Press Releases
Truth in Numbers: The Real Deal Behind the Jobless Rate and the Potential Impact of President Obama
Pongo Resume Reveals Emerging Job Growth for 2009
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass, December 11, 2008 — Pongo Resume, the premier full-service online resume-building resource that provides a suite of tools to help job seekers market and manage their career, reveals that despite the doom and gloom being reported by the media, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the nation’s total workforce actually increased by 2.2 million workers during the last 19 months. And although unemployment rose to a 14-year high of 6.7% in November 2008, one notable, unreported fact is that between 4 million and 5 million people have been hired each month during 2008. While the media may report that no company is hiring, the reality is that many companies are. While many industries have shed jobs during the past 12 months, the education, healthcare, and government sectors have actually created 400,000 new jobs.
"Twenty-first Century job seekers have distinct advantages because of the Internet and the job-creation initiatives articulated by President-Elect Obama,” said Michael Neece, Chief Strategy Officer, Pongo Resume. "Today's job seekers dealing with the first major recession of this century can use the Internet to focus their efforts on industries targeted by presidential initiatives. These industries are likely to include construction, Internet infrastructure, alternative energy, education, and healthcare."
The president-elect has articulated multiple initiatives to stimulate job growth and improve the nation's transportation, energy, and communication infrastructures, as well as advance healthcare and education. Obama's commitment to create 2.5 million jobs has already made a positive impact on job seekers' hopes of securing new jobs in 2009.
Immediately after last month's election, Pongo saw a spike in subscribers, especially—and not surprisingly—among professionals in industries tied to Obama's campaign initiatives. Among Pongo's top 10 growth categories in its subscriber base are healthcare, manufacturing, education, information technology (IT), and construction.
The most recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that at the end of October 2008 there were 3.1 million job openings. Also, the unemployment rate for workers with some college education is 5.2%, but just 3.1% for workers who have at least a bachelor’s degree.
"The prospects for growth are improving as new presidential initiatives and economic stimulus legislation become clearer," says Neece. "The challenge for our next president is to clearly communicate priorities and economic initiatives that are simple and easy to understand. This will help reduce market fears and return the job market and stock market to a state of cautious optimism."
About Pongo Resume:
Pongo Resume is a premier full-service online resume-building resource that provides a suite of tools to help job seekers market and manage their career. Pongo generates over 100,000 resumes per month through its 4+ million registered users and has in excess of ½ million unique visitors per month. The company is privately held and headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit http://www.PongoResume.com or call 1-866-486-4660.
Contact: Diane Coffey; Kel & Partners; 508.366.2099, ext.117; Cell: 508.259.9584; diane@kelandpartners.com