the Aetna Aexcel-designation for its top performance in general surgery, cardiology, and vascular surgery. The Aexcel designation recognizes physicians in 12 specialties who have met certain clinical performance and efficiency standards.

In order to be considered for the designation, physicians must meet a certain minimum patient volume and pass clinical performance criteria. Physicians are evaluated based on five specific categories, including:

• Hospital readmission rates
• Health complication rates
• Outcomes
• Cost for service
• Number and types of services performed

"We are extremely proud to be recognized as top performers in these clinical specialty areas at Arizona Heart Institute," Dr. Mark Kestner, chief medical officer for Abrazo Health Care, said in a statement. "These particular categories speak volumes to our patients who seek high-level medical care for general surgery, cardiology and vascular surgery needs."

Arizona Heart Institute is part of Abrazo Health Care, the second-largest healthcare system in Arizona. Abrazo runs five acute care hospitals; one cardiovascular hospital; one free-standing dedicated cardiovascular outpatient facility; two health plans; school-based health centers; and Abrazo Medical Group.

Sales Jobs Phoenix Arizona Bolstered by Retail Growth

The number of sales jobs Phoenix Arizona (http://jobs.bestwestern.com) has to offer should see an increase thanks to a recent boost in retail sales.

A recent report from the National Retail Federation found that retail sales increased by .4 percent during September and by 5.7 percent when compared to last year. This is great news for the economy, because it means consumers are once again spending money.

"The American consumer and the retail industry continue to lead this recovery, and strong September retail sales are just what the economy needs right now," Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the NRF, said. "The unexpectedly strong sales increase in September may work to dampen fears of a double-dip recession and could indicate an economic and employment rebound."

A separate report from the U.S. Department of Commerce - which includes non-general merchandise like cars and restaurants - found that sales increased by 1.1 percent over the month and by 8.6 percent over the year.

Here's a look at how sales fared during September:

• Clothing and clothing accessory stores - +1.3 percent
• Furniture and home furnishing stores - +1.1 percent
• Health and personal care stores - +.3 percent
• Electronics and appliances stores - +.2 percent
• Building materials and garden equipment stores - -.1 percent

"Despite stagnant unemployment figures and a shaky stock market, American consumers are holding their own," NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. "While September's sales figures were strong, retailers' fourth quarter growth will continue to depend heavily on the labor market and consumer confidence, both of which continue to experience weakness."

Sales Careers Phoenix Bolstered by Halloween

Many sales careers Phoenix should be supported as consumers gear up for upcoming Halloween festivities.

 The 2011 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey from the National Retail Federation found that holiday spending will reach $6.86 billion this year. About 68.6 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween, spending an average of $72.31 per person.

"Eager to shake off the summer heat and forget about the economy for a few days, Americans are looking forward to having some fun this Halloween," Matthew Shay, president and CEO of NRF, said in a statement. "Many retailers have already stocked their shelves with Halloween merchandise and, given the popularity of the holiday this year, consumers should not hesitate when they find something that would make their celebration complete."

Some interesting findings of the survey include:

• The average consumer will spend $26.52 on costumes.
• A total of $1 billion will be spent on children's costumes, while $1.21 billion will be spent on adult costumes, and $310 million will be spent on pet costumes.
• Consumers will spend an average of $19.79 on decorations, $21.05 on candy, and $4.96 on cards.
• 43.9 percent plan to dress in costume, up from 40.1 percent last year.
• 34.3 percent plan to attend a party, up from 33.3 percent during 2010.
• 22.9 percent plan to visit a haunted house, up from 20.8 percent last year.
• 49.5 percent plan to decorate their home or yard.
• 14.7 percent plan to dress their pets in costume.
• 73.5 percent plan to hand out candy.
• 47.8 percent plan to carve a pumpkin.
• 32.9 percent plan to take children trick-or-treating.
• 32.1 percent say the state of the economy is affecting their Halloween plans.
• 87.1 percent plan to spend less overall.
• 18.9 percent plan to make a costume, while 16.6 percent plan to use last year's costume, and 40.2 percent plan to buy less candy.

