Our country is unfortunately in the position of being in a great transitional period. Right now, many people are considering making a change in what they do for their livelihood. This is never any easy step, no matter who you are. Even if you're excited and looking forward to taking your life in a new direction, there are several things that everyone should think about before making a career change. Doing so will better prepare you for this transition and help you get the job in the field you want.
The first thing that you need to do is consider the fields that you're willing to seek employment in and whether or not you're prepared to make that move. Even though you're interested in getting chemical engineering jobs, you might need to return to school so you can get the training you need to get the job. If you're not willing to go back to school, then you should look at jobs that require skills that are similar to your past experience. For example, if you have experience in leadership or management, then you might want to look for a job where you can bring those skills to bare in an effective way. It's up to you as to how dramatic of a change you want to make in your employment search.
You may really like the idea of working with real estate or construction, but you have to understand certain realities that face the market right now. Certain sectors of the job market that just a few years ago were very profitable are currently struggling. Even if on average a certain type of profession is in demand in most of the country, it doesn't mean that this translates to your geographic region. Look to see what jobs are in demand in your area and from there consider what you're best suited for. This will go a long way toward informing your decision on exactly how to proceed.
Once you've looked at what's available and made a decision on which path to take, you need to immediately start looking into the ways that you can get the necessary training. Gaining experience is everything today and often makes the difference in getting the job. If you need to go back to school to get nursing or electrical engineering jobs, see which local schools have the best programs. If you don't need an additional education, start networking as soon as you can so you can build connections within the industry. You can't just sit back and expect the job to fall in your lap. You have to pursue any lead and connection you can.
Consider some of these factors for jumping head first into any new profession. Any change of this magnitude takes a certain level of planning and forethought if you hope to be successful. Look at some of the ways that others have made the job transition easier on themselves and do the research before you make any decision.
Ten questions to you
You may be a student, job seeker or working somewhere. You definitely have some experience in a university or college campus and keeping a career ambition that is driving you further ahead.
We encourage you to share your experience with respect to the following ten questions it would be of much help to many dreaming for better opportunities.
We encourage you to share your experience with respect to the following ten questions it would be of much help to many dreaming for better opportunities.
Few commentsSee what others have wrote:
What is your bachelor's degree and why did you know choose that?
- BS (Hons), no particular reason
- BE. My Father said and forced me to choose this.
If you could do it all again, what would you do differently?
- MBA fa sure
- Gosh ! do it all again? I will change my attitude and likeness.
Kuwait said to lift work visa ban on 5 nationalities
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: The Ministry of Interior is said to have issued a directive lifting a ban on the issuance of work permits to five Arab and Asian nationalities by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, reports Al-Nahar daily.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor were quoted as saying that work permits will be issued and also renewed for Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis, Syrians and Iranians at the end of June, stressing the ban imposed on their residence-related transactions has finally been lifted.
The Interior Minister recently also issued a directive for completion of transactions of all those individuals from these countries who had arrived in Kuwait before the ban was imposed but the immigration officials say they have so far not received any official instructions on the issue.
There is also a ban currently in place on the issuance of visit visas to nationals of these five countries.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor were quoted as saying that work permits will be issued and also renewed for Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis, Syrians and Iranians at the end of June, stressing the ban imposed on their residence-related transactions has finally been lifted.
The Interior Minister recently also issued a directive for completion of transactions of all those individuals from these countries who had arrived in Kuwait before the ban was imposed but the immigration officials say they have so far not received any official instructions on the issue.
There is also a ban currently in place on the issuance of visit visas to nationals of these five countries.
No more Omrah visas
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 23: The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Kuwait has stopped issuing visas to perform Omrah or the minor pilgrimage as the period stipulated by Saudi authorities for Omrah has come to an end, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The embassy, however, is issuing all kinds of visit visas.
“We issued more than 275,000 Omrah visas in the last eight months for the residents of Kuwait and Iraq,” said Saudi Ambassador in Kuwait Dr Abdulaziz Al-Fayez.
He added that the embassy is keen on processing visa documents as soon as possible to facilitate the travel of applicants and called on all those desiring to acquire visit and transit visas to submit their applications at the offices accredited by the embassy.
“We issued more than 275,000 Omrah visas in the last eight months for the residents of Kuwait and Iraq,” said Saudi Ambassador in Kuwait Dr Abdulaziz Al-Fayez.
He added that the embassy is keen on processing visa documents as soon as possible to facilitate the travel of applicants and called on all those desiring to acquire visit and transit visas to submit their applications at the offices accredited by the embassy.
No. of driving licences granted expats to be reduced
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 26: Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hmoud was recently quoted as saying that at the beginning of next year a new traffic law will be put into effect, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
He added some modifications are being made to the law. He stressed the main purpose is to control the traffic and reduce violations and accidents.
The new law, sources say, includes a number of procedures to deter reckless driving. This will include doubling the prison term for motorists committing serious offences and reducing the number of driving licenses given to expatriates.
He clarified the traffic violations committed by those who do not respect the law endanger the lives of people. This matter necessitates toughening the penalties. He added the modifications are aimed at confronting the violators not to increase fines.
The coming phase, the minister said, will witness intensive spread of traffic patrols on roads and at traffic lights to monitor the traffic movement and arrest the violators particularly those who cross the red light.
In other news, the interior minister was all praise for securitymen who work round the clock to prevent infiltrations into the country through the borders.
He added teams of securitymen in civilian clothes now pursue illegal residents who have failed to take advantage of the Amiri amnesty. These people are considered a danger to the society, he said.
He added some modifications are being made to the law. He stressed the main purpose is to control the traffic and reduce violations and accidents.
The new law, sources say, includes a number of procedures to deter reckless driving. This will include doubling the prison term for motorists committing serious offences and reducing the number of driving licenses given to expatriates.
He clarified the traffic violations committed by those who do not respect the law endanger the lives of people. This matter necessitates toughening the penalties. He added the modifications are aimed at confronting the violators not to increase fines.
The coming phase, the minister said, will witness intensive spread of traffic patrols on roads and at traffic lights to monitor the traffic movement and arrest the violators particularly those who cross the red light.
In other news, the interior minister was all praise for securitymen who work round the clock to prevent infiltrations into the country through the borders.
He added teams of securitymen in civilian clothes now pursue illegal residents who have failed to take advantage of the Amiri amnesty. These people are considered a danger to the society, he said.
‘Automatic’ work permits renewal
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 25: Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Sector at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Jamal Al-Dosri has announced that work permits of laborers will be renewed automatically from the beginning of September, reports Al-Anba daily.
Explaining the procedure, Al-Dosri said employers will be given a secret code through which the transaction will be finalized. “This will also put an end to the problem of marginal laborers as the secret code will ask for the bank files of employees’ salaries and these will appear on the computer screens of labor departments,” he said.
The step was finalized during the meeting of directors of labor departments and in presence of the executive manager of the automated services project Abdulhakeem Al-Sa’ban, said a source.
In another development, a parliamentary source said the law on compulsory military service has come into effect and added that authorities are diligently making preparations and are looking for a proper location to receive candidates who meet the conditions, reports Al-Dar daily.
He said the compulsory military service has become one of government’s priorities, particularly after it was approved by the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Director of Charities and Foundations in Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Nasser Al-Ammar expects that proceeds from the 8th Ramadan donation campaign may exceed KD 86,000,000 due to citizens’ desire to donate to the Somali famine victims and the operation K-net initiative, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
In a statement, Al-Ammar added that this year’s Ramadan has witnessed enormous contributions from donors, unlike in previous years. He stressed the department depended on its employees to follow up almost 90 percent of the charities and foundations after the Civil Service Commission declined to form a team for field assessment.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammed Al-Kandari has directed nongovernmental organizations to follow legal procedures and keep account records to protect charity activities, as part of the global effort to fight money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Explaining the procedure, Al-Dosri said employers will be given a secret code through which the transaction will be finalized. “This will also put an end to the problem of marginal laborers as the secret code will ask for the bank files of employees’ salaries and these will appear on the computer screens of labor departments,” he said.
The step was finalized during the meeting of directors of labor departments and in presence of the executive manager of the automated services project Abdulhakeem Al-Sa’ban, said a source.
In another development, a parliamentary source said the law on compulsory military service has come into effect and added that authorities are diligently making preparations and are looking for a proper location to receive candidates who meet the conditions, reports Al-Dar daily.
He said the compulsory military service has become one of government’s priorities, particularly after it was approved by the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Director of Charities and Foundations in Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Nasser Al-Ammar expects that proceeds from the 8th Ramadan donation campaign may exceed KD 86,000,000 due to citizens’ desire to donate to the Somali famine victims and the operation K-net initiative, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
In a statement, Al-Ammar added that this year’s Ramadan has witnessed enormous contributions from donors, unlike in previous years. He stressed the department depended on its employees to follow up almost 90 percent of the charities and foundations after the Civil Service Commission declined to form a team for field assessment.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammed Al-Kandari has directed nongovernmental organizations to follow legal procedures and keep account records to protect charity activities, as part of the global effort to fight money laundering and financing of terrorism.
India, China trying to find solution to stapled visa issue
India and China are discussing ways to find a solution regarding Beijing's policy to issue stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan said.
"This is the issue being discussed between the two governments. So, that means the two governments are working on it. So, once we have the solution, you will know. We are working on that," Zhang said.
He replied in the affirmative when asked if India and China are "working" to review this policy, which has emerged as a sticky issue between the two countries.
Zhang hastened to add: "This issue (stapled visas) does not hinder our cooperation. Our cooperation is going on very well."
India had last month expressed unhappiness over the issuance of stapled visas by China to five sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh with government sources, saying, "We are still searching for a de-stapler."
The Chinese Embassy had issued stapled visas to five karate players from Arunachal Pradesh preventing them from taking part in an international championship in China.
China started issuing stapled visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir from 2008.
"This is the issue being discussed between the two governments. So, that means the two governments are working on it. So, once we have the solution, you will know. We are working on that," Zhang said.
He replied in the affirmative when asked if India and China are "working" to review this policy, which has emerged as a sticky issue between the two countries.
Zhang hastened to add: "This issue (stapled visas) does not hinder our cooperation. Our cooperation is going on very well."
India had last month expressed unhappiness over the issuance of stapled visas by China to five sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh with government sources, saying, "We are still searching for a de-stapler."
The Chinese Embassy had issued stapled visas to five karate players from Arunachal Pradesh preventing them from taking part in an international championship in China.
China started issuing stapled visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir from 2008.
TWAS Award Scheme
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
India joins TWAS in promoting South-South cooperation in
science through Biotechnology fellowships for
doctoral and postdoctoral studies
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) ,Govt of India has entered into an agreement with Third World Academy of Sciences ( TWAS) to provide 50 fellowships annually in biotechnology for doctorate and post-doctorate studies to students from developing countries. Fellowship recipients will study at Indian universities and research institutes. The programme will be administered in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).The application forms can be viewed and downloaded on the DBT and TWAS websites . Last date for submission of completed Applications to the TWAS office is 31st August of each year.
Applications Format:
- Download the application form for TWAS Fellowship for Research & Advance Training MSWORD FORMAT
For additional information, contact fellowships@twas.org or swarup@dbt.nic.in
Perth man guilty of illegally supplying foreign workers
26 Aug 2011
A Perth man was convicted and fined today in the Perth Magistrates Court for migration fraud and illegally supplying foreign workers to WA businesses.
Today’s conviction is the first successful contested prosecution under the existing employer sanctions legislation and serves as a strong warning to businesses and labour agencies considering employing people without the right to work.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomed the guilty verdicts on two counts of providing false information and two offences of supplying non-citizens to work in breach of visa conditions. The man, who had no previous criminal convictions, was fined $7000.
“It is a serious offence for employers and labour suppliers to allow or refer illegal workers to perform work. The conviction and sentencing of this employment agent is a strong deterrent message to those thinking of doing the wrong thing,” a departmental spokesman said.
The investigation into the man was sparked by an allegation received from a local small business owner regarding a sponsorship application in their name for a visa holder they had not sought to employ.
Departmental investigators found the man was operating an employment agency to facilitate the recruitment and entry into Australia of Philippine nationals to fill employment vacancies within WA, typically in trades. The man would scout advertised vacancies in local newspapers, contact the employer and offer his services to fill the positions with qualified overseas employees.
