US technology firms have already
applied for more H-1B visas than will be available in 2013,
IEEE-USA President Marc Apter has announced.
He also noted that data compiled by the
Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification
shows that the top 10 companies applying for H-1B visas in
the first three months of FY 2013 are all offshore
outsourcing companies.
"Starting next week, proponents of an
H-1B visa increase will bemoan the fact that the H-1B cap is
already used up," IEEE-USA President Marc Apter said. "But
it was outsourcing companies -- businesses who use the visas
to take American jobs -- who used nearly two-thirds of
them."
Some politicians are considering
increasing the H-1B cap beyond 65,000 as part of immigration
reform, which the President warns would mainly benefit
companies that offshore jobs from the USA.
IEEE-USA said that it supports
legislation providing employment-based green cards for
skilled immigrants earning advanced STEM degrees from U.S.
colleges and universities, and their dependents. Green
cards, unlike H-1B visas, allow immigrants to start their
own companies, many of which will create jobs in the United
States.
"The H-1B program shouldn't be used to
facilitate the transfer of high-paying jobs to other
countries," Apter said. "If Congress wants a full U.S.
economic recovery, it shouldn't even be thinking about
expanding it."
JAN 2013 U.S. employers
added 155,000 jobs in December, a
steady gain that shows hiring held
up during tense fiscal cliff
negotiations in Washington.
The solid job growth wasn't
enough to push down the unemployment
rate, which stayed 7.8 percent last
month, according to the Labor
Department's report Friday.
November's rate was revised higher
from an initially reported 7.7
percent.
Stock futures rose modestly after
the report was released.
Robust hiring in manufacturing
and construction fueled the December
gains. Construction firms added
30,000 jobs, the most in 15 months.
That likely reflects additional
hiring needed to rebuild after
Superstorm Sandy and also solid
gains in home building that have
contributed to a housing recovery.
Manufacturers gained 25,000, the
most in nine months.
Even with the gains, hiring is
far from accelerating. Employers
added an average of 153,000 jobs a
month last year, matching the
monthly average in 2011. Employers
added 1.84 million jobs in 2012, the
same as the previous year.
Still, the stable hiring last
month means employers didn't panic
during the high-stakes talks between
Congress and the White House over
tax increases and spending cuts that
were not resolved until the new
year. That's a good sign for the
coming months, since more budget
disputes are expected.
While the parties reached a deal
this week that removed the threat of
income tax increases on most
Americans, they postponed the more
difficult decisions on cutting
spending. And the government must
also increase its $16.4 trillion
borrowing limit by around late
February or risk defaulting on its
debt.
There were indications in the
December report of the job market's
ongoing sluggishness. The number of
Americans unemployed actually rose
164,000 to 12.2 million. The
unemployment figures come from a
separate survey of households, while
the job counts are derived from a
survey of businesses.
Still, the economy is improving.
Layoffs are declining, and the
number of people who sought
unemployment aid in the past month
is near a four-year low.
The once-battered housing market
is recovering. Companies ordered
more long-lasting manufactured goods
in November, a sign they are
investing more in equipment and
software. And Americans spent more
in November. Consumer spending
drives nearly 70 percent of economic
growth.
Manufacturing is getting a boost
from the best auto sales in five
years. Car sales jumped 13 percent
in 2012 to 14.5 million. And
Americans spent more at the tail end
of the holiday shopping season,
boosting overall sales that had
slumped earlier in the crucial
two-month period.
2nd Qtr 2011
Hiring prospects for the coming quarter have improved in
most large economies from three months ago, while holding steady in the United
States, according to a quarterly survey of employers.
After two or more years of making do with minimal staff
levels, employers are seeing enough demand for their products and services that
they now need to start adding jobs, fewer employers are sitting on the fence.
As demand starts to tick up, you're going to see more
incremental hiring. Most of the excess capacity has been filled in, so you're
getting more hiring on the margin. That's what we're hearing.