"Thanks to creative costumes and décor for consumers of all ages, Halloween has become one of the most anticipated holidays of the year for many people," said Pam Goodfellow, consumer insights director for BIGresearch, said. "As a non-gift holiday, even people on the strictest budget can enjoy themselves this Halloween."  

Nonprofit Fundraising Jobs Supported by Millions in Grants

A number of organizations have received large grants in recent weeks that will support many nonprofit fundraising jobs.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy releases a list of grants totaling $20,000 or more every Thursday. Grants are made by foundations, companies, and other private sources and go toward a variety of causes, from drought relief to education reform.

Here are the 10 largest grants for the week of September 15:

1. Bloomberg Family Foundation (New York, N.Y.) - $18 million over 33 months from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reduce tobacco use in low and middle-income countries with a priority focus on Africa.
2. Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Washington, D.C.) - $17.2 million from the Eugene B. Casey Foundation for an educational endowment.
3. Harvard School of Public Health (Boston, Mass.) - $12 million over three years from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve maternal health in developing countries
4. Duke University (Durham, N.C.)/Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.)/Salk Institute for Biological Studies (La Jolla, Calif.) - $1.6 million each over 62 months from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to support innovative plant biology research.
5. KIPP Foundation (San Francisco, Calif.) - $3.5 million from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation to support the 2015 Plan program, particularly data collection, reporting, usage training, and school and regional reviews.
6. World Health Organization (Geneva, Wash.) - $2.9 million over three years from the Bil l & Melinda Gates Foundation to bring new vaccines to low and middle-income countries.
7. Kaivalya Education Foundation (Ahmedabad, India) - $2.5 million from the Michael and Susab Dell Foundation to help governments and schools develop into strong and inspirational leaders.
8. D.C. Public Education Fund (Washington, D.C.) - $1.5 million over 29 months from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help school systems properly train employees who observe classrooms.
9. Pew Research Center (Washington, D.C.) - $1.4 million over 32 months from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct national research on consumer expectations and use of public library services, especially e-books and digital content.
10. Oxfam America (Boston, Mass.) - $1.4 million over 19 months from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support relief efforts after the recent drought in Ethiopia.

Simulation Training for PT Jobs Arizona

Those considering the PT jobs Arizona (http://rehabjob.abrazohealth.com) has to offer among their future career options may want to participate in some simulation training.

A recent study from the University of South Florida found that gynecological medical students who practice on a patient simulator score significantly higher on their final exams than students who only receive lectures.

Although this study is aimed solely at gynecological students, it proves that simulation training can have benefits for any medical student, including those interested in physical therapy.

The USF study is one of many that has examined the effects of obstetric simulation training on student confidence, comprehension, satisfaction, and comfort in performing common obstetric procedures. However, it's the first study to evaluate simulation effects on final examination scores.

"The simulation training engaged the students early on," Dr. Shelly Holmstrom, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at USF Health and lead author of the study, said in a statement. "As a result, they may have been more invested in the clerkship and absorbed the information more effectively and comprehensively. That may explain why these students scored higher on their oral and written examinations."

The study followed 113 students in the USF four-week maternal newborn clerkship. Some students were assigned to attend traditional lectures on delivering a baby, while others participated in a hands-on delivery simulation.

Students were asked to complete confidence assessment surveys before their assignments began and four weeks after training. The exam scores of the simulation and non-simulation groups were then compared.

The results found:

• More than 52 percent of students in the simulation training felt confident enough to perform an independent or minimally-supervised delivery after training, compared to only 16 percent of students in the lecture group.
• After performing three actual deliveries, there was no difference in confidence levels between the two groups.
• Students in the simulation group scored higher on their oral and written exams.

Phoenix Sales Jobs Supported by Back-to-School Shopping

Although sales won't be as high as last year, back-to-school shopping will still support many Phoenix sales jobs (http://lazboyjobs.com).

The National Retail Federation Back-to-School survey found that total back-to-school spending will reach $68.8 billion this year, marking the second-largest consumer spending event for retailers, second only to the winter holidays. However, students and their families are planning to spend less this year.

