Atlanta Education Jobs

If you're looking for a teaching career, there are plenty of opportunities when it comes to Atlanta education jobs.

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta area's education industry has continued to see a monthly and yearly increase in employment, despite the current economic recession.

The industry employed 270,900 workers during November 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 270,500 workers during October and a 2.8 percent increase from the previous year.

Atlanta Public Schools, which serves as the city's public elementary and secondary school system, is run by the Atlanta Board of Education. As of 2007, APS had an active enrollment of 49,773 students.

According to Wikipedia, APS operates a total of 106 schools, including 58 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, 20 high schools and seven charter schools. Three of the elementary schools operate on a year-round calendar.

APS also operates two alternative schools for middle and high school students, including two single-sex academies and an adult learning center. The system also owns and operates a radio station, National Public Radio affiliate and Public Broadcasting Service television station.

When it comes to higher education, Atlanta serves as home to one of the largest concentrations of colleges and universities in the nation. The city has more than 30 higher education institutions.

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a predominant engineering and research university located in Atlanta that has been ranked among the top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report for more than 10 years.

The city is home to the Atlanta University Center, which serves as the largest consortium of historically-black colleges and universities in the country. AUC schools include Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College and the Interdenominational Theological Center. The Morehouse School of Medicine adjoins the other AUC schools, but is independent from them.

Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, along with a Savannah College of Art and Design campus in Midtown, the John Marshall Law School and the Reformed Theological Seminary.

Schools throughout outer Atlanta include Emory University, Oglethorpe University, Agnes Scott College and Reinhardt College.

The outer Atlanta area also has several state-run institutions, including: Clayton State University, Georgia Perimeter College, Kennesaw State University, Southern Polytechnic State University and the University of West Georgia.

Denver Colorado Jobs Ranked Among Best in Nation

Those looking for Denver Colorado jobs may be in luck.

The most recent Job Search Difficulty Index from Juju ranked Denver as the eighth-best city in the country for job seekers. The report is based on the ratio of jobless workers to the number of job openings advertised online.

The index found that Denver had 3.81 unemployed workers per advertised job during December. Colorado was ranked as the eighth-best state for job seekers, with 4.99 unemployed workers per advertised job.

Washington, D.C., was ranked as the best city for job seekers, with 1.87 unemployed workers per advertised job, while Detroit was ranked as the worst city, with 20.76 unemployed workers per available job.

The District of Columbia was ranked as the best state for job seekers, with 1.65 unemployed workers per job openings, while Michigan was ranked as the worst state, with 18.97 unemployed workers per advertised job.

The top 10 cities for job seekers are:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. San Jose, Calif.
3. Baltimore, Md.
4. Boston, Mass.
5. New York, N.Y.
6. Salt Lake City, Utah
7. Hartford, Conn.
8. Denver, Colo.
9. San Antonio, Texas
10. Austin, Texas

The 10 worst cities for job seekers include:

1. Orlando, Fla.
2. Providence, R.I.
3. Birmingham, Ala.
4. Los Angeles, Calif.
5. Sacramento, Calif.
6. Las Vegas, Nev.
7. Riverside, Calif.
8. Miami, Fla.
9. St. Louis, Mo.
10. Detroit, Mich.

The top 10 states for job seekers are: the District of Columbia; Virginia; North Dakota; Massachusetts; Maryland; Nebraska; Alaska; Colorado; Connecticut; and Utah.

The 10 worst states for job seekers include: California; Alabama; North Carolina; South Carolina; Kentucky; Rhode Island; Nevada; Idaho; Mississippi; and Michigan.

Nashville Marketing Jobs to Increase in 2010

More Nashville marketing jobs will be available next year.

A recent survey conducted by Prince Market Research and sponsored by the local chapter of the American Marketing Association found that one in five marketing firms in Nashville plan to add jobs during 2010 and another 19 percent are contemplating making new hires.

There is somewhat of a downside, as the survey found that compared to 2007, more marketing employees in Nashville are paying for part of their healthcare premium, fewer are receiving bonuses and more are working from home.

On the upside, however, the survey further found that those who enjoy working hard would enjoy working for a marketing firm in Nashville. The average working schedule for a marketing employee there consists of 50 hours per week, only slightly higher than the national average of 45 hours per week.

