There have been signs of economic growth this month. Earlier in the month we learned that as of December 2011, the national jobless rate was at 8.5 percent, a rate that’s continued to trend down since February 2009.
Yet not all states are created equal when it comes to economic recovery. Some states weathered the recession better than others. And while most states have seen a decline in unemployment post-recession, others have dealt with fluctuating jobless rates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent breakdown of regional and state unemployment …

All eyes were on President Obama last night as he delivered what was potentially his final State of the Union address. One of the central issues discussed in his speech? Jobs. And rightly so.
Though Obama cited recent improvements in the job market – the country has regained more than 3 million jobs in the last 22 months – it’s also clear that we still have a ways to go. After all, 3 million jobs in 22 months comes out to roughly 136,000 jobs per month. Economists believe it will take the …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics just released data on the December 2011 regional and state employment and unemployment rates. There’s good news to report: Regional and state unemployment rates were slightly lower in December, with 37 states and the District of Columbia recording unemployment rate decreases.
Year over year, the news was also bright, with 46 states registering unemployment rate decreases from a year prior.
With the national jobless rate continuing to trend down, it will be interesting to see how the topic is tackled during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. We’ll …

In past posts, we’ve offered up best practices for using social media in your job search. That’s because more and more recruiters and hiring managers are utilizing social networks to learn about and even contact potential candidates.
While most know how to lock down their profiles through privacy settings on sites like Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is a little different. The point there being that the information you’re putting on the site is critical and relevant to your job search; therefore, your picture should also be professional and relevant to your job search. Even …

The hug. It’s a simple gesture that can make a happy situation happier or help someone overcome with sadness feel a little better. Studies have shown that hugs can actually make a difference in one’s health; research out of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill found that a hug can lower blood pressure and reduce the harmful physical effects of stress.
Hugs are thought to be so beneficial, there’s even a day dedicated to celebrating the gift of a hug. Jan. 21 has been deemed “National Hugging Day,” and according to …