The real jobs solution? Demand action.

Photo courtesy of flickr user ProgressOhio

In response to our staggering national unemployment rate—stuck at 9.1%, with the Congressional Budget Office predicting that jobs may not return to normal until 2017—President Obama delivered his much-anticipated jobs speech last week and proposed a solution: The American Jobs Act.  

The jobs act carries the potential to bring relief to the 14 million Americans desperate for work. A few highlights for workers include:

• More job opportunities for teachers, young people, and construction workers. Obama's plan would prevent up to 280,000 teacher layoffs and add renovations for 35,000 schools—both vital to educating our future innovators. In another boost to help young people, who just had the worst summer unemployment ever since 1948, with less than half able to find jobs, the act would subsidize jobs and training programs to ensure next summer is not a repeat. Construction, not only in schools, but on our roads and bridges, will put hundreds of thousands of people back to work and ensure our public safety, which is priceless.

• Tax credits for companies who hire long-term unemployed workers and veterans—two groups who have struggled against discrimination, making it nearly impossible to even get their foot in the door. Under this plan, companies would receive tax breaks between $4,000 and nearly $10,000, respectively, for these hires. Plus, unemployment insurance will be extended, allowing Americans to keep the benefits they so desperately need.

• Payroll tax cuts for middle-class workers. Cutting these taxes in half would put $1,500 per year back in the pockets of American families. Additionally, homeowners would have more opportunities to refinance to the historically low interest rates we're seeing (currently close to 4 percent), which could save them more than $2,000 per year. Every extra dollar counts, especially for families living paycheck to paycheck.

Will the American Jobs Act be the solution for our economy? These days, in our divided political system, it's questionable whether it will even see the light of day. 

But DC political infighting should not stand in the way of full employment. Politicians’ concerns about being reelected should not be at the expense of the American people. The number one task every politician has right now is getting his or her constituency back to work in good jobs with health insurance so folks can provide food, clothing, and shelter for their families.  

President Obama pleaded with Congress to "pass this bill," repeating that phrase at least eight times in his speech, urging that we don't have the luxury to sit on this issue for 14 months until the next election. But it's not just our politicians who need to act. Paul Krugman in The New York Times said it best: The American people need to demand action. And as I see it, this bill is the first step towards getting folks back on their feet—we need it passed, and fast.



Jobs for the class of 2011?

Unemployment is still at 9%, and the papers are filled with stories about out-of-work young people. What's a brand-new college graduate to make of all this? Luckily, 2011 grads shouldn't be too discouraged -- there's some good news these days, too. I went on public radio's The Takeaway this morning to discuss (listen here!), but this is what you need to know:

DON'T LOSE HEART. The big picture is that college graduates are still much better off in this economy than those who don't have that degree. The unemployment rate for college graduates is just 4.5% versus 10.8% for those with no more than a high school degree.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. According to recent research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 42% of college seniors who applied for a job this spring received an offer, which is a four percentage-point increase over last year. Employers are saying they plan to hire 19% more new college graduates this year than they did last year. And the total number of available positions has skyrocketed, meaning there are fewer applicants per job this year. That gives you a better chance at snagging one.

CONSIDER PUBLIC SERVICE. The New York Times reported this spring that many recent college graduates are turning to public service jobs instead of high-paying private-sector positions. Applications to the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and AmeriCorps have skyrocketed in the last few years. As AmeriCorps spokesman Sandy Scott told me, "This is a generation that's service-minded." But another factor could be the relatively new Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives federal student loan debt after 10 years of working in a public service job; that definition can include government jobs, public health, law enforcement, and many others. (Go to www.ibrinfo.org for more information.)

ADVICE FOR 2011. So what's a new grad to do? As usual, the highest-paying jobs are in fields like engineering and computer science, though unexpected fields like nursing and human resources also often pay entry-level workers relatively well. According to NACE, there are lots of entry-level jobs in accounting, consulting, and banking these days, too. It helps if you're willing to move: This 2011 jobs forecast predicts big growth in Texas, for example.

ADVICE THAT'S EVERGREEN. Let's be honest: A lot of the advice for new grads this year is the same as it was 10, even 20 years ago. (Sorry, you're not so unique after all!) Network like crazy (try your alumni association), take internships, and be willing to get your foot in the door with a less-than-ideal job. Oh, and proofread your cover letter and résumé!

