Real Estate, Careers in the Field Making a Comeback?
It may be too early to declare that the U.S. real estate market is “back.” In fact, if you ask folks in California and Florida, they’d probably laugh at the suggestion. Nonetheless, September saw an increase in home sales that was unexpected, and it appears that with several more months of “inventory reduction” at fire-sale prices, the market may finally level out and begin to provide some legitimate employment opportunities for those looking to get into the field (or back into it). It may take a brave soul to begin a career in real estate at the moment, but I… [Continue Reading]
For Social Security Recipients, No COLA for 2010
For the first time since automatic cost of living adjustment began in 1975, recipients of social security will not receive a “cost of living adjustment”, or “COLA” in 2010. Though the move sets a precedent, it’s not entirely surprising given the fact that prices of consumer goods are actually falling. The cost of living adjustments that accompany social security payments are tied directly to inflation, measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI). Last January, those receiving social security payments saw a 5.8% increase in their payments, largely the result of increases in energy prices. Now, inflation… [Continue Reading]
Radiology Job Outlook
In the midst of a bad employment market, there are many job seekers wondering exactly what types of jobs employers are still hiring for. To a large extent, entry-level jobs are drying up, and those with specific (and hard to obtain) skillsets and educational backgrounds are finding it easier to find new jobs. Radiology is one such field, where employment is expected to increase fairly dramatically over the next year and further into the next decade. A BLS study of employment markets noted this: Employment change. Employment of radiologic technologists is expected to increase by about 15 percent from 2006… [Continue Reading]