rss feedBy the numbers: A look at in-demand and hardest-hit occupations in Washington state
I just returned from the state of Washington’s economic symposium near Olympia. I’m juggling a few things now. I’ll try and get to more details when I have time.
But here’s a quick look at jobs that are in demand and ones that have suffered in the state, on average, so far during the recession this year.
The positions that have been least affected include ones in health and personal care, according to the state Employment Security Department.
The ones that have been most affected include jobs in construction, architecture, management and production.
In the first eight months of 2009, the number of people looking for jobs in the Seattle-King County area was greater – but just by a bit – than the amount of companies offering jobs.
In comparison to the same period last year, the Seattle-King County area had enough employers offering jobs for those who were looking, according to a state analysis.
Keep in mind that all of this information is in a big-picture sense.
The difficult part of posting this information is that it is unknown whether the trends for in-demand and hardest-hit jobs will continue in the coming months.
If anything, it gives a person a snapshot of categories.
The first number in the bulleted items below indicates advertised openings, as listed in help wanted notices or information from employers in the state.
The second number notes the continued unemployment claims for each category for the year.
Top 10 occupations in the state that are in demand on average so far in 2009.
- Registered nurses: 8,028 advertised openings, 259 continued unemployment claims
- Computer specialists: 2,446 advertised openings, 222 continued unemployment claims
- Medical and health service managers: 1,615 advertised openings, 170 continued unemployment claims
- Practical and vocational nurses: 793 advertised openings, 121 continued unemployment claims
- Computer systems analysts: 2,047 advertised openings, 453 continued unemployment claims
- Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents: 506 advertised openings, 143 continued unemployment claims
- Insurance sales agents: 578 advertised openings, 175 continued unemployment claims
- Medical records and health information technicians: 364 advertised openings, 110 continued unemployment claims
- Hairdressers, stylists and cosmetologists: 258 advertised openings, 92 continued unemployment claims
- Tellers: 508 advertised openings, 199 continued unemployment claims
Top 10 categories that were hardest hit so far on average in 2009 in Washington state:
- Carpenters: 126 advertised openings, 6,939 continued unemployment claims
- Construction laborers: 115 advertised openings, 5,869 continued unemployment claims
- Welders, cutters and similar jobs: 84 advertised openings, 2,064 continued unemployment claims
- Managers: 102 advertised openings, 2,065 continued unemployment claims
- Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters: 99 advertised openings, 1,981 continued unemployment claims
- Electricians: 199 advertised openings, 3,430 continued unemployment claims
- Machinists: 83 advertised openings, 1,323 continued unemployment claims
- Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers: 68 advertised openings, 1,016 continued unemployment claims
- Truck drivers (heavy and tractor-trailer): 398 advertised openings, 5,567 continued unemployment claims
- Industrial truck and tractor operators: 92 advertised openings, 1,236 continued unemployment claims
I’m fully aware that wages are an integral part for these jobs.
I’ll try and add that information later.
But when I covered labor and the economy as a journalist, readers often reminded me – and rightly so - that even though a job might be in demand, the accompanying wage might not be enough to provide financial stability for that person.
Mortgage, rent, health insurance, food and other cost-of-living expenses might be high for a person who has a job in an in-demand occupation.
Another snapshot: In the first eight months of 2007, Washington state had five job groups in which the labor supply – or people willing to work – was greater than the demand.
For the same period this year, that number had grown to 16 and included law-related jobs, as well as ones in business, finance and engineering.
Like I said, I hope to have more time in the coming days to summarize more information from this economic meeting.