The offences of which he was found guilty related to recklessly supplying workers without the appropriate visas or work rights, and also fraudulently altering application documents to include extra visa holders, without the knowledge of the sponsor.
Under existing laws, employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of having illegal workers face maximum fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.
The Australian Government announced last month that it would overhaul penalties for hiring illegal workers to allow better enforcement of the current law, following an independent review of the employer sanctions laws. The recommendations, which have been accepted in-principle ahead of stakeholder consultation, include the introduction of a range of civil penalties and broader powers for DIAC investigators.
The full report of the 2010 Howells Review of Employer Sanctions is available at www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/working-legally/
People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.
Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 6264 2244
A Perth man was convicted and fined today in the Perth Magistrates Court for migration fraud and illegally supplying foreign workers to WA businesses.
Today’s conviction is the first successful contested prosecution under the existing employer sanctions legislation and serves as a strong warning to businesses and labour agencies considering employing people without the right to work.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomed the guilty verdicts on two counts of providing false information and two offences of supplying non-citizens to work in breach of visa conditions. The man, who had no previous criminal convictions, was fined $7000.
“It is a serious offence for employers and labour suppliers to allow or refer illegal workers to perform work. The conviction and sentencing of this employment agent is a strong deterrent message to those thinking of doing the wrong thing,” a departmental spokesman said.
The investigation into the man was sparked by an allegation received from a local small business owner regarding a sponsorship application in their name for a visa holder they had not sought to employ.
Departmental investigators found the man was operating an employment agency to facilitate the recruitment and entry into Australia of Philippine nationals to fill employment vacancies within WA, typically in trades. The man would scout advertised vacancies in local newspapers, contact the employer and offer his services to fill the positions with qualified overseas employees.
The offences of which he was found guilty related to recklessly supplying workers without the appropriate visas or work rights, and also fraudulently altering application documents to include extra visa holders, without the knowledge of the sponsor.
Under existing laws, employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of having illegal workers face maximum fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.
The Australian Government announced last month that it would overhaul penalties for hiring illegal workers to allow better enforcement of the current law, following an independent review of the employer sanctions laws. The recommendations, which have been accepted in-principle ahead of stakeholder consultation, include the introduction of a range of civil penalties and broader powers for DIAC investigators.
The full report of the 2010 Howells Review of Employer Sanctions is available at www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/compliance/working-legally/
People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.
Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 6264 2244
Dubai - How the work permit and residency visa process works
As a foreign citizen one cannot legally work in Dubai without a work permit and one shouldn’t even take the risk even if offered a short-term contract for example. The good news is that employers in Dubai are generally so used to employing foreign labour, that they know the ins and outs of the process required to get their expatriate employees the correct permits and visas in place.
There are number of options to find jobs in Dubai. This includes approaching recruitment agencies – either those locally in Dubai, or those specialising in your profession who have international presence. Some charge a fee, others are of course paid by the employer when they place a successful candidate.
Your other options include specifically approaching companies based in Dubai which may be recruiting staff – you can Google companies within your professional sphere for example, visit their websites and see if they have vacancies. Alternatively you can apply on spec to any companies you would like to work for.
Other options include visiting the emirate on a visit visa and attempting to network or approach companies or recruitment agencies for interview. You can also use local publications, some of which have a presence online, and search the classifieds for jobs available.
Your final viable alternative is to seek relocation from the company you’re currently working for. If they have offices in Dubai perhaps they would be willing to relocate you.
The economy of the emirate has been badly affected since 2008, and the numbers of jobs available and the number of companies recruiting international staff have fallen dramatically from Dubai’s golden heydays post 2000. Having said that, for well-qualified and experienced staff in certain sectors such as IT, finance, medicine and education, there are still vacancies available.
As competition is intense, you need to make your resume and covering letter, application form and CV stand out every single time. Don’t apply half-heartedly, put everything you have into a job application if you want the best chance of success.
In terms of securing a work permit, we covered this in depth in our article entitled ‘Moving to Live in Dubai’ – but to summarise the process you will be granted a short-term employment visa to allow you entry to Dubai.
This will be valid for 30 days during which time it will be up to you and your employer to secure your official employment visa. Your employer usually takes the lead in managing the application. Your visa will be valid for one or three years.
Following completion of the application process you can then officially apply for residency.
You will have to undergo a medical test, and once your visa has been issued you are then in a position to secure everything from a local bank account to a rental property – and of course it means you can sponsor your family to join you now that you’ve secured employment in Dubai.
There are number of options to find jobs in Dubai. This includes approaching recruitment agencies – either those locally in Dubai, or those specialising in your profession who have international presence. Some charge a fee, others are of course paid by the employer when they place a successful candidate.
Your other options include specifically approaching companies based in Dubai which may be recruiting staff – you can Google companies within your professional sphere for example, visit their websites and see if they have vacancies. Alternatively you can apply on spec to any companies you would like to work for.
Other options include visiting the emirate on a visit visa and attempting to network or approach companies or recruitment agencies for interview. You can also use local publications, some of which have a presence online, and search the classifieds for jobs available.
Your final viable alternative is to seek relocation from the company you’re currently working for. If they have offices in Dubai perhaps they would be willing to relocate you.
The economy of the emirate has been badly affected since 2008, and the numbers of jobs available and the number of companies recruiting international staff have fallen dramatically from Dubai’s golden heydays post 2000. Having said that, for well-qualified and experienced staff in certain sectors such as IT, finance, medicine and education, there are still vacancies available.
As competition is intense, you need to make your resume and covering letter, application form and CV stand out every single time. Don’t apply half-heartedly, put everything you have into a job application if you want the best chance of success.
In terms of securing a work permit, we covered this in depth in our article entitled ‘Moving to Live in Dubai’ – but to summarise the process you will be granted a short-term employment visa to allow you entry to Dubai.
This will be valid for 30 days during which time it will be up to you and your employer to secure your official employment visa. Your employer usually takes the lead in managing the application. Your visa will be valid for one or three years.
Following completion of the application process you can then officially apply for residency.
You will have to undergo a medical test, and once your visa has been issued you are then in a position to secure everything from a local bank account to a rental property – and of course it means you can sponsor your family to join you now that you’ve secured employment in Dubai.
Australia: Immigration targets unregistered migration advice syndicate
Perth, 25 Aug 2011
A criminal syndicate providing unregistered migration advice to foreign nationals has been shut down following a police operation in Perth early today.
The execution of the search warrants brings to a close a 12-month multi-jurisdictional investigation.
Prosecutions are now under consideration as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) works with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue further action.
“People who practise as unregistered migration agents in Australia are breaking the law and may be subject to fines of up to $6600 or imprisonment for up to 10 years,” a DIAC spokesman said.
The investigation involved DIAC officers with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in which the scheme’s unregistered migration agents claimed to be able to arrange ‘working visas’ for non-citizens.
“Organisers were charging exorbitant fees for unregistered migration assistance, and were also lodging visa applications which contained false information relating to claims for asylum,” the spokesman said. “Over the past 12 months, DIAC has conducted a series of targeted operations in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia aimed at dismantling this syndicate.”
As a result of information obtained during recent operations, search warrants were executed by immigration investigators with the assistance of the AFP early today in Perth.
The operation follows the execution of warrants Sydney in July in which large numbers of visa applications were seized at the residence and office of the principal suspect of this investigation.
“The department has received outstanding support from the AFP, Victoria Police and other government agencies during this investigation which has demonstrated the whole-of-government resolve to protect the integrity of Australia’s migration programs,” the spokesman said. “In Australia there are strict rules about helping someone with their visa application.
“If you are a migration agent you must be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority [Office of the MARA],” he added.
A criminal syndicate providing unregistered migration advice to foreign nationals has been shut down following a police operation in Perth early today.
The execution of the search warrants brings to a close a 12-month multi-jurisdictional investigation.
Prosecutions are now under consideration as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) works with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue further action.
“People who practise as unregistered migration agents in Australia are breaking the law and may be subject to fines of up to $6600 or imprisonment for up to 10 years,” a DIAC spokesman said.
The investigation involved DIAC officers with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in which the scheme’s unregistered migration agents claimed to be able to arrange ‘working visas’ for non-citizens.
“Organisers were charging exorbitant fees for unregistered migration assistance, and were also lodging visa applications which contained false information relating to claims for asylum,” the spokesman said. “Over the past 12 months, DIAC has conducted a series of targeted operations in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia aimed at dismantling this syndicate.”
As a result of information obtained during recent operations, search warrants were executed by immigration investigators with the assistance of the AFP early today in Perth.
The operation follows the execution of warrants Sydney in July in which large numbers of visa applications were seized at the residence and office of the principal suspect of this investigation.
“The department has received outstanding support from the AFP, Victoria Police and other government agencies during this investigation which has demonstrated the whole-of-government resolve to protect the integrity of Australia’s migration programs,” the spokesman said. “In Australia there are strict rules about helping someone with their visa application.
“If you are a migration agent you must be registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority [Office of the MARA],” he added.
Special U visas fast-track illegal immigrants to residency
The federal government has an unusual fast track to legal residency for illegal immigrants.
Antonio Luna's ticket was a bullet in the back.
The 30-year-old Mexican, who slipped into the United States in 2000, was delivering pizza to a narrow South Philadelphia street on a night two summers ago.
The customer on the steps, in a hat raked low, took his time paying - time enough for another man to leap from between parked cars and thrust a gun against Luna's forehead.
Luna gave up the food, his cellphone, and $140. The first man ransacked his car; the gunman forced him to the ground. "He told me, 'If you want to run, run,' " Luna recounted recently. "I didn't have a chance because he shot me" in the lower back.
Gushing blood, howling in pain, thinking he might die, Luna never imagined how the assault would better not only his life, but also that of his wife and two children.
The next morning, detectives came to his bed at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. They told him they did not care about his immigration status. They just wanted his help. He immediately picked the gunman from a book of mug shots. Police made the arrest that night.
For aiding the investigation, Luna got a reward: a "U visa."
It grants residency to illegal immigrants who have been victims of violence and cooperate with law enforcement. That could range from giving information to police to testifying at trial.
A U visa includes a work permit good for four years. After three years, the victim can apply for a green card, allowing permanent work-authorization and residency.
In the nearly three years that U visas have been available, about 25,000 victims and 19,000 relatives have received them. The number living in the Philadelphia area was not immediately available from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Lawyers who represent illegal immigrants say their risk of abuse, exploitation, and victimization is high because they fear deportation if they report a crime.
For years, Luna had tried to live small, to avoid notice.
After he was shot, his application for a U visa was guided by Brenda Gorski, a lawyer at Philadelphia's pro-immigrant Nationalities Services Center. Instead of dying, he said, he was "reborn." Because U visas are "derivative" - they include immediate family members - his wife, Beatriz, 27, mother of their two U.S.-born children, became a legal resident, too.
Congress created not only U visas, but also T visas, for victims of human trafficking.
Details at http://www.uscis.gov
Antonio Luna's ticket was a bullet in the back.
The 30-year-old Mexican, who slipped into the United States in 2000, was delivering pizza to a narrow South Philadelphia street on a night two summers ago.
The customer on the steps, in a hat raked low, took his time paying - time enough for another man to leap from between parked cars and thrust a gun against Luna's forehead.
Luna gave up the food, his cellphone, and $140. The first man ransacked his car; the gunman forced him to the ground. "He told me, 'If you want to run, run,' " Luna recounted recently. "I didn't have a chance because he shot me" in the lower back.
Gushing blood, howling in pain, thinking he might die, Luna never imagined how the assault would better not only his life, but also that of his wife and two children.
The next morning, detectives came to his bed at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. They told him they did not care about his immigration status. They just wanted his help. He immediately picked the gunman from a book of mug shots. Police made the arrest that night.
For aiding the investigation, Luna got a reward: a "U visa."
It grants residency to illegal immigrants who have been victims of violence and cooperate with law enforcement. That could range from giving information to police to testifying at trial.
A U visa includes a work permit good for four years. After three years, the victim can apply for a green card, allowing permanent work-authorization and residency.
In the nearly three years that U visas have been available, about 25,000 victims and 19,000 relatives have received them. The number living in the Philadelphia area was not immediately available from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Lawyers who represent illegal immigrants say their risk of abuse, exploitation, and victimization is high because they fear deportation if they report a crime.