Another survey from the American Marketing Association and Aquent found that marketers who work in small offices earn a median salary between $70,000 and $80,000 per year, which is higher than the national average of $65,000 per year.

Marketers working for larger companies can expect to earn even more, as that survey found marketers working in companies with at least 500 employees earn an average salary between $80,000 and $90,000 per year, which is close to the national average of $89,000 per year.

The additional marketing jobs could play a role in helping the Nashville area's overall economy to recover. Unfortunately, as of late, the area has continued to lose jobs when compared to last year.

Although Nashville's November unemployment rate has yet to be released, Tennessee's unemployment rate decreased from 10.5 percent to 10.3 percent. Despite that decrease, the state's current rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 10 percent.

The Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin area had a total non-farm employment of 731,700 workers during November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 728,000 workers during October, but a 3.4 percent decrease from last year.

Oregon State Jobs in Manufacturing Decline

Tens of thousands of Oregon state jobs in the manufacturing industry were lost during the last year.

The Oregon Manufacturers Directory from Manufacturers' News, Inc. found that manufacturing employment in the state declined by 7.5 percent from October 2008 to October 2009. The state lost 18,087 industrial jobs and 375 manufacturing companies during that time.

Oregon is now home to 5,975 manufacturers that employ 222,661 workers. The lumber and wood sector is the largest in the manufacturing industry, employing 36,118 workers, a 10 percent decrease from last year.

That is followed by electronics manufacturing, accounting for 29,042 jobs, a 9.5 percent decrease from last year, and food products manufacturing, employing 28,543 workers, about the same as last year.

The transportation sector saw the biggest decrease in jobs, with employment falling by 24.8 percent during the 12-month period. That is followed by paper products, which declined by 11.4 percent, and industrial machinery and equipment, which dropped by 9.8 percent.

Other sectors that declined include: furniture and fixtures by 7.9 percent; primary metals by 6.4 percent; stone, clay and glass by 5.6 percent; textiles and apparel by 5.4 percent; fabricated metals by 5 percent; printing and publishing by 3.9 percent; rubber and plastics by 1.9 percent; and chemicals by 1.7 percent.

Northeast Oregon saw the biggest decrease in manufacturing employment, losing 16.4 percent of jobs in the area. Southeast Oregon lost 12.7 percent of its manufacturing jobs, while Southwest Oregon saw a 10 percent decrease. Northwest Oregon, which accounts for most of the state's manufacturing jobs, saw a 6 percent decrease in employment.

Portland is home to the most manufacturing jobs, decreasing 6.5 percent during the year to 47,289 employees. Hillsboro has 22,574 manufacturing jobs, a 7.9 percent decrease; Beaverton has 15,930 jobs, a 2.2 percent decrease; Eugene has 12,313 jobs, a 4.8 percent decrease; and Salem has 7,650 jobs, a 4.3 percent decrease.

"As with the entire nation, the recession continues to affect Oregon's industrial sectors," Tom Dubin, president of Manufacturers' News, Inc. said. "However, the state's investments in green technologies has led to bright spots such as the opening of solar cell manufacturer Solar World in Hillsboro, and should help lay the groundwork for recovery."

Tampa Bay Jobs for Veterans

Many veterans throughout the country are looking for employment and several recently made it known that they are searching for Tampa Bay jobs.

Cincinnati-based RecruitMilitary has hosted more than 60 job fairs throughout the country targeted toward helping those with military experience find employment. The organization's most recent job fair in Tampa Bay attracted about 350 people searching for jobs for veterans, according to an article by the St. Petersburg Times.

Fewer veterans have been able to find work during the current economic recession, with the veteran unemployment rate during December coming in one point higher than the national unemployment rate at the time of 10.2 percent.

Younger veterans have been hit the hardest, as about 185,000 people who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq are now unemployed. The federal government is taking notice of the problem as President Barack Obama recently created the Council on Veterans employment to encourage federal agencies to hire more veterans.

RecruitMilitary, however, is hoping to complement the government's efforts. Company officials say many employers want to hire veterans, but the challenge is convincing them that a veteran's leadership and perseverance offset their lack of civilian work experience.

All types of veterans attended the Tampa Bay job fair, from long-time civilians to those newly unemployed to those planning on attending college. Unfortunately, some job seekers complained that there were not enough explicit opportunities advertised, while some of the most popular employers, such as the Transportation Security Administration, was simply telling job seekers to apply for positions online.

