Simply Hired Blog

SimplyHired.com Releases September Employment Outlook

Today, SimplyHired.com released its September employment outlook highlighting national and local market forecasts, and industry and employer trends.  

Nationwide job openings increased for the second consecutive month, up 4.5% month-over-month and 16.5% year-over-year. The job competition ratio remained the same at 4:1 (four job seekers for every one open position).

Thirteen industries had increases in job openings in August, including agriculture, which was back up 17.9% after last month’s low of -6.1%. Only five industries saw decreases this month: travel (-2.0%), legal (-1.9%), military (-1.9%), real estate (-1.3%) and non-profit (-1.0%).

All 50 major metros experienced job growth again in August. Twenty-four of 50 metro areas posted growths greater than 5.0%, with the most substantial increase in Louisville (14.3%). Following an increase last month, New York saw a year-over-year decline of -0.6%, the only major metro area to see a decline in August.

For more information, read the full report. 

SimplyHired.com Releases August Employment Outlook

Today, SimplyHired.com released its August employment outlook highlighting national and local market forecasts, and industry and employer trends. 

Nationwide job openings increased for the first time since April, up 6.5% month-over-month and 17.0% year-over-year. Openings were previously down -3.8% in June and -2.6% in May.

In line with the nationwide boost in openings, all 50 major metros experienced job growth this month. Thirty-nine metro areas posted growths greater than 5.0%, with the most substantial increases in Oklahoma City (12.3%), Pittsburgh (11.8%) and Grand Rapids (11.2%).

Fifteen of 18 industries had increases in job openings in July, compared to only 2 out of 18 in June. Greatest growths were in retail (41.1%), military (22.0%) and notably, nonprofit (18.2%). Job openings declined in agriculture (-6.1%), automotive (-3.1%) and manufacturing (-0.3%).

For more information, check out the full report below. 

SimplyHired.com August Employment Outlook

SimplyHired.com Releases July Employment Outlook

Today, SimplyHired.com released its July employment outlook highlighting national and local market forecasts, and industry and employer trends. 

Nationwide job openings declined slightly this month, dropping -3.8% month-over-month from May. Despite the decrease, job openings were still up 21.9% from June 2010. The national job competition ratio continued to improve this month, dropping from 5:1 to 4:1 (ratio of job seekers per open job). 

Decreasing job openings resulted in considerable movement in the Job Competition ranking. Nine metros became more competitive (Miami & Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York, Memphis, Greenville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Raleigh & Durham), while five other metros became better for job seekers (West Palm Beach, Pittsburgh, Portland, Phoenix, Sacramento).

Energy prices have not risen to the extreme rates feared by analysts, renewing confidence in the transportation industry. While most other industries had negative changes in job openings, transportation continued to increase, up another 19.1% (12.9% last month). Jobs for drivers, pilots and other transportation workers grew 6.4%. As long as oil prices remain level, this hiring increase is likely to continue.

For more information, check out the full report below. 

SimplyHired.com July Employment Outlook

SimplyHired.com Releases May Employment Outlook

Today, SimplyHired.com released its May employment trends outlook highlighting national and local market forecasts, and industry and employer trends. 

Nationwide job openings declined slightly this month, dropping -2.6% month-over-month from April. Despite the decrease, job openings were still up 26.1% from 2010. The national job competition ratio improved this month, dropping from 6:1 to 5:1. Though job growth slowed, many states reported lower unemployment rates, which could account for the improved ratio.

Hiring appeared to slow across nearly all areas in May. The majority of metros, 32 of 50, had a decline in job openings, and another nine metros had growths of less than 1.0%. The most significant growths for the month were in smaller metros: Austin (6.6%), West Palm Beach (6.3%) and Albuquerque & Santa Fe (4.1%).

Although May proved to be a slow hiring month for nearly all industries and occupations, the two strongest sectors continued to grow. Job openings for retail salespersons increased 64.1% month-over-month and openings for financial specialists and accountants increased 34.8%.

For more information on May employment trends view the full report below.

SimplyHired.com May 2011 Employment Outlook

SimplyHired.com Releases April Job Trends Report

Today, SimplyHired.com released its April job trends report highlighting national and local market outlooks, and industry and employer trends.

After returning to pre-recession levels last month, nationwide job openings continued to increase in April, gaining 6.7% month-over-month and 33.9% year-over year. In March, SimplyHired.com reached pre-recession numbers of job listings, and the government released the most optimistic employment report we’ve seen in a long time. The continued job growth SimplyHired.com has seen in April will likely result in more hiring in the coming months.

Hiring in the travel industry decreased -15.6% in April, nearly two months after crude oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel. This sharp decline in hiring so close to popular travel months is likely an attempt by airlines and other oil-reliant travel businesses to buffer the unavoidably high cost of oil.

Hiring in the retail industry increased 23.6%, the largest growth across all industries. The concurrent 92.0% increase in job openings for retail salespersons signifies the beginning of summer seasonal hiring for retailers.

Cincinnati had the highest month-over-month increase in job openings (13.6%) from March to April, followed by San Diego (12.9%) and Dallas & Fort Worth (12.3%). The Cleveland & Akron, Salt Lake City and Harrisburg metros all posted 11.5% increases in job openings.

For more information on April job trends read the press release or view the full report below.

SimplyHired.com April 2011 Job Trends Report