For years, Luna had tried to live small, to avoid notice.
After he was shot, his application for a U visa was guided by Brenda Gorski, a lawyer at Philadelphia's pro-immigrant Nationalities Services Center. Instead of dying, he said, he was "reborn." Because U visas are "derivative" - they include immediate family members - his wife, Beatriz, 27, mother of their two U.S.-born children, became a legal resident, too.
Congress created not only U visas, but also T visas, for victims of human trafficking.
Details at http://www.uscis.gov
Immigration fraud awareness
City officials discuss new initiatives to cut down on criminals offering fraudulent legal assistance to immigrants.
Foreign shores as bait, immigration firms cheat people
It is the lure of the foreign land, hope for a better life and the ambition to rake in the moolah that has made many people to fall into the well-laid plans of fraudulent immigration companies.
In the past four years, Chandigarh police have registered cases against 12 companies of duping people on the pretext of sending them to foreign shores, with at least 100 people from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh parting with Rs 2.5 crore to these firms.
The latest has been against Scotch Education and Immigration Service Pvt Ltd of Sector 3 in Chandigarh. A case of cheating and criminal conspiracy has been registered against its owners Dhaliwal and Seema on a complaint by Yaman Khan that the duo took Rs 2.30 lakh to send him abroad.
But neither was he sent abroad nor his money returned.
Earlier on Saturday, a similar case was filed against Healthyway Immigration Consultants Pvt Ltd, based in Sector 42 of Chandigarh for cheating and forgery.
However, owners Amit Kakkar and Saroj Kakkar and other officials—Kuldeep Singh, Seema Dogra, Siana Nischal and Charu—are absconding. The police have sealed Kakkars’ residence in Phase-II of Mohali.
A team headed by DSP (headquarters) Ashish Kapoor quizzed some employees of the company and have also contacted embassies.
Most of these frauds are committed by small-time immigration agents, operating from houses and cabins.
A detailed report prepared by the Economic Offences Wing of Chandigarh police a month ago reveals that 12 registered firms were booked for duping people and authenticity of six of them are still being examined with the help of Ministry of External Affairs.
Police sources said in most of the cases, the modus operandi was similar: Giving advertisements in local newspapers and magazines, saying people would be sent abroad at less expense. In some cases the accused were couples, who claimed to have contacts abroad.
Duo charged for duping man
The Chandigarh Police registered a case on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy, on Sunday, after Yaman Khan, a resident of Mohali complained against Dhaliwal and Seema, both owners of Scotch Education and Immigration Service, SCO No 16-17, Sector 34, Chandigarh. As per the complainant, the duo took Rs 2,30,000 from the complainant for sending him abroad. However, Yaman was neither sent abroad nor was his money returned. No arrests have been made so far.
Meanwhile, in Panchkula
Police are investigating a complaint lodged by 15-20 people who were duped by an immigration agent, Manmeet Singh, resident of SAS Nagar, who had an office - Sunshine Company in Sector 16. As per the complaint, he lured people by putting advertisements in the newspapers and promised them jobs in Singapore. He gave them appointment letters and even airline tickets, which all turned out to be fake. The victims came to know about the fraud when they were stopped at IGI for having fake tickets.
In the past four years, Chandigarh police have registered cases against 12 companies of duping people on the pretext of sending them to foreign shores, with at least 100 people from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh parting with Rs 2.5 crore to these firms.
The latest has been against Scotch Education and Immigration Service Pvt Ltd of Sector 3 in Chandigarh. A case of cheating and criminal conspiracy has been registered against its owners Dhaliwal and Seema on a complaint by Yaman Khan that the duo took Rs 2.30 lakh to send him abroad.
But neither was he sent abroad nor his money returned.
Earlier on Saturday, a similar case was filed against Healthyway Immigration Consultants Pvt Ltd, based in Sector 42 of Chandigarh for cheating and forgery.
However, owners Amit Kakkar and Saroj Kakkar and other officials—Kuldeep Singh, Seema Dogra, Siana Nischal and Charu—are absconding. The police have sealed Kakkars’ residence in Phase-II of Mohali.
A team headed by DSP (headquarters) Ashish Kapoor quizzed some employees of the company and have also contacted embassies.
Most of these frauds are committed by small-time immigration agents, operating from houses and cabins.
A detailed report prepared by the Economic Offences Wing of Chandigarh police a month ago reveals that 12 registered firms were booked for duping people and authenticity of six of them are still being examined with the help of Ministry of External Affairs.
Police sources said in most of the cases, the modus operandi was similar: Giving advertisements in local newspapers and magazines, saying people would be sent abroad at less expense. In some cases the accused were couples, who claimed to have contacts abroad.
Duo charged for duping man
The Chandigarh Police registered a case on charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy, on Sunday, after Yaman Khan, a resident of Mohali complained against Dhaliwal and Seema, both owners of Scotch Education and Immigration Service, SCO No 16-17, Sector 34, Chandigarh. As per the complainant, the duo took Rs 2,30,000 from the complainant for sending him abroad. However, Yaman was neither sent abroad nor was his money returned. No arrests have been made so far.
Meanwhile, in Panchkula
Police are investigating a complaint lodged by 15-20 people who were duped by an immigration agent, Manmeet Singh, resident of SAS Nagar, who had an office - Sunshine Company in Sector 16. As per the complaint, he lured people by putting advertisements in the newspapers and promised them jobs in Singapore. He gave them appointment letters and even airline tickets, which all turned out to be fake. The victims came to know about the fraud when they were stopped at IGI for having fake tickets.
‘Ensure all immigration agents are registered’
Express News Service, Chandigarh: With more cases of immigration frauds surfacing in the region, the Attorney-at-Law from the United States, Sunita Thereja on Thursday suggested that the Indian government should ensure that all immigration agents are registered so that no one is cheated.
"The immigration sector in India is unorganised, but the government should take control of those who are involved in sending people abroad," Thereja said at an awareness programme on ‘How to prevent immigration fraud’.
The awareness programme was organsied by HOPE (Harmonious Omni-directional Public Endeavour), its national convenor, Pankaj Chandgothia said that frauds by unscrupulous immigration agents had surfaced time and again.
"In the past week, the intensity of such frauds seems to have increased. One of the main reasons, why a person becomes a victim of fraud, is a lack of knowledge about proper documentation and procedure prescribed for various kinds of immigration," he said.
"The immigration sector in India is unorganised, but the government should take control of those who are involved in sending people abroad," Thereja said at an awareness programme on ‘How to prevent immigration fraud’.
The awareness programme was organsied by HOPE (Harmonious Omni-directional Public Endeavour), its national convenor, Pankaj Chandgothia said that frauds by unscrupulous immigration agents had surfaced time and again.
"In the past week, the intensity of such frauds seems to have increased. One of the main reasons, why a person becomes a victim of fraud, is a lack of knowledge about proper documentation and procedure prescribed for various kinds of immigration," he said.
Israel to provide work permit to Nepali nationals
RSS - KATHMANDU: Israel has agreed to issue employment visa to Nepali nationals. Israel is considered one of the attractive destinations for Nepali citizens chiefly for caregivers and farm laborers.
Israel had stopped issuing employment visas to Nepali nationals some two years ago blaming lack of transparency in the recruitment process. Israel was not happy with the tendency of manpower agencies to charge very high amount from the migrant workers for processing for work in Israel.
The exchange of several letters to regularize the recruitment process in the past two years was finally succeeded, said a senior officer of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with RSS correspondent.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson of the ministry Durga Prasad Bhattarai said the government will start the work respecting the decision to give work permit to Nepali citizens made by the government of Israel. The numbers of Nepali women working in Israel is high compared to the male workers.
Israel had stopped issuing employment visas to Nepali nationals some two years ago blaming lack of transparency in the recruitment process. Israel was not happy with the tendency of manpower agencies to charge very high amount from the migrant workers for processing for work in Israel.
The exchange of several letters to regularize the recruitment process in the past two years was finally succeeded, said a senior officer of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with RSS correspondent.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson of the ministry Durga Prasad Bhattarai said the government will start the work respecting the decision to give work permit to Nepali citizens made by the government of Israel. The numbers of Nepali women working in Israel is high compared to the male workers.
Will Recent Franco-German Talks Lead to Lower Unemployment Throughout Europe?
Keeping that unemployment level down when the market itself is plummeting is essential in maintaining a calm and collected citizenry. Just ask Germany, which ranks only behind the Netherlands and Austria as far as unemployment in the Eurozone goes. No, it’s not time to call it quits and immigrate to another continent, attending "South University online" in order to reclaim our livelihoods. But it is time to question why nobody, including the United States and the majority of European member states, seems to be even slightly interested in job creation, or, at best job, salvation as we veer close to a double-dip recession.
It’s time to start putting the European Union to good use. According to the BBC, the Sarkozy-Merkel talks on Tuesday focused mainly on the latter calling for the rest of Europe to balance their books. This is typically German and no doubt an aspect of why they’ve managed to thus far avoid economic calamity at a level equal to the rest of Europe. But let’s be real. It’s nonsense in light of what the heads of the top European economic engines could be doing.
Let’s forget about all this talk of "Eurobonds" which are just another virtual solution to a problem based in reality. That problem is, of course, that enormous amounts of the European underclass are unemployed or underemployed relative to the post-war historical norm. Optimistic outlooks that say otherwise deceptively classify people seeking forms of higher education, such as nursing degrees, as underemployed, not unemployed. That’s in spite of the fact that there are limited positions that can be promised to these individuals.
Even disregarding that solution, which Germany justifiably sees as unequal in its burden distribution, there exists simple ways for European leaders to ease unemployment across the continent. They amount to exercising the true potential power of the European Union, that is, having a uniting currency.
Germany, master of exports, are ultimately reliant on global demands, of which the rest of Europe entail a majority percentage. Their fate is tied with every other nation that uses the Euro.
So Europe’s underemployed nations slumped by recent events need to invoke their influence on the German export machine, and more importantly maximize their effect on the Euro itself. Consider it a gentlemanly form of "mutually assured destruction". So long as Germany lives off of European demand and can’t shake off the Euro, France and the rest of Europe have some serious bargaining power.
That is to say, these recent talks could in fact help ease European unemployment. That is, if France and the rest of Europe realize how much power they really do have.
It’s time to start putting the European Union to good use. According to the BBC, the Sarkozy-Merkel talks on Tuesday focused mainly on the latter calling for the rest of Europe to balance their books. This is typically German and no doubt an aspect of why they’ve managed to thus far avoid economic calamity at a level equal to the rest of Europe. But let’s be real. It’s nonsense in light of what the heads of the top European economic engines could be doing.
Let’s forget about all this talk of "Eurobonds" which are just another virtual solution to a problem based in reality. That problem is, of course, that enormous amounts of the European underclass are unemployed or underemployed relative to the post-war historical norm. Optimistic outlooks that say otherwise deceptively classify people seeking forms of higher education, such as nursing degrees, as underemployed, not unemployed. That’s in spite of the fact that there are limited positions that can be promised to these individuals.
Even disregarding that solution, which Germany justifiably sees as unequal in its burden distribution, there exists simple ways for European leaders to ease unemployment across the continent. They amount to exercising the true potential power of the European Union, that is, having a uniting currency.
Germany, master of exports, are ultimately reliant on global demands, of which the rest of Europe entail a majority percentage. Their fate is tied with every other nation that uses the Euro.
So Europe’s underemployed nations slumped by recent events need to invoke their influence on the German export machine, and more importantly maximize their effect on the Euro itself. Consider it a gentlemanly form of "mutually assured destruction". So long as Germany lives off of European demand and can’t shake off the Euro, France and the rest of Europe have some serious bargaining power.
That is to say, these recent talks could in fact help ease European unemployment. That is, if France and the rest of Europe realize how much power they really do have.
Online College Courses Make You a Marketable Applicant More Than You Realize
Those recently graduated with degrees that they earned through online college classes might think they're at a disadvantage in this highly competitive job market. If they do, then they are wrong. First off, there is no reason to even put on your resume that you took online courses instead of traditional ones, so there's no reason potential employers should even be aware of that fact. Secondly, there are a few aspects to an education attained online that are actually extremely positive.
