Minneapolis job market
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 byToday H.J. Cummins, who covers the employment beat for Star Tribune, opened her article with:
Minnesota’s job picture worsened Tuesday as new state data showed a double whammy of bad news during the past two months.
The state set a record in the wrong direction last month, as its 4.9 percent unemployment rate came in 0.2 percentage points over the national average, according to Tuesday’s monthly jobs report. In May, Minnesota’s jobless rate was worse than the nation’s for the first time in 30 years of record-keeping, then by 0.1 percentage points.
Read her full article here: Twin blows on the jobs front.
How is it going out there in the Minneapolis job market? Does this article feel accurate for what you experience? Do you struggle to find jobs?
7 Responses to "Minneapolis job market"
Absolutely I’m struggling and for two months now! Earlier it would take a couple weeks to find a new job and now this is my fifth week and I’m still looking. Another weird thing that happened is for two of these positions the employer even checked my references and then came back on one instance saying that an internal candidate is interested and on another ocassion saying they’ve decided not to fill. And it’s not my references saying negative things-I’ve always used them in the past.
I am having a really bad time trying to get a permanent position. There are a couple things that is holding me back. First, I have a felony conviction on my background, also I have been working in the health field for about 12+years, and third, I’m over fifty-five, they like my phone voice, but when I go on job interview, they come up with some kind of excuse.All I want is a permanent job for the next 8-10 years
I’ve been having a tough time too, and right now I work on and off for a temp agency, just to get my foot in the door.
I am 60, trying to find a permanent position for over 6 months now. Even the temp agencies now require you to go out on interviews. I have had two days of temp work in 6 months. I really think the age factor is a big issue these days. In the past for job hunts I have gotten a job within two months’ time.
Mary, wow! I find that to be very interesting. I thought temp agencies always had work because of their strong connections with companies. Are you sure there isn’t some other issue that might be deterring you from landing a job beside age? Have you tried more than one temp agency?
Chad, The age factor is real. I have a parttime job after 10 months of search. It’s at the lowest pay level. Temp agencies were of no help and I had three. The computer tests given by agencies are misleading, and I think temp agencies read them as true compentencies. I went back for Access training and Excell training and don’t use them at my current position. I suppose they will be forgotten…but older employees know how to learn info quickly. That’s often forgotten by the younger HR specialist. BTW, I’m 59.
I think the job market is difficult. Recently I started attending 2 job search groups sponsored by local congregations. While it has been helpful to meet others facing the same challenge, I am surprised by the large numbers of people who attend. Mostly mid-career professionals. Maintaining COBRA Health insurance is a BIG drain on family budgets.
