Top Jobs for Satisfaction

"Work occupies a large part of each worker’s day, is one’s main source of social standing, helps to define who a person is and affects one’s health both physically and mentally.”

A survey of job satisfaction conducted by the General Social Survey (GSS) at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, based on 27, 000 interviews indicates:
47% are satisfied with their jobs

Top 10 Jobs for Satisfaction
Clergy 87%
Fire Fighters 80%
Physical Therapists 78%
Authors 74%
Special Education Teachers 70%
Teachers 69%
Education Administrators 68%
Painters and Sculptors 67%
Psychologists 67%
Security and Financial Services Salespersons 65%
Operating Engineers 64%
Office Supervisors 61%

Other jobs in which 50 percent reported "high satisfaction" included: police and detectives, registered nurses, accountants, editors, and reporters. Apparently, the perceived prestige (as opposed to actual salary) of a profession had an effect on job satisfaction and general happiness.

Most Affordable Places to Retire in U.S.

The 40 largest Census-defined metropolitan statistical areas were ranked for cost of living factors like housing affordability and inflationary pressures. All data was provided by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the U.S. Census. The rankings by Forbes were also based on the:

• Number of persons over 65 who are currently employed.
• Percent of people living below the poverty level are in their golden years.
• Number of doctors per capita
• Number of citizens tapping their Medicare benefits per thousand people--an important issue for those 65 and older.

The top 10 Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S. include:

1. Columbus, OH

Columbus has a low cost of living and affordable housing--seniors seem to get along just fine. More than a fifth of folks over 65 are employed, and that age group only constitutes 6% of persons living under the poverty level, which indicates that independent living is en vogue in this river city.

2. Dallas, TX

Dallas has a robust economy, thanks to the many corporations headquartered in the city’s center. With sunny weather, low taxes and Southern hospitality, this Texas town is a great place to retire.

3. Minneapolis, MN

This twin city has a reputation for big city arts and nightlife, but it can accommodate a retiree’s fixed budget. While the winter may be rough, the cost of living won’t be.

4. Houston, TX

With tax revenues flowing from the oil and alternative energy industries centered there and a bustling tech scene, retirees won’t need to worry that they are settling into a place on the slide. Throw in affordable housing and sunny weather, and Houston is a great place to begin again.

5. Salt Lake City, UT

Utah’s capital is growing fast. With nearly 16 doctors per thousand people--far above the national average--retirees can be reassured by the cluster of medical professionals and facilities nearby. With a median age of 30, retirees may not blend in, but they can be sure that economic growth is ahead.

6. Indianapolis, IN

This Midwestern city ranked No. 1 for housing affordability relative to income and No. 8 for inflation. With Purdue University providing some youthful vibrancy and Colts fans upping the energy, this is one reasonably priced and lively place to retire.

7. Denver, CO

A Rocky Mountain retirement will involve outdoor living, a vibrant nightlife, and a manageable cost of living. Denver, one of Forbes.com’s Best Cities for Singles, attracts people of all ages making it a good long-term bet for retirees who want to ensure that they are settling somewhere with a bright future.

8. St. Louis, MO

Greater St. Louis is growing fast and with good reason. Affordable housing and sluggish inflation (just 3.2% in June 2008) make this is a great place to retire.

9. Atlanta, GA

This southern city isn’t just for young singletons and families. In terms of net migration among people over 65, Atlanta ranked No. 3 with droves of older Americans picking this affordable and desirable place to spend their golden years.

10. Nashville, TN

With a population of 1,486,695, this city came in at No. 9 for affordable housing. It was also one of our Best Places for Business in 2007. Add in pleasant weather and all the benefits a community derives from a top-notch university like Vanderbilt and you’ve got a fine place to retire.

Most Affordable Places to Retire

US Jobless Rate at 5-Year High of 6.1%

The nation’s unemployment rate hit a five-year high of 6.1 percent in August as employers cut 84,000 jobs, dramatic proof of the mounting damage a deeply troubled economy is inflicting on workers and businesses alike.