The Bank of America was among the few employers actually accepting resumes, although the company still requires job seekers to apply for positions online. Company representatives said anywhere from 50 to 500 people were applying for any single position with the bank.

Houston Construction Jobs Will Decline as Overall Economy Prospers

One organization is predicting the local economy will improve by the end of next year as international trade picks up, although Houston construction jobs and upstream energy jobs will continue to decline.

The Greater Houston Partnership recently released its employment forecast for 2010, which predicts the Houston area will end next year with a net gain of 1,900 jobs after losing 93,000 jobs this year. The city should stop losing jobs by mid-2010 and begin seeing an increase in employment by Q3.

The report focuses on what the organization considers to be the three largest and most important industries in Houston, including construction, upstream energy and international trade. Those three industries represent more than two-thirds of job losses expected this year and are likely to dominate the city's employment picture during 2010.

It is expected the construction industry in Houston will have lost 23,300 jobs by the end of this year, accounting for about 25 percent of the area's total job loss. Unfortunately, there is little other than the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create new construction jobs next year.

Although it is expected most of the construction job losses occurred this year, the organization predicts that the industry will see another 3.1 percent decrease in employment with the elimination of 5,500 jobs.

Houston's upstream energy industry, also known as mining and logging, consists mainly of oil and gas. The industry boasts an average annual salary of more than $100,000 and is the only one to pay more than six figures.

The industry is broken down into two parts: oil and gas extraction, which will end this year with a gain of 2,100 jobs, and support activities for mining, which will have lost 5,100 jobs this year. Together these two sectors will end the year with a 3.3 percent decrease in employment. If national gas and oil price predictions are accurate, Houston's mining and logging industry will see a decrease of 2.6 percent, or 2,300 jobs, during 2010.

Among international trade, wholesale trade employment declined by 16,400 jobs, or 11.7 percent, from December 2008 to December of this year, while transportation declined by 10,000 jobs, or 17.9 percent. Next year, wholesale trade should regain 5,200 jobs and transportation should add 2,900 positions.

Among next year's predictions for other large industries in Houston:

• Manufacturing will decrease by 4,800 jobs or 2.1 percent
• Retail trade will almost break even, losing only 400 jobs
• Administrative and support services will increase by 5,400 jobs
• Healthcare and social assistance will increase by 1.6 percent
• Accommodation and food services will grow by .5 percent
• Government will increase by 4,100 jobs or 1.1 percent
• Professional, scientific and technical services will almost break even with a 4 percent increase in computer systems design, a 2.1 percent increase in legal services and a 1.9 percent decrease in engineering services

Colorado State Jobs Paying Living Wage Hard to Find

Due to the high competition among the employment marketplace, finding Colorado state jobs that provide a living wage is extremely difficult.

The 2009 Job Gap study from the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations found that, because Colorado has lost 110,600 jobs during the past year, more people are currently looking for work, making it harder to find a living wage job.

"The findings of this report show that for people looking for living wage jobs, the prospects are dim," the report notes. "The recession has forced many individuals and families onto the job market, where they're joined by an ever-increasing number of other people also out of work.

"This increases competition for the few living wage jobs available, leaving many unemployed, or in work that doesn’t meet a basic standard of living," the report continues. "Families and individuals unable to access living wage jobs must make impossible decisions between paying for healthy food, healthcare, and paying the bills."

Statewide average living wages in Colorado are:

• $13.34 an hour, or $27,746 a year, for a single adult
• $22.89, or $47,617 a year, for a single adult with one child
• $29.71 an hour, or $61,600 a year, for a single adult with two children
• $27.59 an hour, or $57,385 a year, for two adults, one of whom is working, with two children
• $37.60 an hour, or $78,199 a year, for two adults, both of whom are working, with two children

However, 40 percent of the available jobs in Colorado pay less than the average living wage for a single person, while 82 percent of available jobs pay less than the average wage for a single adult with two children.

The study examined the gap between the number of living-wage jobs and the number of people applying for them and reported what the living wages should be for people in various situations.

A living wage is defined as "a wage that allows families to meet their basic needs, without public assistance, and that provides them some ability to deal with emergencies and plan ahead. It is not a poverty wage." Living wages are often found to be two to three times the federal poverty level.