You just need to know how to talk about your online education experience in the event that an interviewer ever asks you to discuss at length your academic background. The following are a series of valid points to make about online education if you're ever asked to talk about it during a job interview:
The Experience Made You a More Independent Individual
Online education is no easy task for those who can't successfully motivate themselves. You're typically emailed by an instructor once a week and expected to do your assignments and complete the readings on your own time. It is easy to forget about your academic responsibilities when you interact very little with classmates and a professor.
Therefore, those who complete degree programs through online courses must have either already had that independence within themselves or developed it in order to succeed. Either way, bringing this fact up to an interviewer is a great way to make your online education experience stand out.
The Experience Made You a More Tech-Savvy Individual
In order to earn an online degree, you have to know your way around a computer and around the World Wide Web. You've probably developed a mastery of the Google search when learning new programs and adapting to the latest software. This looks great during the interview process. Combined with your aforementioned independence, learning about new technologies makes you incredibly marketable. It lets potential employers know that they can trust you to work by yourself and do the job right.
The Experience Made You a More Forward-Thinking Individual
Online learning is the way of the future. There's no doubt about that. The economic benefits combined with increasing global inter-connectivity and improved mobile devices will soon become serious competition against the traditional campus-style method of attaining a college-level education. By taking online courses, you've now been able to see a glimpse into the future of academia. You've experienced innovation up close and personal.
Speaking about how revolutionary online education can be demonstrates that you have a healthy imagination, something employers really like to see. It shows them that you can think about things critically and analytically, and that you can feel passionate about something. That goes a very long way during the interview process.
But more importantly, perhaps, your word might change your interviewer's opinion about the quality of online education. Not only will you yourself demonstrate how successful it can be, your positive impression of the experience can create confidence within the interviewer.
The Experience Made You Right for the Job
All it takes is a little confidence in your own education. Any four-year degree is something to be incredibly proud of. Pursuing your education online gave you the chance to demonstrate attributes most college-level students don't get to show-off until after they get their first job, assuming they had them in the first place. Take advantage of it. Don't fail to see the benefits of your own learning experience, and don't fail to make employers see them too.
You just need to know how to talk about your online education experience in the event that an interviewer ever asks you to discuss at length your academic background. The following are a series of valid points to make about online education if you're ever asked to talk about it during a job interview:
The Experience Made You a More Independent Individual
Online education is no easy task for those who can't successfully motivate themselves. You're typically emailed by an instructor once a week and expected to do your assignments and complete the readings on your own time. It is easy to forget about your academic responsibilities when you interact very little with classmates and a professor.
Therefore, those who complete degree programs through online courses must have either already had that independence within themselves or developed it in order to succeed. Either way, bringing this fact up to an interviewer is a great way to make your online education experience stand out.
The Experience Made You a More Tech-Savvy Individual
In order to earn an online degree, you have to know your way around a computer and around the World Wide Web. You've probably developed a mastery of the Google search when learning new programs and adapting to the latest software. This looks great during the interview process. Combined with your aforementioned independence, learning about new technologies makes you incredibly marketable. It lets potential employers know that they can trust you to work by yourself and do the job right.
The Experience Made You a More Forward-Thinking Individual
Online learning is the way of the future. There's no doubt about that. The economic benefits combined with increasing global inter-connectivity and improved mobile devices will soon become serious competition against the traditional campus-style method of attaining a college-level education. By taking online courses, you've now been able to see a glimpse into the future of academia. You've experienced innovation up close and personal.
Speaking about how revolutionary online education can be demonstrates that you have a healthy imagination, something employers really like to see. It shows them that you can think about things critically and analytically, and that you can feel passionate about something. That goes a very long way during the interview process.
But more importantly, perhaps, your word might change your interviewer's opinion about the quality of online education. Not only will you yourself demonstrate how successful it can be, your positive impression of the experience can create confidence within the interviewer.
The Experience Made You Right for the Job
All it takes is a little confidence in your own education. Any four-year degree is something to be incredibly proud of. Pursuing your education online gave you the chance to demonstrate attributes most college-level students don't get to show-off until after they get their first job, assuming they had them in the first place. Take advantage of it. Don't fail to see the benefits of your own learning experience, and don't fail to make employers see them too.
What jobs would suit me? Careers Explorer
Ask yourself, What can it do for me?
There are number of online tools help to identify your skills and interests which eventually guide to select a career that best suits you. Subsequently, you may register to science jobs website or visit similar sites regularly to get the job or fellowship vacancy announcements.
Careers Explorer is an easy to use program to generate career ideas developed by the University of Kent Careers Advisory Service. By answering job-related questions you can compare your skills, interests and values with common graduate jobs. It will allow you to see which jobs might be worth further investigation as a future career.
You may
There are number of online tools help to identify your skills and interests which eventually guide to select a career that best suits you. Subsequently, you may register to science jobs website or visit similar sites regularly to get the job or fellowship vacancy announcements.
Careers Explorer is an easy to use program to generate career ideas developed by the University of Kent Careers Advisory Service. By answering job-related questions you can compare your skills, interests and values with common graduate jobs. It will allow you to see which jobs might be worth further investigation as a future career.
You may
- Identify what you want out of a job; generate new job ideas and check out your existing ones.
- Find out what motivates you in a job; identify your skills and what you can offer to the job/employer.
- See how these match the jobs you are considering.
- Research your chosen jobs in more detail, compare your options and decide on the right choices for you.
New H1 Bill pose impact to Green card Renewal?
The H1B is a US visa which is usually provided to any individual, non- Americans. It is an employment based non-immigrants green card that serves the purpose of a work permit, for any highly skilled workers to work for the United States. Specifically, the visa can last only for six years. And, it is a fast and quick alternative for US green card application. However, only employers are allowed to file for H1B visa not the hired individual himself. Of course, all expenses are shouldered by the company.
Certainly, the non-immigrant green card has a lot of benefits for the hired foreign individual. And, this has brought in a lot of technical issue as well to plenty of Americans. The wage is one thing. Hired foreign individuals are cheaper regardless of whether they are skilled or not. Employment status for many Americans is another thing. Thousands to millions of Americans are losing their jobs to foreign workers. These perhaps have raised a lot of misunderstandings to parties.
In Lieu to this, Pres. Obama in one of his recent interviews has mentioned of this. There is a new H1 bill submitted to congress, which can either enrage or bring forth relief to parties, the Americans and foreign workers. The new H1 bill states that only companies with majority of American workers are allowed for an H1 bill. For foreign IT companies, this can have a negative effect while it may pose advantage to many American workers. The question now is does the new bill affect the green card renewal?
Interview Question: What are your Strengths and Weaknesses ?
How do you respond to the question 'What are your strengths and weaknesses' in a job interview? The question may has some variations such as asking for the top 5 or 3 strengths and/or weaknesses or the questions asked separately during different parts of the interview. Sometimes, you may be asked only any one of them like What is your greatest strength? or What is your greatest weakness?
Try to tailor your responses to your specific job or task.
Create an honest list of what you think are your strengths or weaknesses and then pinpoint a couple you can remember. Practice your responses so that they sound natural and you are prepared for the question.
If you need help in answering this question, please ask the expert now. Please do not forget to mention what you believe your strengths and weaknesses below in the comments section.
Try to tailor your responses to your specific job or task.
Create an honest list of what you think are your strengths or weaknesses and then pinpoint a couple you can remember. Practice your responses so that they sound natural and you are prepared for the question.
If you need help in answering this question, please ask the expert now. Please do not forget to mention what you believe your strengths and weaknesses below in the comments section.
Job Report and Economy (in the light of US lose AAA rating) - Video
C-SPAN | Washington Journal
Daniel Indiviglio talked about the July 2011 unemployment statistics and what they mean for the overall economy. He also responded to telephone calls and electronic communications.
Daniel Indiviglio talked about the July 2011 unemployment statistics and what they mean for the overall economy. He also responded to telephone calls and electronic communications.
Germany looks to migrants to fight labour shortage
The Association of German Engineers (VDI) reported there were more than 76,000 unfilled engineering vacancies in June, up from 30,000 in 2009. The Federal Labour Office says the shortages have spread to include physicians, pharmacists, IT specialists, social workers and other healthcare professions.
A survey by the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) found 32 percent of companies viewed labour shortages as the single greatest risk to their future prosperity -- double the 16 percent that expressed that concern a year ago.
"German companies have increasing difficulties in filling open jobs with skilled people," DIHK president Hans Heinrich Driftmann told Reuters via email.
SENSITIVE ISSUE
Immigration is a highly sensitive and politically charged issue in Germany, which with more than 10 million immigrants has quietly become home to the world's third largest immigrant population after the United States and Russia.
Both East and West Germany took in millions of low-skilled "guest workers" in the 1960s and 1970s, and in the three-million-strong Turkish community -- the second largest group of immigrants after ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe and former Soviet states -- many have struggled to integrate.
German sentiments on immigration were exposed last year after the publication of a book by former central banker and local Berlin political leader Thilo Sarrazin that asserted that families of Turkish and Arab origin sponge off the state and threaten Germany's indigenous culture.
Right-wing politicians and the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGV) want the government to train unemployed Germans to fill labour shortages and oppose changes to the immigration laws.
The unemployment rate, at 7 percent, is the lowest since figures for a unified Germany were first published two decades ago.
"I do not believe that --- in a labour market encompassing the entire EU and in which there are after all 20 million people without jobs --- we need to seek workers from outside the EU," Georg Nuesslein, a member of parliament from the conservative Christian Social Union, told Reuters.
But immigration experts say people are wrong to conflate the issue of low-skilled immigration and the easing of entry rules for high-skilled workers.
"We always talk about the immigration problems of the past but the challenge for the future is that we need immigrants," said Reiner Klingholz, director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development.
"When people hear this they think, 'this is more of the old problem.' But we need those people. We depend on them."
GOVERNMENT MOVES INADEQUATE, CRITICS SAY
The government is aware of the issue but so far has been unable to find a solution.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed changes allowing firms to hire engineers and doctors, where the shortages are especially dire, from non-EU states without having to prove they could not find EU candidates.
She also wants to cut the minimum annual salary that German employers have to pay non-EU workers to 40,000 euros.
Experts say those measures are helpful but are not enough.
Experts like Herbert Bruecker, an economist and immigration specialist with the Federal Labour Office, advocate a points system using such criteria as education, work experience and language skills, as exists in Canada.
"These measures for doctors and engineers will not lead to mass immigration," he said. "We would be doing well if we could attract even 1,000 workers like this each year."
A Berlin Institute study projects Germany's population of 81.8 million will shrink by 12 million by 2050. That's equivalent to emptying Germany's 12 largest cities. The German workforce is forecast to fall by over 30 percent by 2050.
A survey by the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) found 32 percent of companies viewed labour shortages as the single greatest risk to their future prosperity -- double the 16 percent that expressed that concern a year ago.
"German companies have increasing difficulties in filling open jobs with skilled people," DIHK president Hans Heinrich Driftmann told Reuters via email.
SENSITIVE ISSUE
Immigration is a highly sensitive and politically charged issue in Germany, which with more than 10 million immigrants has quietly become home to the world's third largest immigrant population after the United States and Russia.
Both East and West Germany took in millions of low-skilled "guest workers" in the 1960s and 1970s, and in the three-million-strong Turkish community -- the second largest group of immigrants after ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe and former Soviet states -- many have struggled to integrate.
German sentiments on immigration were exposed last year after the publication of a book by former central banker and local Berlin political leader Thilo Sarrazin that asserted that families of Turkish and Arab origin sponge off the state and threaten Germany's indigenous culture.
Right-wing politicians and the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGV) want the government to train unemployed Germans to fill labour shortages and oppose changes to the immigration laws.
The unemployment rate, at 7 percent, is the lowest since figures for a unified Germany were first published two decades ago.
"I do not believe that --- in a labour market encompassing the entire EU and in which there are after all 20 million people without jobs --- we need to seek workers from outside the EU," Georg Nuesslein, a member of parliament from the conservative Christian Social Union, told Reuters.
But immigration experts say people are wrong to conflate the issue of low-skilled immigration and the easing of entry rules for high-skilled workers.
"We always talk about the immigration problems of the past but the challenge for the future is that we need immigrants," said Reiner Klingholz, director of the Berlin Institute for Population and Development.
"When people hear this they think, 'this is more of the old problem.' But we need those people. We depend on them."