The Labor Department’s report, released Friday, showed the increasing toll the housing, credit, and financial crises are taking on the economy.

The jobless rate jumped to 6.1 percent in August, from 5.7 percent in July. And, employers slashed payrolls for the eighth month in a row. Job losses in June and July turned out to be much deeper. The economy lost 100,000 jobs in June and 60,000 in July, according to revised figures. Previously, the government reported job losses at 51,000 in each of those months.

Wachovia Corp., Ford Motor Co., Tyson Foods Inc., and Alcoa Inc. were among the companies announcing job cuts in August. GMAC Financial Services this week said it would lay off 5,000 workers.

Job losses in August were widespread:

• Factories - 61,000
• Construction - 8,000
• Retailers - 20,000
• Professional and business services - 53,000
• Leisure and hospitality - 4,000

Those losses swamped employment gains in the government, education, and health.

Job losses at all private employers — not including government — came to 101,000 in August.

The government said workers age 25 and older accounted for all the increase in unemployment in August.

Average hourly earning rose to $18.14 in August, a 0.4 percent increase from July. Economists were forecasting a 0.3 percent gain. Over the past year, wages have grown 3.6 percent, but paychecks aren’t stretching as far because of high food and energy prices.

33,000 Jobs Cut in August

The private sector lost 33,000 jobs in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to payroll manager ADP. A consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com had expected a loss of 30,000 jobs.

The August decline included losses of:

• 78,000 jobs among goods-producing companies, the 21st monthly decline in a row.
• 28,000 jobs in August by large companies with 500+ worker
• 25,000 jobs in medium-sized companies with 50-499 employees
• 20,000 jobs in small business with less than 50 workers (after adding 46,000 jobs in July

The service sector, however, gained 45,000 jobs in August.

The report showed a sharp drop-off from July, when the private sector gained 1,000 jobs, spurred by a boost in small business employment.

The U.S. Department of Labor will release its August employment report Friday. A consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com expects the unemployment rate to hold steady at 5.7%, while nonfarm payrolls are seen declining by 75,000 after a 51,000 drop in July.

In another separate read on the labor market released Wednesday, employers said they would cut 377,325 jobs from May to August, according to employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. That is the highest level of summer job cut announcements

Workers are Looking for Jobs Closer to Home

Beyond.com, Inc., the world’s largest network of niche career communities, polled members across its network of more than 15,000 sites to discover how professionals are compensating for rising gas prices. The poll received a record number of responses, with more than 20,000 professionals weighing in to voice their thoughts on the Beyond.com poll question:“What alternatives are you considering as a result of high gas prices affecting your commute to work?”

• 79% - Find a job closer to home


• 13% - Telecommuting from home


• 6% - Public transportation or walking


• 2% - Carpooling with colleagues

High gas prices have caused many professionals to consider taking drastic measures to save money on their commute, even if it means leaving their current job. A past poll conducted by Beyond.com discovered that 27 percent of professionals travel 25 miles or more to work. However, if gas prices continue to rise, the number of workers commuting long distances could decrease significantly as many workers make the decision to find a job closer to home.

Metro Jobless Rates in July

Unemployment rates were higher in July than a year earlier in 338 metropolitan areas, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

• The rates were lower in 25 areas and unchanged in six.
• El Centro, CA, and neighboring Yuma, AZ, recorded the highest unemployment rates, 23.3% and 20.0%, respectively.
• Sioux Falls, S.D., registered the lowest rate, 2.4%.

Overall, 153 areas posted unemployment rates in July above the national, not seasonally adjusted figure of 6.0%, while 205 areas had rates below it, and 11 areas had the same rate.

