What Are Employers Saying About the Job Market?
CareerBuilder and USA Today released its latest job forecast today. What we can’t tell you is when the job market is going to turnaround, but what we can tell you is what’s top of mind for employers and what may be going on or planned for in your workplace in the second quarter of 2009 (April -June).
The good news? Only 14 percent of employers plan to increase headcount in the next three months. The bad news? Another 14 percent plan to reduce headcount. The good and bad news? 64 percent of employers expect no change in headcount. Translation: This group isn’t planning on layoffs, but they aren’t planning on hiring, either. They are taking a wait and see approach.
CareerBuilder CEO Matt Ferguson said: “We’ll be looking for the market to stabilize over the next three to six months, when you’ll hopefully see job losses below 100,000 and eventually closer to zero. Employers want to hold on to their talent and are taking measures to contain costs and bring in new revenue streams, so they can maintain their staff levels.”
The survey found six employment trends during this second quarter.
Employers are …
- Trimming perks and benefits: 31 percent of employers expect there will be cuts in benefits and perks including bonuses, 401(k) matching and healthcare coverage
- Upgrading talent rosters: 23 percent of employers are using this time, when hiring has slowed, to replace lower-performing employees with new talent.
Workers are …
- Postponing retirement: 60 percent of workers over the age of 60 are postponing retirement due to the impact of the financial crisis on their long-term savings.
- Transferring skills: 71 percent of workers who were laid off and have not found work are looking for jobs outside of their chosen profession.
- Relocating: 39 percent of workers who were laid off and have not found work are willing to relocate to find a job.
- Going back to school: 21 percent of all workers surveyed are going back to school to become more marketable.
What are your hopes or plans for the coming months?
May 14th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Building a website. Checking out job fairs building my network. Going to job fairs
May 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I got laid off last year and took on a job working for the most negative person whom I have ever met. I went to a CPA friend and talked to her about doing bookkeeping. After our visit she told me that I needed to take a cource in accounting. Today is my final exam! I emailed her and she may have some possibilities for me now. We have to just keep moving forward.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I’m 50 and getting desperate now I have been 6 months unemployed. I can’t believe that a person with my experience and degrees is not able to find a job. Over qualified they say,I believe they consider me too old for the Fashion Industry I would hate to change careers because I’m very good in my field but I see myself working in Mc Donalds if this does not improove. willing to relocate to a major city.
May 14th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I am doing volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and Metro 1 Green Building Resource Center and hoping to get into a green job through this. I too am in my 50′s – just finishing a degree in interior design, and that is one of the industries that has been ill effected by this down turn, so I know it is tough…don’t give up they are always looking for talent and we have to make our own way now.
May 14th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I have been sending out resumes every day since last July; going to job fairs and the local One Stop Agency for assistance. I am willing to relocate!
May 14th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I am 60 years old with working experience compiled since I was 15 years old. I am amazed that with my work history, I cannot find a job! I am a CPS, but not confined to Administrative fields. I’m at a point where I am taking entry-level positions and am so frusrated that “superiors” are less educated than I am!!!
May 14th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
It is amazing to me that w/ all my experience & background I am not able to find a sales job that has a base wage +.. I am 62.. they are just not interested in people my age. Not even a min-wage base… frustraiting
May 14th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I too am just over 50 and have been laid off since Oct. 2008. With a very favorable employment record and successfull sales career, it is amasing that these young hiring managers look as us like we are “old hat”. With so much experience there has to be a value that can be realized.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I also am 51 and laid-off in December from a job I loved. Senior staff was laid off and they kept the less experienced and lower paid. Sending out many resumes that my experience would be a good match, but not hearing hardly anything. I have had someone state that I should take off a couple of older positions to make myself look younger and possible lower salary requirements. I too am getting frustrated and worried about the future.
May 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I’m an engineer of the age of 46. I worked 15 years in industry, was laid off and have been unable to transfer my skills. I would gladly take an entry level position somewhere, if a company would take me. Age discrimination in some fields extends into the 40′s.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I am experienced in retail management and sales, over 55, and I’ve spent hours daily applying on-line for 8 months now (204 apps. with only 9 interviews!). I know that Human Resource depts. are aware of the devotion and service levels of my generation, yet it still fails to translate into opportunity. I know how to help with the sad state of cutomer service these days!
May 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I am 54 years old with 24 yrs. experiance at 2 large companies. I was let go and told I was not Busines Savy anymore ????.
I am having the same problem that I am
over qualified when I apply for lower
wage jobs. What are we all suposed to do now ? The hardest thing is seeing the fear and sadness in my daughters
face when I tell her we can’t do things anymore any she ask’s why /
May 15th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I am almost 55 and have been laid off
twice in last 18 months. The first layoff was from a job where I had worked 18 years(in late 2007). It took me 6 months to find another position. The second was a contract job. The people I worked for liked my work, but the employer(state government) did not have funds to keep me going so I was let go at end of last year. I work in IT and with my
skill not current to the market, have no opportunities in my geographic area. I am going back to school to update my skills and hope to find employment later in the year(hopefully economy will have improved by then).