GOVERNMENT MOVES INADEQUATE, CRITICS SAY
The government is aware of the issue but so far has been unable to find a solution.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed changes allowing firms to hire engineers and doctors, where the shortages are especially dire, from non-EU states without having to prove they could not find EU candidates.
She also wants to cut the minimum annual salary that German employers have to pay non-EU workers to 40,000 euros.
Experts say those measures are helpful but are not enough.
Experts like Herbert Bruecker, an economist and immigration specialist with the Federal Labour Office, advocate a points system using such criteria as education, work experience and language skills, as exists in Canada.
"These measures for doctors and engineers will not lead to mass immigration," he said. "We would be doing well if we could attract even 1,000 workers like this each year."
A Berlin Institute study projects Germany's population of 81.8 million will shrink by 12 million by 2050. That's equivalent to emptying Germany's 12 largest cities. The German workforce is forecast to fall by over 30 percent by 2050.
Australian Online tourist visa soon to expand to Chile
12 Aug 2011
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced that citizens of Chile will soon have access to a convenient online tourist visa for Australia.
From 20 September 2011, citizens of Chile can apply for the e676 electronic tourist visa online.
The application process is fast, secure and convenient, and gives applicants the ability to check the progress of their application electronically.
The visa does not require a visa label to be placed in a passport.
A notification is sent to the client providing details of the visa and airlines are able to confirm the visa entitlements through the Advanced Passenger Processing System.
Clients can also, if they wish, print a copy of their visa approval notification email to carry with them whilst traveling to Australia.
For more information about the e676 tourist visa application process, go to www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/e676.htm
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has announced that citizens of Chile will soon have access to a convenient online tourist visa for Australia.
From 20 September 2011, citizens of Chile can apply for the e676 electronic tourist visa online.
The application process is fast, secure and convenient, and gives applicants the ability to check the progress of their application electronically.
The visa does not require a visa label to be placed in a passport.
A notification is sent to the client providing details of the visa and airlines are able to confirm the visa entitlements through the Advanced Passenger Processing System.
Clients can also, if they wish, print a copy of their visa approval notification email to carry with them whilst traveling to Australia.
For more information about the e676 tourist visa application process, go to www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/e676.htm
Immigration operation at Sydney markets nets six illegal workers
Sydney, 11 Aug 2011: An early morning immigration compliance operation at Sydney’s Flemington markets located six illegal workers today.
The five women and one man, all in their 20s from the People’s Republic of China, were apprehended following information provided to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) through the Dob-In line.
A department spokesman said all of the illegal workers are being transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for processing ahead of their removal from Australia at the earliest opportunity.
He said the six people had all previously arrived in Australia on student visas which had either expired or, in the case of two of the women, their subsequent applications for permanent residence had been rejected.
“While student visa holders may have work rights, illegal workers in Australia will not be tolerated and the department actively investigates community reports and takes swift action to apprehend non-citizens without work rights,” the spokesman said.
“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that non-Australian workers they hire hold a visa with valid work rights.”
The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service is available to employers to check the relevant identification details of prospective employees, with their consent, to quickly confirm if they are eligible to work in Australia.
Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of having illegal workers face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.
The spokesman said investigations into the circumstances of the employment of the illegal workers found today would continue.
People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.
The five women and one man, all in their 20s from the People’s Republic of China, were apprehended following information provided to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) through the Dob-In line.
A department spokesman said all of the illegal workers are being transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for processing ahead of their removal from Australia at the earliest opportunity.
He said the six people had all previously arrived in Australia on student visas which had either expired or, in the case of two of the women, their subsequent applications for permanent residence had been rejected.
“While student visa holders may have work rights, illegal workers in Australia will not be tolerated and the department actively investigates community reports and takes swift action to apprehend non-citizens without work rights,” the spokesman said.
“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that non-Australian workers they hire hold a visa with valid work rights.”
The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service is available to employers to check the relevant identification details of prospective employees, with their consent, to quickly confirm if they are eligible to work in Australia.
Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of having illegal workers face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.
The spokesman said investigations into the circumstances of the employment of the illegal workers found today would continue.
People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.
Do you face career dilemma?
Three years at university for getting a bachelor's degree and then two years for post graduation can be a very long time but this can get even more agonising when one realises that the time spent training for a career was not useful.
Several young men and women have fallen in this trap only to realise it too little too late. Are you one among them? One such victim says,“Teaching is not for me, my first choice was in something else but I am doing this because there is no alternative”. There are many like this.
A self-assessment may work for you to find whether you are in such a trap. As yourself:
Several young men and women have fallen in this trap only to realise it too little too late. Are you one among them? One such victim says,“Teaching is not for me, my first choice was in something else but I am doing this because there is no alternative”. There are many like this.
A self-assessment may work for you to find whether you are in such a trap. As yourself:
- Do you like your course in which you are pursuing?
- Why you choose the course? What troubles you about that?
- How do you want this situation to be?
- What’s stopping you from making that (your choice) happen?
- What do you need to do to make that happen? What needs to change? What do you need to ask of others? What do you need to change inside yourself?
- Now that you know what needs to be done, what are you going to do?
Remaining Flexible about Job Location
When most college grads begin looking for jobs, they begin looking in grand cities that have always caught their eye such as New York or Los Angeles, or in comfortable places such as their college or home town. However, today's job market doesn't always make choosing where you want to work a possibility. To make sure they obtain a job, recent college grads should be more concerned with moving for the job, and not having the jobs come to them.
Not only will being willing to relocate provide you with more positions to apply for, but it will also make you more likely to be hired. Companies like to see that kind of dedication. When starting your job search, here are a few tips to keep in mind that may help you become more flexible and more available for a job:
Leave Your College Town
Unless you went to college in a big city such as Chicago, New York, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you shouldn't plan on hanging around after graduation. Most college towns are isolated markets that don't have many career opportunities as most college town firms rely on the cheap labor college students provide. Don't stay in your college town simply because it is comfortable. You will make new friends and find new favorite restaurants and bars in which ever city your new job may be only now you will have the money to enjoy going out.
Get a Storage Unit
Don't worry yourself with your possessions after graduation. Your main focus should be looking for a job not wondering if a friend or parent is willing to house your belongings. Instead of begging parents to house your possessions or toting them from one city to the next while interviewing, get a storage unit. Self storage units are cheap, and storing your items in one will allow you to jump from city to city more easily.
Do the Math
Always do the math before choosing a job in a certain area. If you have found great jobs in both Chicago, Illinois and El Paso, Texas and both pay $45,000, you are going to get more bang for your buck by taking the job in El Paso. Sure, the city isn't as fun as Chicago, but you will be able to use the salary you receive there to enhance your quality of life. The same salary in Chicago won't go nearly as far, and you may be left struggling to make ends meet each month.
Moving to a new city can be scary, but it can also be incredibly exciting. Don't limit yourself to what is comfortable simply because you are afraid of giving something new a try. The job market is rough, and in addition to a strong resume and skill set, being willing to relocate for a job is another great way to get yourself hired and out of your parents' house.
Not only will being willing to relocate provide you with more positions to apply for, but it will also make you more likely to be hired. Companies like to see that kind of dedication. When starting your job search, here are a few tips to keep in mind that may help you become more flexible and more available for a job:
Leave Your College Town
Unless you went to college in a big city such as Chicago, New York, Seattle, or Los Angeles, you shouldn't plan on hanging around after graduation. Most college towns are isolated markets that don't have many career opportunities as most college town firms rely on the cheap labor college students provide. Don't stay in your college town simply because it is comfortable. You will make new friends and find new favorite restaurants and bars in which ever city your new job may be only now you will have the money to enjoy going out.
Get a Storage Unit
Don't worry yourself with your possessions after graduation. Your main focus should be looking for a job not wondering if a friend or parent is willing to house your belongings. Instead of begging parents to house your possessions or toting them from one city to the next while interviewing, get a storage unit. Self storage units are cheap, and storing your items in one will allow you to jump from city to city more easily.
Do the Math
Always do the math before choosing a job in a certain area. If you have found great jobs in both Chicago, Illinois and El Paso, Texas and both pay $45,000, you are going to get more bang for your buck by taking the job in El Paso. Sure, the city isn't as fun as Chicago, but you will be able to use the salary you receive there to enhance your quality of life. The same salary in Chicago won't go nearly as far, and you may be left struggling to make ends meet each month.
Moving to a new city can be scary, but it can also be incredibly exciting. Don't limit yourself to what is comfortable simply because you are afraid of giving something new a try. The job market is rough, and in addition to a strong resume and skill set, being willing to relocate for a job is another great way to get yourself hired and out of your parents' house.
The truth about engineering jobs
You may think it’s a bleak world out there with recession and redundancies. However if you’re an engineer you’re in luck! This is an industry with such a skills dearth that you’ll be able to pretty much pick and choose what job you walk into and what salary you’ll earn – yes, a big one. OK, so that might be a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea. This is a great career to break into as far as prospects go.
What kind of jobs are there?
If you’re lucky enough to be an engineer, you’ll be happy to hear that engineering is one of the industries with the biggest range of jobs available. It would take a whole day to list all of them. Some of the jobs included in this field are chemical engineer, civil engineer, computer engineer and construction engineer. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. All you need to decide is which route to take.
What does it take?
If being an engineer is so great, why isn’t everyone an engineer? Because it is also tough - extremely tough. You have to have a naturally analytical mind, be able to solve problems and be highly intelligent to really succeed. It’s far from being the easy option.
Oh the glamour
Engineering, not so glamorous, right? Wrong! Lots of the biggest action movies star engineers saving the day, be they in space, on a plane, underwater or losing their minds. Some of the movies that will inspire you are ‘October Sky’, ‘Space Cowboys’ and ‘Apollo 13’. If these don’t grab your fancy then you can always work in the movies as a sound engineer!
...But what is it REALLY like?
Engineering can be a very rewarding job, particularly if you’re working towards creating something that will benefit society – or a really fast car.
Many engineers have a personal passion for what they do so work is an extension of their hobby, which is really the ideal when working hard. And you are likely to be expected to work hard with long and often unsociable hours.
Money, money, money
Four of the top 10 highest paid graduate jobs of 2010 were engineering jobs, and with starting salaries like these it’s easy to see why:
Chemical engineering: £28,415
General engineering: £25,455
Civil engineering: £24,473
Mechanical engineering: £24,446
What kind of jobs are there?
If you’re lucky enough to be an engineer, you’ll be happy to hear that engineering is one of the industries with the biggest range of jobs available. It would take a whole day to list all of them. Some of the jobs included in this field are chemical engineer, civil engineer, computer engineer and construction engineer. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. All you need to decide is which route to take.
What does it take?
If being an engineer is so great, why isn’t everyone an engineer? Because it is also tough - extremely tough. You have to have a naturally analytical mind, be able to solve problems and be highly intelligent to really succeed. It’s far from being the easy option.
Oh the glamour
Engineering, not so glamorous, right? Wrong! Lots of the biggest action movies star engineers saving the day, be they in space, on a plane, underwater or losing their minds. Some of the movies that will inspire you are ‘October Sky’, ‘Space Cowboys’ and ‘Apollo 13’. If these don’t grab your fancy then you can always work in the movies as a sound engineer!
...But what is it REALLY like?
Engineering can be a very rewarding job, particularly if you’re working towards creating something that will benefit society – or a really fast car.
Many engineers have a personal passion for what they do so work is an extension of their hobby, which is really the ideal when working hard. And you are likely to be expected to work hard with long and often unsociable hours.
Money, money, money
Four of the top 10 highest paid graduate jobs of 2010 were engineering jobs, and with starting salaries like these it’s easy to see why:
Chemical engineering: £28,415
General engineering: £25,455
Civil engineering: £24,473
Mechanical engineering: £24,446
Job Opportunities for Foreigners in Vietnam
As an emerging market that has only opened up to foreign investment in the early 1990s, job opportunities for foreigners in Vietnam are far more plentiful than anywhere else in Southeast Asia (except perhaps in Singapore). As a headhunter who once worked in Vietnam, here is a quick rundown of the types of job opportunities available for foreigners and what foreigners should consider when seeking a job in Vietnam:
Professional opportunities. Given the shortages of local professional talent in certain technical or creative fields, foreigners are often hired to fill in the gaps and there tends to be more opportunities for foreigners in certain niche fields.