The report examined living wage amounts by county and statewide averages for Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, based on each county and state's living expenses. Expenses include such things as food, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare, childcare, clothing, other personal items, savings and state and federal taxes.

San Antonio Jobs Outlook is Second-Best

The outlook for the future of San Antonio jobs is a positive one. Visit http://sanantonio.jobing.com to learn more.

Manpower Inc.'s recent first-quarter employment-outlook survey ranked San Antonio as having the second-best hiring outlook in the country. The city is second only to Columbus, Ga., which was ranked first among 201 metropolitan statistical areas throughout the nation.

The report found that 19 percent of responding companies plan to hire new employees between January and March 2010, while only 7 percent of employers plan to reduce their workforce, representing a net gain of about 12 percent. In comparison, Columbus, Ga., saw a net gain of 18 percent.

San Antonio is one of five areas in Texas to rank among the top 11 markets in the survey. The other areas include Amarillo, with a net gain of 11 percent; McAllen-Edinburg-Mission at 10 percent; Laredo at 10 percent; and Dallas-Fort Worth at 9 percent.

The net gain in San Antonio is an improvement from the city's results during Q1 and Q4 2009, during which time the city saw net gains of 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

"It's a good, positive indicator," Steve Nivin, a professor at St. Mary's University who also oversees an economic group between the university and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said. "I still think we're going to see a soft market for a while."

Overall, 28,000 companies responded to the survey, and 12 percent of those anticipate to increase staffing levels during Q1 2010, while 12 percent expect to cut payrolls. However, a net gain of 6 percent is shown once the results are seasonally adjusted.

That's a slight increase from Q4 of this year, when Manpower reported that 12 percent of companies were planning to hire, while 14 percent of companies were planning to eliminate jobs, accounting for a 3 percent decrease.

The most recent survey found that a record high 73 percent of companies expect no change in their staffing plans. In San Antonio, 70 percent of companies surveyed do not plan to make any changes.

The survey found hiring prospects in San Antonio are highest in the construction; transportation; wholesale and retail trade; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality industries.

City of Phoenix Jobs Won't Recover for Years, Economists Say

Some economists are predicting it could take many years for City of Phoenix jobs to recover to a pre-recession state.

Despite indications that the recession may be coming to an end and some economists saying the labor market could rebound by 2011, others are claiming it will take a lot longer for jobs to recover, possibly not until between 2014 and 2016.

Since the recession began at the end of 2007, the Phoenix area has lost 210,000 jobs, ranking it among the worst in the nation. The area's unemployment rate increased from 3.6 percent during November 2007 to 8.7 percent during October of this year. In comparison, the national unemployment rate increased from 4.7 percent to 10.2 percent during the same time.

"I believe we will begin to see an improvement in the second or third quarter, but it will be slow and gradual and could take seven years before we reach the unemployment rate before all this began in 2007," John Mathis, an economist and international finance expert with the Thunderbird School of Global Management, told the Phoenix Business Journal.

He said he expects consumer spending to improve during Q1 2010 and business spending to rebound during Q2 2010. A slew of first-time home-buyer federal tax credits and low interest rates could help create real estate and construction opportunities, which the Phoenix area has lost 59,600 of since the recession began.

Dennis Hoffman, an economist with Arizona State University, predicts that Arizona's economy as a whole may not improve until 2014 or 2015. He said the state ranks along the lines of Michigan for unemployment, decreased personal income and spending.

Even though Arizona has a lower unemployment rate than Michigan, experts say that is only because many of the local unemployed workers have left the state. That means a lack of population growth will hinder Arizona's economy until more people more to the area.

Las Vegas Hotel Jobs with Binion's Cut

About 100 people with Las Vegas hotel jobs will soon be losing those positions.

Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel recently announced its plans to shut down the property's 365 hotel rooms indefinitely, a move that will result in the loss of about 100 of the company's 800 workers.

In addition to the hotel rooms, Binion's Original Coffee Shop also will be closed and the casino will get rid of keno. However, the casino, sports book, poker room, casino-floor cafes and other amenities will remain open.

"This is a result of this brutal economy that has affected Las Vegas," Spokeswoman Lisa Robinson told the Las Vegas Review Journal. "We looked at every aspect of our operations, and the hotel rooms are no longer competitive in this market."