Families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade will spend a total of $22.8 billion this year. Each family will spend an average of $603.63 on necessities, which is a slight decrease from the $606.40 spent last year.

Families of college students will spend an average of $808.71 on necessities - from apparel and furniture to electronics and food items - which is down from $835.73 last year.

"Families aren't opposed to spending on what they need, but parents want their children to take a good look around at what they already have before deciding what to buy for back to school this year," Matthew Shay, president and CEO of NRF, said in a statement. "Retailers understand consumers are extremely focused on value and are taking this opportunity to offer substantial savings on merchandise."

Nursing Jobs in Arizona: Top Nursing Homes

There are plenty of nursing jobs in Arizona at some of the state's top nursing homes.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report released its list of the top nursing homes in the nation. A total of 27 nursing homes throughout Arizona were considered to be among the best in the nation, receiving top ratings in a number of fields.

All of the homes included on the list received five starts - the highest available rating - from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Each nursing home's overall rating is based on its performance in health inspections, nurse staffing, and medical care.

The nursing homes in Arizona included on the list are:

1. Vi at Grayhawk (Scottsdale)
2. Christian Care Nursing Center (Phoenix)
3. La Hacienda at La Posada (Green Valley)
4. Beatitudes Campus (Phoenix)
5. Copper Mountain Inn (Globe)
6. Good Samaritan Society-Peoria Good Shepherd (Peoria)
7. Good Samaritan Society-Prescott Valley (Prescott Valley)
8. Life Care Center of South Mountain (Phoenix)
9. Weyrich Healthcare of Westminster Village (Scottsdale)
10. Advanced Health Care of Scottsdale (Scottsdale)
11. Cook Health Care (Youngtown)
12. The Forum at Desert Harbor (Peoria)
13. Health Care Center-Forum Tucson (Tucson)
14. Maryland Gardens Care Center (Phoenix)
15. Northern Cochise Nursing Home (Willcox)
16. Park Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Center (Tucson)
17. Scottsdale Nursing & Rehab Center (Scottsdale)
18. Glencroft Care Center (Glendale)
19. Hacienda Nursing Facility (Phoenix)
20. Life Care Center of North Glendale (Glendale)
21. Palm Valley Rehab & Care Center (Goodyear)
22. Mountain View Care Center (Tucson)
23. Phoenix Mountain Nursing Center (Phoenix)
24. Caremeridian-Phoenix (Phoenix)
25. Sierra Winds (Peoria)
26. Sonora at Splendido (Tucson)
27. The Health Care Center at Friendship Village (Tempe)

Dallas Hotel Jobs Among Industries Growing

Dallas hotel jobs (Click here) are among those seeing significant increases over the last month and year.

During May, the Dallas area's unemployment rate climbed from 7.7 percent to 7.9 percent, after falling from 8.1 percent the previous month. However, the area's rate was still lower than the national average at the time of 9.1 percent.

The Dallas-Plano-Irving area employed a total of 2,070,700 workers during May, which is up from 2,063,100 workers during April and a 2.5 percent increase from last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Several industries added jobs over the month, led by the professional and business services industry, and followed by trade, transportation, and utilities; leisure and hospitality; government; financial activities; education and health services; information; and other services.

Many industries also saw an increase in jobs over the year, with the professional and business services industry growing the most, followed by mining, logging, and construction; education and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; and other services.

Here's a look at how each industry fared over the month and year:

• Mining, logging, and construction - -1,400 jobs/+5.4 percent
• Manufacturing - -400 jobs/-1.3 percent
• Trade, transportation, and utilities - +2,600 jobs/+1.8 percent
• Information - +100 jobs/-5.6 percent
• Financial activities - +1,000 jobs/+4.6 percent
• Professional and business services - +2,900 jobs/+7.3 percent
• Education and health services - +100 jobs/+4.8 percent
• Leisure and hospitality - +1,400 jobs/+.9 percent
• Other services - +100 jobs/+.3 percent
• Government - +1,200 jobs/-1.1 percent

Some Fundraising Jobs Pay Six Figures

Did you know that some nonprofit and fundraising jobs pay more than six figures?