Teaching English or offering professional training. Given that Vietnamese society was heavily influenced by Confucianism, the Vietnamese place a great emphasis on education and learning. Hence, there are plenty of teaching and training opportunities for Westerners - especially native English speakers.
Visa considerations. Finally, foreigners seeking jobs in Vietnam need to be aware that obtaining a proper work permit can be difficult. For professional jobs, obtaining a proper work permit would likely be arranged by the employer either before an employee arrives or within six months after their arrival.
Professional opportunities. Given the shortages of local professional talent in certain technical or creative fields, foreigners are often hired to fill in the gaps and there tends to be more opportunities for foreigners in certain niche fields.
Teaching English or offering professional training. Given that Vietnamese society was heavily influenced by Confucianism, the Vietnamese place a great emphasis on education and learning. Hence, there are plenty of teaching and training opportunities for Westerners - especially native English speakers.
Visa considerations. Finally, foreigners seeking jobs in Vietnam need to be aware that obtaining a proper work permit can be difficult. For professional jobs, obtaining a proper work permit would likely be arranged by the employer either before an employee arrives or within six months after their arrival.
Wages not keeping up with inflation, say new job stats
New Zealand wages grew at a slower pace than headline inflation, helping support the central bank's view that the jump in the consumer price index shouldn't be used as a reason to hike pay rates.
The labour cost index rose 0.4 per cent in the three months ended June 30, falling short of the 0.5 per cent predicted in a Reuters survey of economists, as state sector staff got smaller pay increases than their private sector counterparts, according to Statistics New Zealand data. Public sector wages rose 0.3 per cent in the quarter while private sector earnings gained 0.5 per cent.
That took annual wage inflation to 1.9 per cent, lagging the 2.1 per cent forecast, and well-short of the 5.3 per cent annual pace of inflation, which has been stoked by the increase in goods and services tax.
Total private sector wage rates grew a faster-than-expected pace of 1.3 per cent in the quarter to $24.28 an hour, according to the Quarterly Employment Survey. That's still below the $33.28 wage rate for public servants, which bolsters the average to $26.27
Last week, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard warned of rising wage pressures, though he talked down headline inflation, saying the underlying figure was within his target band of between 1 per cent and 3 per cent.
The rapid rebound in New Zealand's economy has given Bollard reason to remove the 50 basis point cut he made in March in response to the Canterbury earthquakes, though he says the strength of the kiwi dollar will likely limit any further hikes.
That has helped employers become more upbeat in their hiring intentions, and a net 18.9 per cent of respondents in last month's National Bank Business Outlook want to take on more staff in the next 12 months.
Full-time equivalent jobs rose 0.7 per cent to 1.33 million in the June quarter, though the bulk of that was made up by more part-timers equating to some 20,000 full-time jobs, according to the QES. Total filled jobs rose to 1.69 million from 1.67 million in the prior quarter.
Total paid hours rose 0.7 per cent in the period to a seasonally adjusted 50.86 million.
Education and training sectors added the most jobs in the quarter, with an additional 29,000 positions, while construction and accommodation and food sectors each shed about 4,000 jobs.
That comes ahead of Thursday's Household Labour Force Survey, which is expected to show the unemployment rate held at 6.6 per cent in the quarter, with employment participation falling 0.3 percentage points to 68.4 per cent, according to a Reuters survey.
Professionals, scientists and technical workers led the wage gains in the quarter, rising 3.1 per cent, followed by metal product manufacturers, who got a 2.8 per cent gain. Central government administration, defence and public safety staff and health care and social assistance had the smallest increase at just 0.1 per cent.
The period was the first to incorporate Canterbury data since the February earthquake, and the region cut full-time equivalent employees by 4.5 per cent, the biggest cut since regional estimates began in September 1999.
- BusinessDesk
The labour cost index rose 0.4 per cent in the three months ended June 30, falling short of the 0.5 per cent predicted in a Reuters survey of economists, as state sector staff got smaller pay increases than their private sector counterparts, according to Statistics New Zealand data. Public sector wages rose 0.3 per cent in the quarter while private sector earnings gained 0.5 per cent.
That took annual wage inflation to 1.9 per cent, lagging the 2.1 per cent forecast, and well-short of the 5.3 per cent annual pace of inflation, which has been stoked by the increase in goods and services tax.
Total private sector wage rates grew a faster-than-expected pace of 1.3 per cent in the quarter to $24.28 an hour, according to the Quarterly Employment Survey. That's still below the $33.28 wage rate for public servants, which bolsters the average to $26.27
Last week, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard warned of rising wage pressures, though he talked down headline inflation, saying the underlying figure was within his target band of between 1 per cent and 3 per cent.
The rapid rebound in New Zealand's economy has given Bollard reason to remove the 50 basis point cut he made in March in response to the Canterbury earthquakes, though he says the strength of the kiwi dollar will likely limit any further hikes.
That has helped employers become more upbeat in their hiring intentions, and a net 18.9 per cent of respondents in last month's National Bank Business Outlook want to take on more staff in the next 12 months.
Full-time equivalent jobs rose 0.7 per cent to 1.33 million in the June quarter, though the bulk of that was made up by more part-timers equating to some 20,000 full-time jobs, according to the QES. Total filled jobs rose to 1.69 million from 1.67 million in the prior quarter.
Total paid hours rose 0.7 per cent in the period to a seasonally adjusted 50.86 million.
Education and training sectors added the most jobs in the quarter, with an additional 29,000 positions, while construction and accommodation and food sectors each shed about 4,000 jobs.
That comes ahead of Thursday's Household Labour Force Survey, which is expected to show the unemployment rate held at 6.6 per cent in the quarter, with employment participation falling 0.3 percentage points to 68.4 per cent, according to a Reuters survey.
Professionals, scientists and technical workers led the wage gains in the quarter, rising 3.1 per cent, followed by metal product manufacturers, who got a 2.8 per cent gain. Central government administration, defence and public safety staff and health care and social assistance had the smallest increase at just 0.1 per cent.
The period was the first to incorporate Canterbury data since the February earthquake, and the region cut full-time equivalent employees by 4.5 per cent, the biggest cut since regional estimates began in September 1999.
- BusinessDesk
Canada jobs rise, unemployment lowest since 2008
- Unemployment rate falls to 7.2 pct from 7.4 pct in June
- 7,100 jobs added, shift to full time and private sector
- 28,600 people drop out of labor force
- Jobless rate had peaked at 8.7 pct in August 2009
- C$ briefly strengthens on the data (Adds details on wage inflation, market reaction)
Statistics Canada said on Friday the economy managed to eke out 7,100 new jobs while holding on to the 28,400 jobs that were picked up in June.
The increase was less than half that expected in a Reuters survey of analysts but was marked by a healthy switch to full-time and private-sector employment.
"Looking beyond the so-so headline, almost every detail in the report is quite strong. We saw solid full-time gains, the private sector accounted for all the job gains and surprisingly the unemployment rate fell," BMO Capital Markets deputy chief economist Douglas Porter said.
"Overall, I would actually characterize this as good news, even though the headline employment number was a bit below consensus. I think the details are unambiguously better than the headline would suggest."
The median forecast in a Reuters survey of analysts was for 15,000 new jobs and a 7.4 percent unemployment rate. July saw 25,500 new full-time positions while 18,400 part-time ones were lost.
The Canadian dollar briefly rose as high as C$0.9801 to the U.S. dollar, or $1.0203, immediately after the data. But it resumed its weakening trend as global equity markets and many commodity prices tumbled for a second day.
The currency had closed at C$0.9795 versus the U.S. dollar, or $1.0209, on Thursday.
Key to the unemployment rate decline was that 28,600 people dropped out of the labor force.
The jobless rate had peaked at 8.7 percent in August 2009 and now stands approximately two percentage points lower than that in the United States.
Despite the strong Canadian dollar, employment in manufacturing edged up by 10,100 and stood 22,000 higher than the depressed levels of a year earlier. Construction, transportation, warehousing and retail and wholesale all posted gains in the month; health and education registered losses.
The annual increase in hourly average wages of permanent employees, closely watched by the Bank of Canada for signs of inflationary pressure, fell to 1.2 percent in July from 2.0 percent in June.
The numbers, which provide the first glimpse into Canada's third quarter, are closely watched by the central bank. The Bank of Canada hiked interest rates three times last year, but paused in September due to global economic uncertainty.
The central bank was widely expected to resume its rate hike campaign this year. But the financial market turmoil of recent days has clouded the outlook.
Overnight index swaps, which trade based on expectations for the bank's key policy rate, show traders are now pricing in the prospect of rate cuts later this year. BOCWATCH
Analysts said the near-term movement in markets may have a bigger influence on what the Bank of Canada does next than the most recent jobs data.
"Unfortunately, things have changed a lot in recent times so the market reaction (to the data) is very muted. At least before this recent bout hit you could say things were in decent shape," said Mark Chandler, head of Canadian fixed income and currency strategy at RBC Capital Markets.
"The Bank of Canada is doing what we're all doing -- watching equity markets. They're firmly going to do nothing at the moment and wait to see how this develops."
U.S. Employment Situation Report for July 2011
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 117,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in health care, retail trade, manufacturing, and mining. Government employment continued to trend down.
Household Survey Data
The number of unemployed persons (13.9 million) and the unemployment rate (9.1 percent) changed little in July. Since April, the unemployment rate has shown little definitive movement. The labor force, at 153.2 million, was little changed in July.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men(9.0 percent), adult women (7.9 percent), teenagers (25.0 percent), whites (8.1 percent), blacks (15.9 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed little or no change in July. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
The number of persons unemployed for less than 5 weeks declined by 387,000 in July, mostly offsetting an increase in the prior month. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over), at 6.2 million, changed little over the month and accounted for 44.4 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.)
The civilian labor force participation rate edged down in July to 63.9 percent, and the employment-population ratio was little changed at 58.1 percent.
The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was about unchanged in July at 8.4 million. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.
In July, 2.8 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, little changed from a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
Among the marginally attached, there were 1.1 million discouraged workers in July, about the same as a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.7 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in July had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.
Establishment Survey Data
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 117,000 in July, following little growth over the prior 2 months. Total private employment rose by 154,000 over the month, reflecting job gains in several major industries, including health care, retail trade, manufacturing, and mining. Government employment continued to decline.
Health care employment grew by 31,000 in July. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals each added 14,000 jobs over the month. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has grown by 299,000.
Retail trade added 26,000 jobs in July. Employment in health and personal care stores rose by 9,000 over the month with small increases distributed among several other retail industries. Employment in retail trade has increased by 228,000 since a recent low in December 2009.
Manufacturing employment increased in July (+24,000); nearly all of the increase was in durable goods manufacturing. Within durable goods, the motor vehicles and parts industry had fewer seasonal layoffs than typical for July, contributing to a seasonally adjusted employment increase of 12,000. Manufacturing has added 289,000 jobs since its most recent trough in December 2009, and durable goods manufacturing added 327,000 jobs during this period.
In July, employment in mining rose by 9,000; virtually all of the gain (+8,000) occurred in support activities for mining. Employment in mining has increased by 140,000 since a recent low in October 2009.
Employment in professional and technical services continued to trend up in July (+18,000). This industry has added 246,000 jobs since a recent low in March 2010. Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month and has shown little movement on net so far this year.
Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality changed little over the month.
Government employment continued to trend down over the month (- 37,000). Employment in state government decreased by 23,000, almost entirely due to a partial shutdown of the Minnesota state government. Employment in local government continued to wane over the month.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged over the month at 34.3 hours. The manufacturing workweek and factory overtime for all employees also were unchanged at 40.3 hours and 3.1 hours, respectively. In July, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 33.6 hours for the sixth consecutive month.
In July, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 10 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $23.13. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.3 percent. In July, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 8 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $19.52.
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised from +25,000 to +53,000, and the change for June was revised from +18,000 to +46,000.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kristy Scheuble in Washington at kmckeaney@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Marco Babic at mbabic@bloomberg.net
Household Survey Data
The number of unemployed persons (13.9 million) and the unemployment rate (9.1 percent) changed little in July. Since April, the unemployment rate has shown little definitive movement. The labor force, at 153.2 million, was little changed in July.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men(9.0 percent), adult women (7.9 percent), teenagers (25.0 percent), whites (8.1 percent), blacks (15.9 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed little or no change in July. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
The number of persons unemployed for less than 5 weeks declined by 387,000 in July, mostly offsetting an increase in the prior month. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over), at 6.2 million, changed little over the month and accounted for 44.4 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.)