What was your experience after graduating college? Any advice for recent grads today?



Vets for hire. Anyone? Anyone?

Young veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are having trouble finding work, proved by the annual report released Friday from the Labor Department.

The unemployment rate for veterans age 18 to 24 was 20.9% in 2010. That's a discouraging number, though it's down slightly from 2009, and is just a few points above the 17.3% rate for nonveterans the same age.

Last fall, I discussed veteran unemployment on "The Takeaway." I found one survey fascinating: Out of 429 employers, 98% thought vets would bring a strong sense of responsibility to the job, and 92% thought vets have strong leadership skills. But the same survey found that 46% of employers worry post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues will pose a challenge.

It's that kind of ambivalent attitude among employers that can make finding a job difficult for veterans. Senator Patty Murray, the chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, told the Washington Post this week that vets have told her they often remove their military experience from their resumes, worried employers won't consider them because of possible PTSD.

No one should have to erase valuable job experience from their resume. But the experts I talked to did say veterans should cut the military jargon, and make clear to potential civilian employers how their skills will transfer to a new workplace. One place to start is Military.com's Military Skills Translator, a free online tool that lets you plug in your specific military job and suggests civilian jobs with similar skill sets. 

Tell me your thoughts: How can we help veterans get hired?



Unemployment drops below 9%!

It's about this time of year, at the tail end of a long winter, that I start getting anxious for spring to arrive. But as the temperature is slowly rising, so is something else: employment.

The February jobs report released today found that unemployment dropped below 9% for the first time since April 2009. Barely—it's now at 8.9%—but, hey, every .1% counts. (For some sobering perspective, however, note that the unemployment rate three years ago was 4.8%.)

In other good news, employers added 192,000 jobs to the economy last month, a big milestone compared to January's addition of 63,000 jobs and economists' hope of just reaching 120,000. The 192,000 gain came from private companies adding 222,000, while government jobs fell by 30,000 as payrolls shrank a little bit in the face of budget woes.

Experts seem to agree that while this month's report doesn't mean the economy's problems are over (ha!), it's very good news. The New York Times headline said "Job Growth Gathers Steam," the Wall Street Journal touted this as a signal of "Economic Improvement," and Ezra Klein at the Washington Post called it "the best jobs report in three years."

John Ryding, an economist who spoke with the New York Times about the report, said this could be a sign the economic recovery is gaining momentum, especially in the consumer mindset. "People hesitate until they feel that the recovery's durable enough, and then they have a tendency to jump in," he said. "Maybe we're finally getting to that jumping-in moment."

Let's hope so. And maybe this means spring is on the way, too.

Have you noticed that more of your acquaintances have found jobs?

Do you love your job?

Love and money intersect in a lot of ways—but here's a new one.

A survey by the global staffing firm Randstad finds that worker satisfaction is on the up:

• 55% of American workers love their jobs
•  66% say it's because of the work they do
• and 62% feel their employers really care about them

It may sound silly to talk about whether or not you love your job. After all, people who have jobs today are pretty darn lucky, given the stubbornly high unemployment rate. Still. This is great news.

Just a year ago I saw findings to the contrary, with only 45% of workers feeling content—the lowest in 22 years. Folks weren't finding their jobs interesting and surely felt down in the dumps about salary freezes, layoffs, benefit cuts, and more.

Now that some people have found new jobs they like better, and more companies are able to restore benefits, it makes sense that workers are happier. And mental health on the job is extremely important: We spend a full third of the day in the workplace (and laptops and Blackberrys easily create a 24/7 work cycle), so it's obviously ideal if the work brings us joy.

Loving what you do may have financial benefits, too, in the form of beefed-up earning potential. There's some evidence that your commitment to and satisfaction with your work makes you more productive on the job. And of course, being a star in your boss's eyes can often lead to promotions and higher pay. Score!

And by all means, if your company wants to show you some love (in the form of paid vacation days, solid health insurance, and a generous 401(k) match, I hope!), take all you can get. Remember, those benefits can add up to 30% to your salary, so not taking advantage is like saying "no" to money with your name on it.

Are you feeling the love in your career?