May 15th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I’m 57 and fortunate in that one child has graduated from college and the other is close. I also have a pension and health coverage. But not enough to sustain our pre-retirement lifestyle. What I’ve learned is that my resume imperfectly communicates transferable skills to potential employers. So what I’m doing is responding to every requirement and qualification listed in the job posting and pasting it before the resume or in another field. If nothing else, it’s a good exercise for an interview.
May 15th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I am 63 years old with extraordinary experience that was sought after a few years ago. The experience and capabilities have not decreased, but age has increase.
I send out many job applications and have had three interviews with no results.
As my former boss said, he hired me for my skills and age. I would not be inclined to fly off the handle in the stressful position he was filling. I wish others could see the same benefit of a seasoned professional.
May 15th, 2009 at 11:55 am
This is just to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experience. I have faced all the same issues and have been looking for a full time job for more than a year.
Hang in there!
May 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I too am in the over 50 group of umemployed workers. I have been unemployed since May 2008. I have had 3 actual interviews during this time period, but when it came down to the wire, I was not hired. Age…..perhaps? I send resumes out weekly, if not daily, to all positions that are in my career field of procurement. I usually hear nothing back or if I do, it’s the “thanks, but no thanks” response I receive. I do believe that persistence will eventually pay off. As frustrating as it is to continually receive negative responses I do not take it personally.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I to am 57 and finding it hard to get even a call back or an interview in 7 months – had 2 face to face interview and that was it. Searching for work is very time consuming and quite worried as many of you. When I see all this wasted spending and more and more people on layoffs it is depressing. But trying to remain positive. UGH What is Obama really doing to help bring back jobs even more so to the over 40 people?
May 15th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Like many of you, I am 55+ and was let go after 10 years of service with a MAJOR Computer company (with very good reviews every year till the last one I might add) and a total of 26 years in IT with other Computer Companies. The short of it is like many of you, I send out at least 20 resumes a week and hardly get a response. Oh yah they will pay you a max of $20 an hour and no benefits.
What is going on? Why do I see ads that I fit perfectly (as I am sure many of you have noted)and don’t at least get an acknowledgement???!!!
Maybe some of you are starting to feel like I am. Web job listings maybe, nothing more than a waste of time. To put it another way; we are just spinning our collective wheels. I suspect that these postings are boggus and do not really exist. Rather, these positions are a fantasy that the placement consultants are placing to “pretend” they are actually working…. translation… they get to keep there jobs.
Now where is that Night manager posting for McDonalds.
Yes laugh that was the purpose. But………..
May 16th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I am a month and a half away from 49. I have experience in various aspects of manufacturing and warehouse work, as well as mail delivery. Stayed home to raise my kids, then worked a temp job in a local warehouse for 2 years. Oddly, after leading me to believe they would hire me (in their words, I was “the best trainer they ever had” and their “most accurate order filler”) I was let go and not called back.
I’ve spent the last 9 months looking for a job. Can’t even get acknowledgment from places like McDonald’s or Taco Bell. My counselor at the Welfare Department can’t believe that at my age I have no managerial experience. Even she had to admit that their handy-dandy job leads list was useless for me, as I hadn’t the qualifications to apply for any of the jobs listed.
I’m signed up with a dozen temp agencies. A few of them have even said they are no longer accepting applications, because they have no work. My last employer is attempting to screw me out of unemployment insurance benefits (they have given the Department of Labor two different stories as to why I no longer work for them, and have given me a third reason, all completely unrelated and not meshing with any of the other two) and I’m on welfare (to the tune of $140 a month). If it wasn’t for food stamps, we wouldn’t be surviving. With underage children to raise, and after 20+ years work experience, I would be grateful for a minimum wage job.
May 16th, 2009 at 11:00 am
After being a stay at home mom for 15 years I got divorced and tried to reenter the workforce. I was 42 and found it difficult to even get a minimum wage job because the employers claimed I had no up to date work history, so I went back to college and got my 4 year degree. I graduated in August of 2008 with the intent of getting a higher paying job.
Today I am 52 and sending out online resumes every day. I have not had any call backs. My resume was updated in college and I also talked with my career counselors to make sure my resume was doing the best work it could for me. I updated my computer skills so I could do clerical work to possibly find a job that actaully paid over 20K a year. I have no health insurance and currently work in a minimum paying job as a cashier.
I have marketable and current computer skills for Power Point, Excel, Publisher etc. I also have public speaking capabilities. I like training people and I am a positive person. I’ve worked in customer service and sales for over 30 years and I would like to transfer my skill set to another area of work, possibly with conventions and special events.
I plan to continue my search and sincerely hope I find work soon.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I was part of a “reduction in force” at the end of 2002 when I had a multi six figure job for 7 years. After 2 years of looking, I took a position at a terrible organization in a department that had no chance of surviving. Sure enough, after 3 years of hell, the department was shut down and I was once again out of work. Now, at 52 I find myself unemployed for the second time in the last 7 years, this time going on 18 months. With three children, and having gone through 4 Christmases over the last 7 without a job, I know just how stressful and difficult a time this can be.