15 Jobs Paying $70K Annually

Psychologist
Annual median income: $71,551
Projected employment in 2016: 191,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 15 percent

Environmental Engineer
Annual median income: $72,350
Projected employment in 2016: 68,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 25 percent

First-Line Supervisor/Manager of Police and Detectives
Annual median income: $72,620
Projected employment in 2016: 102,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 9 percent

Computer Systems Analyst
Annual median income: $73,090
Projected employment in 2016: 650,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 29 percent

Advertising and Promotions Manager
Annual median income: $73,666
Projected employment in 2016: 50,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 6 percent

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officer
Annual median income: $74,170
Projected employment in 2016: 15,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 0 percent

Administrative Services Manager
Annual median income: $75,083
Projected employment in 2016: 276,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 12 percent

Education Administrator, Post-Secondary
Annual median income: $75,780
Projected employment in 2016: 150,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 14 percent

Marine Engineers and Naval Architect
Annual median income: $76,200
Projected employment in 2016: 10,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 11 percent

Physician Assistant
Annual median income: $78,450
Projected employment in 2016: 83,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 27 percent

Agricultural Sciences Teacher, Post-Secondary
Annual median income: $78,460
Projected employment in 2016: 2.1 million (post-secondary teachers)Increase between 2006 and 2016: 23 percent

Veterinarian
Annual median income: $79,368
Projected employment in 2016: 84,000
Increase between 2006 and 2016: 35 percent

15 Jobs that Pay $70K Annually

New Business Networking Site to Launch

Forbes.com indicates that Talkbiznow.com, a website scheduled to launch on Monday, will strongly rival Linkedin.com.

No matter what industry you are a part of, or what job function you are involved in, business networking is an effective element to your professional growth.

According to Talkbiznow.com, it "provides an unrivalled, professional, networking platform, enabling smart communication between you and new found contacts on both the national and international market place."

Talkbiznow was designed with the business professional in mind. Unlike many other networking websites, Talkbiznow is completely free, it is intuitive to use and will add value to the way that you work. Talkbiznow comes equipped with a suite of services that have been developed to help increase your business productivity.

With your personal profile, you can choose to publicize your current career position as well as an in depth career history. By building a rich personal profile, you are then able to search for likeminded business professionals and give them a glimpse of yourself before becoming business contacts.

Invite business colleagues to join you in a Talkbiznow network, host webinars and invite people to come and take part in business presentations.

Through Talkbiznow you can:

• Rapidly find and build relevant contacts
• Be found for business opportunities and new careers
• Build public and private networks
• Host and invite people to your webinar sessions
• Use our clean email system and stop unwanted mail
• Compose and send adverts to your contacts
• Customise your entire experience
• Manage all of your appointments with your personal calendar
• Upload files and media to your personal store

Talkbiznow.com

Top 10 Best Small Cities - Best Places to Live

Money's list of America's best small cities

1. Plymouth, MN


2. Fort Collins, CO


3. Naperville, IL


4. Irvine, CA


5. Franklin Township, NJ


6. Norman, OK


7. Round Rock, TX


8. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD


9. Overland Park, KS


10. Fishers, IN

Tips for Dressing on the Job

If you want to secure a job or achieve a promotion, how you dress can make a difference.

Here are tips for dressing professionally on the job:
• Stock your closet -- Start with the versatile basics, such as a pair of black pants, a dark pant suit, some button-down collared shirts and a classic pair of dark shoes. Once you have the staples, you can continue to build your wardrobe to give you plenty of professional options.

• Keep it neat and clean -- Make sure your pants, shirts and other clothes are ironed, stain-free and in good condition. When your clothes look sloppy, so do you.

• Steer clear of bar attire -- Don't mistake the office for your local watering hole. Leave the slinky shirts, tight pants and cut off t-shirts at home.

• Look the part -- Have a client presentation or a meeting with the CEO? Dress for the part, making sure you choose appropriate articles of clothing for your role.

• If you have tatoos, cover them.

• Don't wear any jewelry other than an enagagement and wedding ring.

• Don't wear cologne, perfume, or aftershave in the office - some people are allergic and others just don't like it.