Looking back
The financial crisis and Great Recession transformed American lives in many profound ways. Millions of American workers became unemployed during the crisis and millions of jobs were lost never to come back. Adding insult to injury, many of the unemployed during this current period of never-ending economic recovery remain unemployed and have exhausted or will soon exhaust their unemployment benefits. According to the California Employment Development Department, as of December 12, 2011, there have been more than 579,800 jobless Californians who have run out of all available unemployment benefits up to the 99 week maximum with more than 1 million people currently certifying for benefits. The exhaustion of benefits and inability to find work have many wondering what to do when unemployment benefits run out, although these situations are those which should be avoided at all cost.
Some other notable occurrences in 2011 that affected the American labor market, whether directly, indirectly, or in the least the occurrences allowed the focus to shift from the large numbers of jobless Americans if only momentarily to:
- Soar in commodity prices
- Arab spring
- Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
- U.S. joins airstrikes against Libya
- Tornadoes ravage Southern states
- Osama bin Laden killed
- Wall Street suffers worst selloff in two years
- S& P downgrades American credit rating
Looking ahead
Chris Isidore, Senior Writer at CNN reported in 2010 that "7.9 million jobs were lost during the financial crisis and many may not come back." This important fact coupled with speculation that most of the jobs either disappeared because of technology and automation or outsourcing, led to a common belief that education is key in order to be gainfully employed in the future where a bachelor's degree or beyond will be necessary for the employment available. What also fuels this belief is the fact that American jobs have become more "service" oriented as Americans manufacture and make goods with less overall frequency as off-shoring provides attractive production costs and less regulation. There is, however, dissenting opinion on this belief, and both the Los Angeles and California new jobs forecasts concur with the dissent.
The following are the top 10 jobs with most job openings for Los Angeles, Long Beach and Glendale for the coming year, 2012 to 2018 as reported by the Labor Market Information Division of the Employment Development Department:
- Personal and Home Care Aides
- Cashiers
- Retail Salespersons
- Waiters and waitresses
- Registered Nurses
- Customer Service Representatives
- Office Clerks
- Laborers and freight, stock and material movers
- Combined food preparation and food service workers including fast food
- Elementary school teachers not including special education
Of the top ten new jobs with most job openings in Los Angeles and surrounding areas for 2012 through 2018, 8 of 10 require short-term on the job training only.
Similarly, the 10 fastest growing new jobs in Los Angeles and surrounding areas are:
- Medical Scientist, not including Epidemiologist
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
- Physical therapists aides
- Home health aides
- Personal and Home Care aides
- Medical equipment repairers
- Farmers and ranchers
- Physicians Assistants
- Machine operators, sitters and tenders
Of the top 10 fastest growing new jobs from 2012 to 2018, as reported by the Labor Market Information Division of the EDD, 5 of the10 require nothing more than short or long-term on the job training.
However promising the new jobs outlook appears coupled with the fact that a university degree is not necessary in 13 out of 20 occupations that have the highest number of openings as well as the fastest growing new jobs for the next 6 years, the pursuit of higher education should not be regarded as an afterthought. Although pursuing higher education may not be for everyone, in the least it must be considered as an option if a current career path does not require its pursuit, or must be considered as a necessity if there is any intention of advancement into a more analytical or management role within the career path.
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