A recent report from The Canadian Press analyzing nonprofit salary data from the Canada Revenue Agency found that several top employees are earning six-figure salaries. Every charity throughout the nation is required to disclose the earnings of its 10 highest-paid employees.

Salaries are broken down as follows:

• Roughly 300 employees bring in more than $350,000 per year.
• More than 6,000 employees earn salaries above $120,000 per year.
• About 12,000 workers see salaries between $80,000 and $120,000 per year.
• Some 163,000 employees make less than $80,000 per year.

There are currently about 85,000 nonprofit organizations throughout Canada. These groups include everything from traditional charities that raise money for various causes to hospitals, school boards, and colleges.

Many organizations justify paying such high salaries by saying that it's important to have top talent in charge, and top talent typically costs top dollar.

"If you really want those charities to have an impact and make a real difference, you're going to need to bring in the best people to work in that sector," Marcel Lauziere of Imagine Canada, a group that advocates on behalf of Canadian charities, said. "It's not only in government and in business. So you will have to pay salaries that are commensurate to that."

A handful of organizations employ at least 10 people earning $350,000 or more, including: La Salle Manor, Regina Qu'Appelle Regional Health Authority, the University of Saskatchewan, and Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as a number of churches and religious and community groups.

Some Fundraising Jobs Pay Six Figures

Did you know that some nonprofit and fundraising jobs pay more than six figures?

A recent report from The Canadian Press analyzing nonprofit salary data from the Canada Revenue Agency found that several top employees are earning six-figure salaries. Every charity throughout the nation is required to disclose the earnings of its 10 highest-paid employees.

Salaries are broken down as follows:

• Roughly 300 employees bring in more than $350,000 per year.
• More than 6,000 employees earn salaries above $120,000 per year.
• About 12,000 workers see salaries between $80,000 and $120,000 per year.
• Some 163,000 employees make less than $80,000 per year.

There are currently about 85,000 nonprofit organizations throughout Canada. These groups include everything from traditional charities that raise money for various causes to hospitals, school boards, and colleges.

Many organizations justify paying such high salaries by saying that it's important to have top talent in charge, and top talent typically costs top dollar.

"If you really want those charities to have an impact and make a real difference, you're going to need to bring in the best people to work in that sector," Marcel Lauziere of Imagine Canada, a group that advocates on behalf of Canadian charities, said. "It's not only in government and in business. So you will have to pay salaries that are commensurate to that."

A handful of organizations employ at least 10 people earning $350,000 or more, including: La Salle Manor, Regina Qu'Appelle Regional Health Authority, the University of Saskatchewan, and Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as a number of churches and religious and community groups.

Hotel Corporate Jobs Phoenix Get Boost from Tax Cuts

The development of a new downtown hotel will support a number of new employment opportunities, from hotel corporate jobs Phoenix to retail positions to construction roles.

Earlier this year, the Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation approved a tax credit that will allow RED Development to build the new Kimpton Palomar Hotel at CityScape, creating thousands of new jobs along the way.

RED will receive $34.3 million in tax exemptions from the New Markets Tax Credit Program, which provides companies and organizations with commercial real estate loans that are below market rate in an effort to encourage neighborhood revitalization.

"CityScape is creating thousands of construction jobs, opening retail, restaurant, entertainment and office doors and attracting thousands of long-term sustainable jobs," Mayor Phil Gordon said in a statement. "This loan fills a financing gap that allows CityScape to deliver on a promise of sustainable jobs, future growth and expansion."

The new hotel is part of the second phase of the CityScape project in downtown Phoenix. City officials and many businesses have invested almost $500 million in that project so far.

"Projects like the Kimpton Palomar Hotel demonstrate our commitment to serve by creating jobs and revitalizing downtown, which is located in one of the poorest census tracts in Maricopa County," Jerome Miller, deputy city manager and chairman of PCDIC, said. "With our New Markets Tax Credit allocation, the PCDIC board is working with our investor partners to create economic opportunities for under-served communities in Phoenix by providing below market rate commercial real estate loans."

