The Daily Recruiter

Don’t like the news you’ve been hearing about the current state of the job market in the U.S.? Not a problem. Just read a different newspaper, browse another magazine, click your tv remote, or surf to another Internet site. Stop when you find the news you were hoping to find.

Job news has become a lot like weather forecasting reports lately. Economists warn that all signs are pointing towards an employment storm that has the potential of bringing America’s economy to the brink of another Depression. Yet, analysts can’t even agree whether or not we’re in a recession! Frankly, reading job news and listening to broadcasters talk about the job market has done nothing but thrust fear in the hearts of America’s work force, in my opinion.

A Fortune Magazine survey said that one in four Americans are somewhat worried or very worried about losing their job in the next 12 months.

While it’s true that the weather has been gloomy on the job front, I don’t think anyone should lose hope of finding a new job in the year ahead. Actually, news about jobs, like any other hot news topic, is full of half-truths. One half warns that the job market is undergoing a storm not seen since 2003. The other half of the job news story paints a picture that portrays another reality; the reality that companies will be hiring new employees in 2008!

Harris Interactive surveyed over 3000 hiring managers and human resource professionals in private sector companies about their hiring plans for 2008. Here’s a glimpse of some “good news” on the job market!

• Just over a third plan of those surveyed plan to add full-time, permanent employees in 2008.
• 21% plan to increase their part-time staff in 2008.
• Nearly 40 percent say they currently have open positions that they need to fill but are having difficulty finding qualified candidates.
• 80% reported that their company will increase salaries for their existing employees.
• 56% plan to increase salaries on salary offerings to new employees.

Despite the gloom and doom of economic forecasters, companies will be hiring in 2008. So, when newscasters say there is little hope of anyone finding a new job or keeping the job that they have, remember that they are only telling half of the story. Yes, the lies about the job market are true!