Temp Hiring is Up
March 11, 2010
Why does this matter? Is it really a good thing for the state of the economy and jobs?
It matters because Temp Hiring is, indeed, typically an indicator of future jobs growth.
The article below outlines simply and clearly the typical correlation between increases in Temp Hiring and future overall jobs growth. It’s well worth the read. It also highlights some differences in the current economic climate to typical job growth forecasts in the past.
- Categories: Uncategorized
How to hire the best Insurance Agents
February 14, 2010
JD Powers and Associates has released data outlining what factors determine the insurers that independent agents are most likely to give business too.
If you are an insurance agent and you have a great relationship with a particular insurer that involves the factors listed in the article below, that is the message that will attract the best employees in the marketplace to your agency.
- Categories: Industry Trends, Uncategorized
Wall Street-Now Hiring?
February 12, 2010
The article below details the possibility that the financial services sector may be hiring soon, after over two and a half years. The growing confidence in the economy is giving Wall Street some cause for consideration.
Read it here
- Categories: Employment Outlook, Industry Trends
Prudential & Allstate Report Q4 Profits
February 11, 2010
Prudential Financial Inc.’s financial-services division and Allstate Corp. both managed to swing profits.
- Categories: Uncategorized
The Mood is Optimistic Regarding Employment Data
February 8, 2010
Even with mixed results on the employment reports for January, the overall consensus appears to be that we are experiencing positive trends.
The video below is an interesting discussion on what happened in January.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Small Business Lending – More Access to Credit
February 4, 2010
Following a week that saw President Obama outline a plan to provide tax incentives to small businesses that hire new employees, Tim Geithner, on CNBC, outlines the basics of a program to provide access to credit for small businesses as well.
The proposal is meant to help small businesses gain access to capital up to 5% of their assets.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Small Business Lending To Pick Up?
January 29, 2010
“I’m proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat. I am also proposing a new small business tax credit – one that will go to over one million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages.”
President Obama said the quote above in his State of the Union Address. Regardless of how it will work, the prospect of providing greater credit and incentives to small businesses to hire is positive news.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Signs of Recovery for the Economy?
January 29, 2010
A government report shows a faster rate of GDP growth in the last quarter of 2009 than the US economy has seen since the 3rd quarter of 2003. The growth followed a gain in Q3 as well.
The CNN article states, “two straight quarters of economic growth is typically a sign of a recovery” , but also points out that government stimulus may have caused some of growth and this rate will likely be unsustainable.
- Categories: Uncategorized
Don’t let uncertainty stop you from being successful
January 23, 2010
There is a lot of uncertainty in the Financial Services sector of the economy right now.
As Mort Zuckerman of U.S. News and World Report outlines in the video below from CNBC, the questions of what regulations and taxes are around the corner for financial institutions could cause you to be paralyzed in your business.
Add to that the questions of what, if any, Healthcare Insurance reform the near future holds, and the Financial Services, Mortgage, Insurance, Real Estate, and Business Services sectors face a lot of uncertainty.
- Categories: Industry Trends
California Housing Market Continues to Show Signs of Strength
January 20, 2010
The median price paid for homes in Southern California in December rose 4%.
With mortgage rates below 5% and the government offering tax credits ($8,000 for new home buyers, $6,500 for existing home owners) through April, it seems likely that the market will continue to see improvement in both volume and prices through the first quarter of 2010.
And Southern California should prove indicative that positive trends in real estate will continue nationwide.
- Categories: Industry Trends