As part of the tax credit agreement, RED will offer a $1 million endowment to benefit low to moderate-income students who are pursuing four-year degrees at accredited universities, as well as the recruiting efforts of construction subcontractors.

The following projects also have received funding under the NMTC program:

• Riverside Industrial Center - $44.5 million
• Spectrum Mall - $37.5 million
• Arizona Bridge to Independent Living - $16.5 million
• Native American Connections - $6.1 million
• Hacienda Skilled Nursing Center - $6 million
• YMCA - $6 million
• Clarendon Hotel - $4.2 million
• Phoenix Rescue Mission - $4 million

Child & Family Therapy Jobs

At hand is currently a intense call for for child & family therapy jobs.

Couple and family unit therapists career with folks, kinsfolk, couples, and groups to reference and handle a quantity of mental and emotional problems. Therapists' goals are to aid relatives alter their thoughts and functions, heighten conversing and comprehension amongst home members, and avoid issues.

These type of experts are different from some other therapy employees since they focalise the most on gaining knowledge of a group's feelings and moves with their own surroundings as opposed to uncovering a specific intimate head confrontation.

Even though the concentration of development vital to become a therapist varies by state, a quantity of therapist employees obtain at the least a high's grade. In addition, all states neccesitate wedding and kinsfolk therapist workers to get the proper authorization so they are capable to get practicing.

As a therapist person's career environment could deviate depending on their occupation, a number of workers career in an company where they are able to go to see their clients on a usual basis. These departments are generally established in a undisclosed office, neighbourhood medicinal system, day treatment programme site, or infirmary.

Thither existed around 27,300 matrimony and family unit therapist people in the u.s.a. in 2008, and that quantity is probable to develop by 14 pct as of 2018, in accordance to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The majority of therapists are solely-employed and operate in cluster bureaus or not public businesses.

During 2008, the middle earnings for union and domestic therapy workers was $44,590 per twelvemonth. The lower 10 pct of folks brought in fewer than $27,810 per twelvemonth and the high 10 percentage of folks received more than $70,830 per year.

Twelve-monthly salaries were the best for laborers working in:

• Commonwealth governing - $50,770
• Local governance - $48,220
• Out patient upkeep businesses - $46,830
• Bureaus of added wellbeing pros - $41,220
• Single and kinsperson services - $39,690

King Soopers Jobs Benefiting from Rising Food Prices

Although rising food prices may be inconvenient for shoppers, they may ultimately result in the creation of more King Soopers jobs (Click here).

Officials from The Kroger Company, which owns many King Soopers and City Market stores throughout Colorado and supports many Denver jobs (http://denver.jobing.com), are predicting that food prices will soon begin increasing. While this is bad news for consumers, it's good news for grocery stores, as higher revenues support more jobs.

While food prices have been declining for many consecutive quarters, a benefit for struggling shoppers, an ever-improving economy and a growing customer demand are slowly driving prices back up, according to an article by the Denver Business Journal.

At the recent Barclays Capital analyst conference in New York, Kroger CEO David Dillon said that modest level of inflation is having a positive impact on his business. In fact, rising food and gas prices are allowing the company to create more jobs for local employees.

Kroger expects to see its sales increase by 3 to 4 percent this year and expects its overall earnings to range from $1.80 to $1.92 per share. Those increases could eventually result to an increase in revenues and the creation of even more jobs later in the year.

Cincinnati-based Kroger is currently the largest traditional supermarket chain in the nation. The company had total sales of $82.2 billion last year.

The company operates under almost 24 different names throughout many states. Kroger operations feature everything from grocery and multi-department stores to convenience stores and smaller jewelry stores in malls.

Arizona Pharmacy Jobs: Becoming Certified in Pharmacy IV

Professionals with Arizona pharmacy jobs (Click here) may benefit from becoming certified in IV drug delivery.

At the most basic level, pharmacists are responsible for preparing and distributing prescription drugs to patients. However, these employees can take extra training in order to gain new skills and be able to perform more services in the pharmacy or their place of work.