If you have a gap in employment, or are over 50, stigmas are unfairly attached and the deck is stack against you. Then you throw in the poor economic conditions and the worst unemployment numbers in decades and you really have an uphill battle, “the perfect storm”.
We are all engaged in the most difficult “job” we will ever have, finding a job at this point in time. Maintaining our self esteem, confidence and the respect of our loved ones during this trying time takes everything we’ve got. The regular inattention, frequent rejections, condescending rhetoric, and general disinterest can wear you down and begin to chip away at who you are.
Just remember, there is nothing wrong with you. I know it takes a lot at times to rise above it all, and that there are good days and bad days, but try to focus on improving yourself, whatever that may be. Lose the weight you have been wanting to lose, quit smoking, take a class or two, get in the best shape of your life, do something that will impress even you, and as a result empower you! That way, when you do get that next face to face, you will exude confidence and be ready to display to them that they just can’t afford to let you slip through their fingers. You’re an athlete in training waiting for your next opportunity to compete, so train hard.
Good luck everyone!
May 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
Times have been tough for all of us for a very long time. I was forced onto the street when the tire manufacturer where I was a production line supervisor closed its operation and put the whole sector out of work. Looking for work in my area of expertise was out of the question because very few companies were hiring. I finally took an entry level position with another company and now my wife and I are almost starving.
With all the knowledge, experience and wisdom that all the people above have had I find it hard to believe that we are all in these positions. We can find the answers and the solutions to our problems. They are out there. Where do we start looking?
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I am 63 and was laid off from my engineering administration position in October 2008. I can’t afford to be retired since what little investment/savings I had went down the tubes with the stock market crash. Yes, it does get discouraging sending out resumes, attending information sessions through the State, and seeming to get nowhere. A lot of people seem to think I should file for early Social Security (SS), not realizng that SS will not pay nearly enough for my husband and me to live on. (He is a lot older than I am and his income is quite limited.)
The postings I have read here have seemed to focus on questioning why qualified people can’t find jobs, and they take all the rejections very personally. I think it’s time for a different perspective.
I have heard repeatedly that in my field of general administration every job posting generates a response of 200-400 resumes. You may be the best qualified person for the job, and you may have prepared the most perfect, professional resume and cover letter than can be created. But with that many people applying, the employer may never get to your paperwork. Or they may find dozens of other people equally ideal for the job. I’m sure this is true of a lot of fields, not just admin. The point is: the problem is not you or your experience or your resume. The problem is the overall economy that has created this rotten job situation and stuck us all in this mess. And there are millions of people in the same boat.
Being laid off from a job does NOT mean you are a failure or that you are being accused of performing poorly on your job or that you are a bad person in some way. We live in a country where individual effort and accomplishment are seen in isolation from the bigger picture, so even though our heads know we did well our hearts carry a sense of failure. It’s time to change that image.
Yes, it’s frustrating to be out of work. Yes, we are all getting desperate in our personal financial situations, some of us more than others. Yes, we still have to keep plugging away at the job search and trying to find new ways to get work. But it can be enormously helpful to quit blaming ourselves for being out of work and recognize that larger social and economic forces are involved.
Personally, I set a routine for my day of rising early (set the alarm), devouring breakfast and coffee, then getting on the computer to start a structured job search and send out applications whenever I find something appropriate. Afterword I either walk the dog or work out with one of my old exercise videos. Besides relieving stress I am losing weight to help improve my image for when I do get that interview. I do recommend at least walking; even if all you do is walk a half hour a day, it helps.
Good luck to everybody. We’re all still going to need it for some time to come.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:51 am
The interesting part is the fact that age discrimination is supposed to be illegal … and yet all employers seem to engage in it without any fear of retribution.
Being “down-sized” after 30+ years in engineering, I’ll never forget my first [telephone] interview shortly thereafter. The person on the other end of the line was quite enthusiastic until he figured out that I was over 20. Apparently it took him a while to do the date math from my resume and we had talked for 4-5 minutes before it sunk in that I had started my career in 1975; likely a decade before he was born! After some odd choking noises, he opined that old folks don’t usually like factory work and exited the interview post haste. It had been more than 30 years since my last formal interview and I must admit it wasn’t what I had expected.
Three years and hundreds, if not thousands, of applications later have netted exactly three interviews; all proceeded along very similar lines: “Great to meet you!”, {“Wow! You are old!} and a post card announcing that, “We’ve found a [younger] more suitable candidate.”
The last interview particularly amused me as they ended up hiring / firing three poor young fellows in a matter of nine months [after re-locating them to the area no doubt] only to have the economy crush their market and their company. One can only wonder if they’d had a more experienced hand at the wheel without all the distractions and comings and goings if they might have seen it coming and prepared for it better.
And now, having perused the job ads-de-jour and left a comment for my betters, I have to get back to my garden which seems to going quite nicely. Which is a good thing since I see tomatoes are running several dollars a pound locally and I really like them! TTFN and good luck to y’all.