The civilian labor force participation rate edged down in July to 63.9 percent, and the employment-population ratio was little changed at 58.1 percent.
The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was about unchanged in July at 8.4 million. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.
In July, 2.8 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, little changed from a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
Among the marginally attached, there were 1.1 million discouraged workers in July, about the same as a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.7 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in July had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.
Establishment Survey Data
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 117,000 in July, following little growth over the prior 2 months. Total private employment rose by 154,000 over the month, reflecting job gains in several major industries, including health care, retail trade, manufacturing, and mining. Government employment continued to decline.
Health care employment grew by 31,000 in July. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals each added 14,000 jobs over the month. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has grown by 299,000.
Retail trade added 26,000 jobs in July. Employment in health and personal care stores rose by 9,000 over the month with small increases distributed among several other retail industries. Employment in retail trade has increased by 228,000 since a recent low in December 2009.
Manufacturing employment increased in July (+24,000); nearly all of the increase was in durable goods manufacturing. Within durable goods, the motor vehicles and parts industry had fewer seasonal layoffs than typical for July, contributing to a seasonally adjusted employment increase of 12,000. Manufacturing has added 289,000 jobs since its most recent trough in December 2009, and durable goods manufacturing added 327,000 jobs during this period.
In July, employment in mining rose by 9,000; virtually all of the gain (+8,000) occurred in support activities for mining. Employment in mining has increased by 140,000 since a recent low in October 2009.
Employment in professional and technical services continued to trend up in July (+18,000). This industry has added 246,000 jobs since a recent low in March 2010. Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month and has shown little movement on net so far this year.
Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality changed little over the month.
Government employment continued to trend down over the month (- 37,000). Employment in state government decreased by 23,000, almost entirely due to a partial shutdown of the Minnesota state government. Employment in local government continued to wane over the month.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged over the month at 34.3 hours. The manufacturing workweek and factory overtime for all employees also were unchanged at 40.3 hours and 3.1 hours, respectively. In July, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 33.6 hours for the sixth consecutive month.
In July, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 10 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $23.13. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.3 percent. In July, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 8 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $19.52.
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised from +25,000 to +53,000, and the change for June was revised from +18,000 to +46,000.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kristy Scheuble in Washington at kmckeaney@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Marco Babic at mbabic@bloomberg.net
Online scam promises £90k a year jobs at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn
Foreign nationals are being asked to pay £850 to qualify for non-existent jobs at a Norfolk hospital, it emerged last night.
Health workers in African countries are being sent e-mails promising work as pharmacists at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn - on £7,520 a month.
But bogus contracts sent to applicants warn they must apply through the “British Immigration Service” for their visa and work permit.
Jobseekers are also told they must register with the “Internal Affairs Ministry of the United Kingdom”.
Fake contracts of employment obtained by the EDP state payments for both must be made in advance - see uploaded documents, right.
Last night a spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: “These aren’t official organisations. They are bogus.
“The British government has nothing to do with these organisations and advises not to deal with these agents.
The National Fraud Authority said so-called advanced fee frauds were common, with people being asked to part with money up-front for bogus job offers or lottery wins.
Similar scams have involved hospitals in Cardiff and Leeds in recent weeks.
Health workers in African countries are being sent e-mails promising work as pharmacists at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn - on £7,520 a month.
But bogus contracts sent to applicants warn they must apply through the “British Immigration Service” for their visa and work permit.
Jobseekers are also told they must register with the “Internal Affairs Ministry of the United Kingdom”.
Fake contracts of employment obtained by the EDP state payments for both must be made in advance - see uploaded documents, right.
Last night a spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: “These aren’t official organisations. They are bogus.
“The British government has nothing to do with these organisations and advises not to deal with these agents.
The National Fraud Authority said so-called advanced fee frauds were common, with people being asked to part with money up-front for bogus job offers or lottery wins.
Similar scams have involved hospitals in Cardiff and Leeds in recent weeks.
TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences
Under this scheme, grants are awarded to high-level promising research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics carried out by either individual scientists or research units in the 80 S&T-lagging countries (S&TLCs) identified by TWAS. Deadline: 31 August.
Please note that the TWAS Research Grants Programme supports research in the basic sciences. Proposals focusing on more applied research should be submitted to IFS. Thus, projects submitted to TWAS that relate to applications in agriculture or medicine or that use existing techniques to screen, for example, medicinal plants for bioactive substances or to monitor an environment for pollutants will be rejected.
Applications should preferably be submitted by e-mail to mahdavi@twas.org. Since the first page of the application must bear the handwritten signatures of the applicant and the head of the applicant's institution, please print the page after completing it, sign it/have it signed, and then attach it as a scanned image or PDF-document to your application.
Incomplete and/or unsigned applications cannot be considered. An ideal application consists of one e-mail message with one attached zipped file that carries the applicant's surname as filename and contains:
The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences was established in response to the needs of promising young researchers in developing countries, particularly those attached to institutions that lack appropriate research facilities.
Under this scheme, grants are awarded to individual researchers and research units in 80 science-and-technology-lagging countries (S&TLC) to enable them to purchase the research facilities they need to enhance their productivity.
The programme aims to:
- Reinforce and promote scientific research in basic sciences in developing countries;
- Strengthen developing countries' endogenous capacity in science;
- Reduce the exodus of scientific talents from the South;
- Build and sustain units of scientific excellence in S&TLC over a longer period to help them achieve a critical mass of highly qualified and innovative scientists capable of addressing real-life problems facing their countries.
The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences complements that of the International Foundation for Science (IFS). The two organizations maintain close contact to ensure the complementarity of the two schemes and to avoid duplication.
The programme is generously supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Italian government. The Sida contribution is mainly intended to support research proposals from African countries and other developing countries in dire need of basic research tools.
Programme Details
TWAS Research Grants are awarded to high-level promising research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics carried out by either individual scientists or research units in the 80 S&T-lagging countries (S&TLC) identified by TWAS.
- Research Grants to individual scientists amount to a maximum of US$15,000.
- Research Grants to research units amount to a maximum of US$30,000.
The grants, which are normally provided for a period of 18 months, may be used to purchase scientific equipment, consumables and specialized literature (textbooks and proceedings only). They do not cover salaries of researchers and/or students, field expenses, travel expenses or participation in international conferences.
Eligibility
• Individual applicants must be nationals of developing countries. They must hold a PhD, be at the beginning of their careers, but already have some research experience. They must hold a position at a university or research institution in one of the 80 S&TLCs. As a general rule, the grants are awarded to competent scientists under the age of 45 years.
• Applying research units must be led by a renowned researcher who is a national of a developing country, who holds a PhD and who has good research experience. The research unit must operate within a university or a research institution in one of the 80 S&TLCs and consist of a core number of research scientists, postgraduate students and technicians. There is no age limit for unit leaders.
Individual scientists and research unit leaders who submit a satisfactory final report on a previous grant may apply for a renewal.
Agreement
If selected, a trilateral written agreement is drawn up between TWAS, the individual grantee or leader of the research unit and the home institution. The institution undertakes to administer the grant according to the agreement and to provide laboratory space, salaries and other facilities necessary for the project. Equipment, consumables and literature provided for the project through the TWAS Research Grants Programme remain the property of the home institution after the project is completed.
In general, the grant funds are kept at TWAS for the purchase of items requested by the grant holder. TWAS places the orders with the supplier(s) upon receipt of proforma invoices submitted by the grant holder in accordance with the approved itemized budget.
Grant holders (both individual grantees and heads of research units) must submit a final report within one year of receipt of the last purchase.
How to apply
Download the application form (Word document) from the link below (see "Related Content" at the bottom of this page) and complete it on your computer.Applications should preferably be submitted by e-mail to mahdavi@twas.org. Since the first page of the application must bear the handwritten signatures of the applicant and the head of the applicant's institution, please print the page after completing it, sign it/have it signed, and then attach it as a scanned image or PDF-document to your application.
Incomplete and/or unsigned applications cannot be considered. An ideal application consists of one e-mail message with one attached zipped file that carries the applicant's surname as filename and contains:
- the completed application form;
- the scanned image of the signed first page of the form;
-
- a separate document with the detailed curriculum vitae, if the applicant is an individual researcher
- as many separate documents with the detailed curricula vitae as there are scientists working in the unit (except the students), if the applicant is a research unit
-
- a separate document with the full list of publications, if the applicant is an individual researcher
- as many separate documents with the full lists of publications as there are scientists working in the unit (except the students), if the applicant is a research unit
Please note that a researcher may only submit one application at a time and for only one kind of grant (either as an individual applicant or as a research unit).
TWAS will acknowledge receipt of an application by e-mail within two weeks of its receipt. If the acknowledgement fails to reach you within this period, please contact Mrs. M.T. Mahdavi, phone: +39 040 2240-325, fax: +39 040 224559, e-mail: mahdavi@twas.org.
When to apply
The deadline for receiving applications is 31 August. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the deadline but submit the application as early as you can to enable us to process your application as quickly as possible.
Notification
Please note that the assignment meetings of the TWAS Research Grants Committees will be held by March of the following year. Applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly after the meeting.
Only 2 out of 10 employees feel their skills are fully utilised
A survey of almost 4,000 people, conducted internationally by talent management firm Lumesse, revealed that more than 80% feel their skills are not being fully utilised by their employer.
Nearly half of 18 to 25 year old workers said they were already planning a career change, while around half of the most experienced staff surveyed also expect to start a new job within the next five years.
The study also showed that 49% of employees consider their performance appraisal to be of little or no value.
Matthew Parker, chief executive officer at Lumesse, said it was "a pity" that so many people feel their only choice is to switch employer, particularly as the survey found workers were generally satisfied with most aspects of their job.
"If employers can combine that happiness with better career management then the benefits are obvious - better retention, better performance, and higher productivity," he added.
Meanwhile, research from the Hay Group has shown that graduate recruits are currently more concerned with pay and benefits than with job satisfaction.
By ILM, City & Guilds of London Institute
Nearly half of 18 to 25 year old workers said they were already planning a career change, while around half of the most experienced staff surveyed also expect to start a new job within the next five years.
The study also showed that 49% of employees consider their performance appraisal to be of little or no value.
Matthew Parker, chief executive officer at Lumesse, said it was "a pity" that so many people feel their only choice is to switch employer, particularly as the survey found workers were generally satisfied with most aspects of their job.
"If employers can combine that happiness with better career management then the benefits are obvious - better retention, better performance, and higher productivity," he added.
Meanwhile, research from the Hay Group has shown that graduate recruits are currently more concerned with pay and benefits than with job satisfaction.
By ILM, City & Guilds of London Institute
Dubai UAE - Termination of Employment Contract
When the contract is terminated?
It is terminated in the following cases:
- If both parties agree on its termination, provided that the worker's consent is given in writing.
- If the limited contract expires, unless tacitly or expressly extended.
- If the employer resigned the worker or the worker submitted his resignation in the unlimited contracts, provided that each of them shall notify the other according to the law.
I worked with the employer for two years and my contract is limited by (3) years and I obtained a work opportunity at another place ... Is the employer entitled to deduct (45) from my dues for non- completion of the contract of employment?
According to What has been mentioned into these questions:
In all cases and according to the article (116):
If the contract of the worker is with a limited period and he submitted his resignation before expiry of the contract without the reasons provided for in article (121)., the worker shall compensate the employer for What he has sustained from damage sue to revocation of the contract through compensating the employer by half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer , unless otherwise provided for by the contract.
* Example: a worker with a limited period contract for (3) years .. he worker two years and ( 11) months … and he submitted his resignation , here, he shall compensate the employer by a half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer from them , unless otherwise provided for in the contract.
My contract is a limited and it has not been expired yet , may I submit my resignation and serve for one moth of notice ?
As for the limited contracts, there is no one month of notice … because the one month notice is for the unlimited contract .. therefore , the worker shall compensate the employer by a half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer from them , unless otherwise provided for in the contract. * Example : a limited contract started from 4/3/2005 and expires on 3/ 3/ 2008 , and the worker submitted his resignation in 5/6/ 2006 .. here, the worker shall compensate the employer by a half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer from them , unless otherwise provided for in the contract.