Many pharmacists choose to become certified in pharmacy IV, which allows them to create and administer intravenous medications and other hazardous drugs. Some states even require pharmacists to receive this certification before they can begin practicing.

Students will benefit the most from taking a course through the National Pharmacy Technician Association, which offers many courses recognized by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, the organization that sets the standard for pharmaceutical education.

According to an article by Education-Portal.com, most IV certification courses focus on seven to nine skills that students will need in order to safely and efficiently prepare and administer intravenous medications to patients.

A typical IV certification course will teach students how to:

• Perform mathematical calculations that are used to compound sterile products.
• Correctly clean and use laminar flow hood.
• Handle sterile products and make them stable and compatible.
• Use the correct aseptic techniques to safely prepare, handle, and store chemotherapeutic chemicals.
• Determine the risk levels of sterile pharmaceuticals.
• Appropriately handle and dispose of biohazardous materials.
• Discuss parenteral drug therapy and the principles of sterility.
• Differentiate between the various IV drug delivery methods.
• Adhere to state and federal regulations on compounding sterile pharmaceuticals.

Sales Jobs Phoenix Could be Affected by Blockbuster Takeover

The number of sales jobs Phoenix (Click here) has to offer could soon decline after a popular satellite television company takes over a struggling video rental service.

DISH Network Corporation recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Blockbuster, Inc. for about $228 million. Blockbuster currently operates more than 1,700 stores throughout America, including several in the Phoenix area, and one that supports Gilbert jobs (Click here).

DISH is the second-largest satellite television service in America, behind only DirecTV. The company hopes it can use Blockbuster's resources and name-brand recognition to build on its current and future offerings for customers.

"With its more than 1,700 store locations, a highly recognizable brand and multiple methods of delivery, Blockbuster will complement our existing video offerings while presenting cross-marketing and service extension opportunities for DISH Network," Tom Cullen, executive vice president of sales, marketing and programming for DISH Network, said in a press release. "While Blockbuster's business faces significant challenges, we look forward to working with its employees to re-establish Blockbuster's brand as a leader in video entertainment."

According to an article by the Phoenix Business Journal, DISH Network plans to keep at least 500 Blockbuster stores in operation, while the remaining stores will most likely close. However, the company has not yet specified which stores will remain open, so it's unknown how many Phoenix sales jobs (Click here) will be affected.

Many stores in the Phoenix area have already closed or are planning to close soon. At the company's peak in 2004, Blockbuster operated about 9,100 stores, but then filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy last year after facing stiff competition from other video companies.

Denver IT Jobs Lost as SOE Closes Local Office

Some Denver IT jobs (Click here) could be lost as a popular gaming company closes its local office.

Sony Online Entertainment recently announced that it will close the company's game development studios in Denver, Seattle, and Tucson. The studios are being closed in an effort to reduce costs and streamline the company's global workforce.

A total of 205 jobs will be lost during the process, although the company has yet to say how many of those positions are in Denver, according to the Denver Business Journal. The local studio, which develops online digital property and role-playing games, has been in business for 10 years.

The job losses shouldn't have a huge affect on the statewide or local economies, both of which are continuing to recover on a monthly and yearly basis from the economic recession.

During March, Colorado's unemployment rate dropped from 9.3 percent to 9.2 percent, which is only slightly higher than the national average of 8.8 percent. Denver had an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent during February.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Colorado employed a total of 2,228,200 workers during March, which is up from 2,227,700 workers during February and a .5 percent increase from last year.

Employment in the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield area came in at about 1,184,600 workers during March, which is up from 1,176,000 workers during February and a .9 percent increase from last year.

SOE employs about 700 people nationwide. The company claims that the job cuts and closures of its game development studios will not impact players wishing to access the company's wide array of live games.

"This strategic decision will have no impact on SOE's current portfolio of live games," company officials said in a statement. "This strategic alignment of development resources better positions SOE to remain a global leader in online gaming and deliver on its promise of creating entertaining games for players of all ages, and servicing the 20 million players that visited SOE servers in just the past year."