Job prospects improved in 20 of 39 countries and
territories compared with the previous quarter. Hiring intentions were flat in
four other economies, including the United States, and worsened in 15.
In the United States, the net employment outlook was a
seasonally adjusted plus-8, unchanged from the two preceding quarters. It marked
seven consecutive quarters of positive hiring outlooks.
The U.S. net employment outlook -- which subtracts
employers who plan to cut jobs from those who plan to add them -- is above
levels of a year ago, when its reading was plus-6. The index dipped into
negative territory in 2009, when recession meant job cutters outnumbered those
adding jobs.
The percentage of U.S. employers who said they planned no
change to their staffing levels fell below 70 percent for the first time in two
years. Employers continue to squeeze more out of existing workers, but fewer of
them have the luxury to continue delay adding jobs.
2010
Employment Report for April 2010 was much stronger than expected.
Private-sector payrolls rose significantly and gains were broad-based across
industries. The unemployment rate rose unexpectedly, but that was due to a surge
in labor force participation. We expect stronger job growth from here albeit
with peaks and troughs along the way.
Nonfarm
payrolls rose by 290,000 and figures for the two previous months were revised
higher. Job growth continued in construction, manufacturing, and retail. Temp
help employment continued to rise and average weekly hours edged higher, both
consistent with an increase in hiring ahead.
2008
After 52 straight months of positive job generation, a record, it is clear
that the US job market will experience weakness in 2008. An interesting trend is
that we have seen an increasing amount of US citizens undertaking an
international job search with Asia, the Middle East and Europe the most favored
locations. The strategy is sound. The best way of riding out an economic
downturn is to relocate to markets where there is expansion. The added benefit
is that when you return you have added overseas experience to your resume. In
addition many overseas locations offer higher salaries and tax rates between
zero and 15%.
2007
Nov. 2007 - Despite fears of a slowdown precipitated by the housing credit
crunch, demand for qualified IT professionals remains strong. Hirers report that
salary expectations for technology professionals show anticipated gains in a
range of 5-8% in 2008.
2006
Another poor year for the manufacturing executive job sector with many US
corporations outsourcing particularly to China and elsewhere in Asia. Executive
job demand was strongest in
Washington D.C., Miami, Orlando, Dallas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. States
with strongest executive employment markets were California, Texas, Georgia and
Pennsylvania. Service sector and in particular Legal and Accounting are strong
as are IT, Pharma, Medical and Biotech. Good demand for General Managers, Sales
and Marketing, Financial and IT staff across most executive employment sectors.
2005
2005 was a challenging year for executives conducting a job search in the usa.
However, on the bright side a majority of candidate's are optimistic about 2006.
In terms of best performance we saw strong demand for executive jobs in Florida,
Washington D.C., Texas, Mass. and California. New York was flat and little changed over 2004 with a
similar situation in Chicago. Best sectors were IT, Finance, Healthcare, Pharma,
Accounting and Legal with Manufacturing the weakest.
2003
Jobless rate rose to 6.1% but the economy appears very resilient. As in 2002
good demand seen for executives particularly those with international business
skills. With improving stock markets and consumer demand a gradual executive job improvement
is forecast. Key to successful job search remains to be comprehensive marketing.
Average mailings in the USA have risen over the past few years with some senior
executives now sending 10,000+ resumes.
2002
2001 and 2002 will be remembered as the years when corporate profits fell and
corporate costs were cut in an effort to increase the bottom line. You would
imagine therefore that the number of managers employed would have fallen. Wrong!
Despite daily reports of thousands of lay offs the axe did not appear to fall at
executive level and certainly not at board level.
Bureau of Labor Statistics released late in the 1st Qtr. 2002 show that
managerial employment rose by 2.9% in 2001. This mirrors our own statistics that
still show that it remains difficult for corporations to source well qualified
executives particularly in the North East and West Coast. Send those resumes out
now!
Job opportunities uncovered by International Job Search have included;