More info here.
It is terminated in the following cases:
- If both parties agree on its termination, provided that the worker's consent is given in writing.
- If the limited contract expires, unless tacitly or expressly extended.
- If the employer resigned the worker or the worker submitted his resignation in the unlimited contracts, provided that each of them shall notify the other according to the law.
I worked with the employer for two years and my contract is limited by (3) years and I obtained a work opportunity at another place ... Is the employer entitled to deduct (45) from my dues for non- completion of the contract of employment?
According to What has been mentioned into these questions:
In all cases and according to the article (116):
If the contract of the worker is with a limited period and he submitted his resignation before expiry of the contract without the reasons provided for in article (121)., the worker shall compensate the employer for What he has sustained from damage sue to revocation of the contract through compensating the employer by half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer , unless otherwise provided for by the contract.
* Example: a worker with a limited period contract for (3) years .. he worker two years and ( 11) months … and he submitted his resignation , here, he shall compensate the employer by a half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer from them , unless otherwise provided for in the contract.
My contract is a limited and it has not been expired yet , may I submit my resignation and serve for one moth of notice ?
As for the limited contracts, there is no one month of notice … because the one month notice is for the unlimited contract .. therefore , the worker shall compensate the employer by a half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer from them , unless otherwise provided for in the contract. * Example : a limited contract started from 4/3/2005 and expires on 3/ 3/ 2008 , and the worker submitted his resignation in 5/6/ 2006 .. here, the worker shall compensate the employer by a half of remuneration of the last three months or the remaining period from the contract , or whichever closer from them , unless otherwise provided for in the contract.
More info here.
Only One-Quarter of UK Has Seen a Pay Increase in First Half of 2011
Through a series of online surveys, data collecting, and good old fashioned door-to-door, the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development has concluded that roughly three-fourths of the UK workforce received no pay increase for the first six months of the year. The government’s mandated pay freeze for public servant salaries is part of why the number is so excessively high, but there’s more to it than that. The economy has simply not performed as well as private sector employers had hoped, keeping the majority of pay across both public and private sectors at a virtual standstill.
It might not seem like a justifiable expectation especially during tough economic times, but salary raises are the only way average-income British families are going to be able to combat the ever-increasing cost of living in the United Kingdom. So long as wages stay stagnant the majority of British consumers are going to remain conservative when it comes to spending. As any first-year economics major can tell you, so long as consumer spending is hindered any-and-all additional economic growth is doomed to flat line.
So why then did the government decide to freeze public sector pay? Mostly for theatrics, since the Conservative-led coalition government is dedicated to projecting the idea that they’re as frugal as possible. In terms of real world actions and reactions, forcing several million public workers to withstand a long-term salary standstill is just going to further inhibit the nation’s chance to make a complete recovery from the economic slump it’s been in since the autumn of 2008.
With that said, the year is only half over. Charles Cotton of the CIPD added to the released data assurances that private sector service salaries are likely to see a boost toward the end of the year. Whether or not that’s projected to only be a temporary boom on account of the holiday season he did not say. What’s for certain is that the majority of his confidences are based on the fact that the minimum wage is set to increase come October.
As far as the public sector goes, no word yet on when the pay freeze will be lifted.
It might not seem like a justifiable expectation especially during tough economic times, but salary raises are the only way average-income British families are going to be able to combat the ever-increasing cost of living in the United Kingdom. So long as wages stay stagnant the majority of British consumers are going to remain conservative when it comes to spending. As any first-year economics major can tell you, so long as consumer spending is hindered any-and-all additional economic growth is doomed to flat line.
So why then did the government decide to freeze public sector pay? Mostly for theatrics, since the Conservative-led coalition government is dedicated to projecting the idea that they’re as frugal as possible. In terms of real world actions and reactions, forcing several million public workers to withstand a long-term salary standstill is just going to further inhibit the nation’s chance to make a complete recovery from the economic slump it’s been in since the autumn of 2008.
With that said, the year is only half over. Charles Cotton of the CIPD added to the released data assurances that private sector service salaries are likely to see a boost toward the end of the year. Whether or not that’s projected to only be a temporary boom on account of the holiday season he did not say. What’s for certain is that the majority of his confidences are based on the fact that the minimum wage is set to increase come October.
As far as the public sector goes, no word yet on when the pay freeze will be lifted.
Student visa applications on slide in Australia: report
Melbourne: Australia has recorded a drop of almost 63 per cent in offshore international student visa applications from India in the last financial year, according to latest official data. The figures also show an overall drop of 20 per cent in the offshore international student visa applications, media reports said.
The Indian market has been the hardest hit by the fall in offshore applications with a drop of 63 per cent. The June month Immigration Department's quarterly report on the student visa programme revealed that the number of offshore applicants from India dropped from 18,514 in the 2009-10 financial year to just 6875 in the 2010-11 financial year. Apart from this even applications from China, Australia's largest source country for international students, also dropped 24.3 per cent.
Melbourne University higher education expert Simon Marginson said the drop showed the sector was still a way off from a recovery.
"[There is] no sign that we have yet reached the bottom of the curve," he said.
Marginson said the steep drop-off in offshore applications was largely because of federal government changes to the visa criteria and skilled migration list. "Demand for Australian education in India always was relatively soft and the elimination of the migration-related industry run through education agents, plus the image problems triggered by the violence, has permanently depressed the prospects of recruitment in that country," he said.
Professor Marginson said the drop in applications from Vietnam - down 31 per cent - and China was of greater concern. "China and south-east Asia are our core markets [and] far more worrying is the defection of part of the student market in China and Vietnam, where demand is more education-centred, and the quality of students coming to Australia has been higher than those coming from India," he said.
The Indian market has been the hardest hit by the fall in offshore applications with a drop of 63 per cent. The June month Immigration Department's quarterly report on the student visa programme revealed that the number of offshore applicants from India dropped from 18,514 in the 2009-10 financial year to just 6875 in the 2010-11 financial year. Apart from this even applications from China, Australia's largest source country for international students, also dropped 24.3 per cent.
Melbourne University higher education expert Simon Marginson said the drop showed the sector was still a way off from a recovery.
"[There is] no sign that we have yet reached the bottom of the curve," he said.
Marginson said the steep drop-off in offshore applications was largely because of federal government changes to the visa criteria and skilled migration list. "Demand for Australian education in India always was relatively soft and the elimination of the migration-related industry run through education agents, plus the image problems triggered by the violence, has permanently depressed the prospects of recruitment in that country," he said.
Professor Marginson said the drop in applications from Vietnam - down 31 per cent - and China was of greater concern. "China and south-east Asia are our core markets [and] far more worrying is the defection of part of the student market in China and Vietnam, where demand is more education-centred, and the quality of students coming to Australia has been higher than those coming from India," he said.
Irish IT 'needs foreign workers'
IRELAND’S cloud computing dream will go "up in smoke" say experts, as figures show two in every 10 visa applications for foreign workers are being rejected.
Last year there was more than 3,200 applications made to Irish immigration authorities by services sector companies to allow them to employ people from outside of theEU.
However, around 18% of these applications were rejected and according to VisaFirst.com some of these rejections could have been due incomplete and incorrect applications.
Declan Clune of Visafirst.com said this may seem hard to comprehend given unemployment levels in Ireland but she said it is an issue which needs to be addressed to stimulate growth in the economy.
"Without specialist knowledge from abroad we cannot create employment for our own people," he said.
He added that Ireland is already the European data centre location of choice for world leaders like IBM, Microsoft and Intel but as the skills gaps widens in the IT sector, attracting the right people can be made more difficult due to visa requirements and timeframes that exist.
A work permit or a green card is required for skilled workers from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) to come and work in Ireland. An intra-company transfer permit is required for those people transferring from one branch to an Irish branch of the same company. In addition, for nationals from some countries such as India, an entry visa may also be required.
"While Ireland is hit with recession, it does not mean that they have clamped down on issuing permits and green cards.
"From experience we know that the criteria surrounding work permit and green card applications change as the economic environment dictates which adds to an already complicated application process," said Mr Clune.
According to visafirst.com the work permit is suited towards non-professional occupations, while the green card is more suited towards those professional occupations. The green card processing timeframe is currently three weeks while the work permit is up to four months.
"Having the expertise to prepare the perfect application will be the difference in whether or not Irish green cards and permits get through successfully for employers and applicants. It is imperative that an application meets with the current requirements before it is submitted," said Mr Clune.
He added that if the application is not right there will have to be a lengthy appeals process or they would have to relodge the application.
Visafirst said it has noticed a "marked increase" in the number of applications for the IT industry recently.
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, August 03, 2011.
Last year there was more than 3,200 applications made to Irish immigration authorities by services sector companies to allow them to employ people from outside of theEU.
However, around 18% of these applications were rejected and according to VisaFirst.com some of these rejections could have been due incomplete and incorrect applications.
Declan Clune of Visafirst.com said this may seem hard to comprehend given unemployment levels in Ireland but she said it is an issue which needs to be addressed to stimulate growth in the economy.
"Without specialist knowledge from abroad we cannot create employment for our own people," he said.
He added that Ireland is already the European data centre location of choice for world leaders like IBM, Microsoft and Intel but as the skills gaps widens in the IT sector, attracting the right people can be made more difficult due to visa requirements and timeframes that exist.
A work permit or a green card is required for skilled workers from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) to come and work in Ireland. An intra-company transfer permit is required for those people transferring from one branch to an Irish branch of the same company. In addition, for nationals from some countries such as India, an entry visa may also be required.
"While Ireland is hit with recession, it does not mean that they have clamped down on issuing permits and green cards.
"From experience we know that the criteria surrounding work permit and green card applications change as the economic environment dictates which adds to an already complicated application process," said Mr Clune.
According to visafirst.com the work permit is suited towards non-professional occupations, while the green card is more suited towards those professional occupations. The green card processing timeframe is currently three weeks while the work permit is up to four months.
"Having the expertise to prepare the perfect application will be the difference in whether or not Irish green cards and permits get through successfully for employers and applicants. It is imperative that an application meets with the current requirements before it is submitted," said Mr Clune.
He added that if the application is not right there will have to be a lengthy appeals process or they would have to relodge the application.
Visafirst said it has noticed a "marked increase" in the number of applications for the IT industry recently.
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, August 03, 2011.
Job interview tips: What you're really doing in an interview
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 21 July 2011 10.00 BST
What you're really doing in an interview is living up to your promise: When it comes to interview advice, "just be yourself" is a popular cliché that sometimes makes students roll their eyes. For once, though, the cliché is true. It's natural to be nervous about interviews and waste energy worrying about what you don't know. However, the fact of being invited to an interview is definitive proof that the employer already believes you can do the job. If they thought you weren't good enough, they simply wouldn't waste their energy (or time and money) and on getting to know you.
What an interviewer aims to do is find out whether what's written in your CV or application is genuine and how well you'll fit in. Are you as charming, intelligent and helpful in person as you seem on paper? Of course, they'll also be testing your understanding, motivation and ability, most often by asking you to talk them through examples of your experiences that showcase the attributes the job requires. You'll probably need to expand on what you've written and it's a good idea to have some new examples ready, too. But as long as you've been truthful, what you're really doing in an interview is living up to your promise.
Alexandra Hemingway is a careers adviser at the University of Surrey
What you're really doing in an interview is living up to your promise: When it comes to interview advice, "just be yourself" is a popular cliché that sometimes makes students roll their eyes. For once, though, the cliché is true. It's natural to be nervous about interviews and waste energy worrying about what you don't know. However, the fact of being invited to an interview is definitive proof that the employer already believes you can do the job. If they thought you weren't good enough, they simply wouldn't waste their energy (or time and money) and on getting to know you.
What an interviewer aims to do is find out whether what's written in your CV or application is genuine and how well you'll fit in. Are you as charming, intelligent and helpful in person as you seem on paper? Of course, they'll also be testing your understanding, motivation and ability, most often by asking you to talk them through examples of your experiences that showcase the attributes the job requires. You'll probably need to expand on what you've written and it's a good idea to have some new examples ready, too. But as long as you've been truthful, what you're really doing in an interview is living up to your promise.
Alexandra Hemingway is a careers adviser at the University of Surrey
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