Company officials said that occupancy and average daily room rates at the hotel - which will range from $23 per night on weeknights to $54 per night on the weekend until closure - were too low to justify continuing operations.

During the first nine months of this year, average daily room rates in Las Vegas decreased by 24.7 percent and hotel occupancy declined by 5.6 percent, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Binion's is currently owned by TLC Casino Enterprises, which purchased the casino in 2008 for $32 million. However, this is not the first problem the facility has faced since that time. Regulators closed Binion's in 2004 to ensure a former owner could pay off his debts.

In addition, TLC has been fighting lawsuits from owners of the land under the casino who are seeking payment for their leases or an increase in rent. At least four of nine parcels under Binion's are owned by other people who charge rent.

Paramedic Jobs in Canada

There are several options if you are looking for paramedic jobs in Canada.

In Canada, paramedics are part of the healthcare professions, and are responsible for providing pre-hospital assessment and medical care to various victims. Most paramedics work in land or air ambulances.

The amount and intensity of training involved to become a paramedic varies by province and the level of paramedic you're preparing to become. British Columbia is the only province that requires every level of paramedic to obtain their own medical license, but there are several institutions throughout the country that offer paramedic educational programs.

Although the accreditation of paramedic educational programs also varies from province to province, the Canadian Medical Association's Committee on Conjoint Accreditation offers the most comprehensive system of national accreditation.

During 2007, paramedics in Ottawa, Ontario had the highest average salary, as they earned $27.20 per hour. Paramedics in Fredericton, New Brunswick had the lowest average salary, as they earned $18.27 per hour.

The scope of practice of paramedics is described by the National Occupational Competency Profile for Paramedics, a document developed by the Paramedic Association of Canada through funding from the Canadian government.

Most people gain experience as an emergency medical responder, which is the most basic level of paramedic work, before moving onto a higher level. The basic three levels of paramedics include:

• Primary care paramedic - This is considered the entry-level paramedic job. PCPs are responsible for performing semi-automated external defibrillation, interpreting 3-lead or 12-lead ECG's, administering symptom relief medications and performing trauma immobilization.
• Advanced care paramedic - This is a high-demand level of paramedic, although not all provinces have ACPs. Workers at this stage are responsible for carrying about 20 different types of medications, performing advanced airway management, intravenous therapy, placing external jugular IV lines, performing needle thoracotomy, performing and interpreting 12-lead ECGs, performing synchronized and chemical cardioversion, performing obstetrical assessments, providing pharmacological chemical pain relief and reversing hypoglycemic conditions.
• Critical care paramedic - As opposed to responding to 911 calls, CCPs typically transfer patients from their current hospital to other facilities that provide a higher level of care. CCPs must be able to provide all the care that PCPs and ACPs can. They also are trained for other skills, such as using medication infusion pumps, mechanical ventilation and advanced monitoring. Most CCPs work in aircrafts.

10 Steps to Improve Baltimore City Jobs in Small Business

A new 10 step plan could help support workers with Baltimore city jobs in small businesses.

Gov. Martin O'Malley recently outlined an effort to help strengthen the small business community in Maryland amid the current economic recession.

O'Malley has cited several factors that prove the local economy is improving, including increasing real estate sales, an unemployment rate that is consistently below the national average and the fact that several companies throughout the state are hiring additional staff.

The 10 step plan to strengthen small business in Maryland includes:

1. Creating the state's first ever Commission for Small Business, which will be built upon the positive momentum of the Small Business Task force.
2. Expanding assistance to state businesses through the Health Insurance Partnership, giving 1,500 businesses and 10,000 residents access to quality and affordable health insurance.
3. Creating one uniform loan application for any small business applying for state financing and streamlining the state's permitting requirements to reduce the amount of red tape.
4. Matching President Barack Obama's commitment to waive borrowing fees for Small Business Administration loans, including fees for the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority.
5. Working the the Congressional delegation to secure greater capital from the federal government for small businesses in Maryland.
6. Expanding efforts to advance Minority Business Enterprise, which already has a 22 percent participation rate across state government.
7. Setting aside a percentage of certain state contracts for small business through the Small Business Reserve Program and extending the program six more years.
8. Working with the federal government through the Federal Facilities Task Force to make federal procurement and contracting opportunities available to more businesses throughout the state.
9. Working with the business community to find ways to provide better skills training and promote career readiness in state schools, especially in career and technology education and science, technology, engineering and math education.
10. Working with the business community to find a sustainable solution to the unemployment insurance challenges facing small businesses in Maryland.

