My Greener Future: The current job market

The job market has been zigging and zagging its way through an economy that has been buffeted by world events, domestic politics and a great deal of uncertainty. The cloudy future has made decision making difficult for job seekers. There are some trends and observations that may be helpful. Here are some of them:

New technology

For those who have a technology background, there’s a new wave of knowledge, skill, equipment and understanding called artificial intelligence that has to be learned and applied in order for you to be successful. The sooner you get to the front end of the changes, the better. The expectations of your bosses may be greater than reality, but everyone else is in the same boat. Success will not be in a straight line.

For those that are not in a job that is technologically driven, chances are that your work will probably will be affected either directly or indirectly by the new technology. It’s to your advantage to learn how to support the new technology. The projection is that a very high percent of your work will be impacted by technology one way or another.

Skilled trades or professions

For those who have a skilled or licensed trade or profession, such as electricians, plumbers, nurses, mechanics, dental hygienists, crane operators, brick masons, beauticians and so on, you’ll more than likely see the demand for your services increase, while at the same time more people entering into your field of expertise.

College graduates

For new college graduates, the marketplace is split. For graduates in engineering, computer sciences, mathematics, chemistry, accounting, marketing, operations and the like, the job market is strong to very strong. You have a marketable skill that is needed and sought after. Graduates in liberal arts, history, English, library science, geography and the like are having a more difficult time finding a job. Even though the open job market is encouraging, the skills to improve performance is center stage.

The marketplace in general is slowing down. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree recipients ages 20 to 29 is above 12%, an almost 4 percentage point increase from a year ago. College graduates who are finding it difficult to secure a position are applying for jobs outside of their primary interests. Some are accepting summer internships in the hopes of converting it into a full-time position in the fall.

For those in technology, ride the wave as far as you can. For those new graduates still looking for a job, don’t give up, but don’t sit back and wait for an offer to come out of the blue. Get a certificate on-line in a subject that companies are looking for in a candidate. If you’ve been interviewing you know what that subject is in your field. Do it now.

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