Help Wanted!

There are definite signs of our economy’s improvement—both literally and figuratively—if the number of help wanted signs in the area are any indication.  This past week, the Pittsburgh Business Times published an article about the continued need for workers by the region’s employers.  The newspaper asked the region’s 50 largest employers how many employees they are currently looking to hire—and the numbers were significant—over 4,200.  Pittsburgh’s job growth continues to exceed the growth in other areas, and in the United States as a whole.  It’s exactly that trend that we want to continue to build upon.

There are many things that the Pittsburgh region does well when it comes to job growth. We understand and grasp the importance of small business, know what resources and programs are crucial to job growth, and focus on those sectors that perform well.  I firmly believe that we need to continue to support those efforts that work and that we should be making many of our decisions related to the current budget challenges, by looking at them through a job creation “lens.”

This past week, I announced my intent to fight to restore separate line items for the Small Business Development Centers, Local Development Districts, Industrial Resource Centers and Industrial Development Corporations within the state budget, rather than seeing the programs collapsed into the proposed Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance, or PREP.  While I can appreciate what the Department of Community & Economic Development is attempting to accomplish with the program, I have serious concerns about whether they can meet their goals in such a short time period.

More importantly, I believe that in order to insure that our businesses receive the services that they need from these programs and to continue to see the kind of job growth that has been seen these past few months, the line items should be preserved for the coming fiscal year.  This action and additional time will allow the program to be developed and details to be worked out in a manner that best benefits our Commonwealth without rushing through the process.  I can certainly respect how aggressive the Department is being to this idea, but I think that economic development and these programs are far too important to our Commonwealth to fast track everything.

While we certainly are happy to see the job growth in this region, the unemployment rate in the Commonwealth remains at 7.5 percent (the Pittsburgh region’s numbers are below 6.4 percent).  April’s numbers (the most recent available) reflect that there are 477,000 residents still looking for work.  Of that group, the number of long-term unemployed (unemployed for six months or more) has increased from 37 percent of all the unemployed to 45 percent.  A total of 120,000 individuals have exhausted all available state and federal unemployment compensation benefits under current law.

The Senate acted last week to pass Senate Bill 1030 (SB 1030) that amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to update its provisions, require certain actions by individuals seeking benefits and allows for extended unemployment benefits through 2011.  The bill’s language would allow for the federal funding of extended benefits through 2011.  Under current law, unemployment compensation benefits are scheduled to end in July.  The bill passed the Senate by a unanimous vote and now goes to the House for consideration.  

SB 1030 will also require individuals collecting benefits to be active in a job search, including registration for employment services offered by PA CareerLink and the posting of a resume in the system’s database.  The legislation also included components of the Senate Democrat’s PA Works Plan that authorizes a Shared Work plan.  The plan would reduce unemployment by requiring that employees share the work remaining after reduction in their normal weekly hours of work—and the difference would be offset by unemployment compensation benefits. 

IGA Market on Broadway Job Fair

And speaking of jobs … I am pleased to announce the IGA Market on Broadway Job Fair which is being held on June 9th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the store site (1616 Broadway Avenue).  This is just the next step in this exciting development that continues to move forward with support from Mayor Ravensthal and the URA.

Individuals interested in a job with the IGA Market on Broadway should bring a resume to the job fair for consideration and plan to complete an application while there. Review of resumes and applications will occur after the job fair ends, with management making decisions about interviews after that based on their needs.

The operator of the Market is continuing to make purchases for the store and improvements to the building as they move towards their target date. The IGA Market on Broadway will be a very energy-efficient building in its uses—including lighting, HVAC and refrigeration. They are making great strides and I am looking forward to sharing more of their plans with you as the work continues.