"If we’re going to turn the corner from recovery to prosperity, we need all of you, and we must continue to recognize that our progress as a state depends on the prosperity of small businesses," O’Malley said. "If we want a strong, growing middle class, we must have strong family-owned businesses. And to have strong businesses, we must strive to improve public safety and public education and to expand opportunity to more people rather than fewer."

Jobs in Portland Oregon's Clean Tech Industry

If you're wondering what jobs Portland Oregon has to offer, you may benefit from looking into the city's "clean tech" industry.

Forbes recently named the Portland-Salem area to its list of the top 15 U.S. metro areas for clean tech job growth. Not only is the area a hub for solar manufacturing, but Oregon offers a business energy tax credit to companies that invest in conservation, recycling, renewable energy and low-pollution fuels.

The North American headquarters of Vestas, a Danish wind turbine manufacturer, is in Portland. Another plus is that one local company, Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. has hired 100 workers since 2008 and plans to add another 40 employees by the end of the year.

The full list includes:

1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.
2. Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Calif.
3. New York-Long Island, N.Y./Northern New Jersey
4. Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Mass.
5. Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, Md./Va./West Va.
6. Denver-Boulder-Greeley, Colo.
7. Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash.
8. Portland-Salem, Ore.
9. Chicago, Ill.-Gary, Ind.-Kenosha, Wis.
10. Sacramento-Yolo County, Calif.
11. San Diego, Calif.
12. Austin-San Marcos, Texas
13. Phoenix, Ariz.
14. Detroit-Ann Arbor, Mich.
15. Houston-Galveston-Brazorla, Texas

The Portland-based Northwest Power and Conservation Council projects that Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington will be able to meet 85 percent of their new electricity needs during the next 20 years through conservation, which will cost half as much as building new power plants.

A recent report from Clean Edge found that the clean tech industry has greatly benefited from federal stimulus money, state activity and venture capital investment, as well as efforts by traditional corporations to improve their energy efficiency, reduce pollution and increase renewable energy.

Those interested in clean tech jobs also can expect to be paid well. A recent report from PayScale found that median salaries in the industry are as high as $106,000 for a mid-level renewable energy project developer, $75,000 for a mid-level solar system integration engineer and $72,000 for an entry level geothermal power engineer.

Jobs in Austin Increase

In keeping with the growing thought that the economic recession may be coming to an end, more jobs in Austin were added last month.

The Texas Workforce Commission has reported that the Austin-Round Rock area added 5,400 jobs from August to September. During the same time, the area's unemployment rate stayed flat at 7.2 percent.

Overall, the area's unemployment rate has remained relatively low compared to the national unemployment rate, which currently sits at 9.8 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Austin's unemployment rate reached 6.4 percent in January, 6.3 percent in February, 6.2 percent in March, 5.8 percent in April, 6.2 percent in May, 7.1 percent in June, 7.3 percent in July and 7.2 percent in August and September.

Employment gains in state and local government accounted for the majority of new positions as schools and colleges in the area added staff in order to prepare for the new school year. The industry added 7,600 jobs from August to September and 3,000 jobs, or 1.8 percent, from last year.

The education and health services industry, which has managed to remain relatively stable despite economic conditions, added 1,100 jobs from August to September and 2,900 jobs, or 3.6 percent, from last year.

The information, financial activities and other services industries remained flat when compared to August, employing 19,800 workers, 45,700 workers and 32,500 workers, respectively.

A handful of industries saw a decrease in employment on a month-to-month basis, including mining, logging and construction by 300 jobs; manufacturing by 600 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 1,000 jobs; professional and business services by 200 jobs; and leisure and hospitality by 1,200 jobs.

When compared to last year, the financial activities industry added 1,000 jobs; the professional and business services industry added 1,500 jobs; and the other services industry added 800 jobs.

Several industries saw a decrease in employment when compared to last year, including:

• mining, logging and construction by 3,100 jobs or 6.6 percent
• manufacturing by 6,600 jobs or 11.5 percent
• trade, transportation and utilities by 3,800 jobs or 2.7 percent
• information by 900 jobs or 4.4 percent
• leisure and hospitality by 300 jobs or .4 percent