With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the overall February jobless rate fell to 7.7 percent, ManpowerGroup, a provider of work force solutions, recommends that workers carefully look at how to apply their core skills to growing industries and develop new skills that are applicable across various industries and different functions.
In February, the economy added 236,000 jobs within multiple industries. Among professional and business services 73,000 jobs were added while the construction industry brought in 48,000 jobs. The health care industry added 32,000, and the information and retail sector hired many workers.
This report revised January's job figure down from 157,000 to 119,000. December's jobs figure was revised up for the second time at 219,000.
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"To experience more 2013 job growth spikes, across industries, particularly in the wake of federal job losses, the U.S. job market must reinforce its educational infrastructure," says Jeffrey A. Joerres, chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup. "With budget cuts to education, companies are under increasing pressure to invest in modernizing school curriculums and preparing today's workers and students for fast-growing industries. Employers have always been the most knowledgeable sources of what skills will accelerate industry growth. Yet the responsibility they now bear – to invest in skills-training the American workforce – is inescapable."
The jobs report also noted the millions of U.S. workers who have been unemployed for years. Typically, these workers are in areas where a dominant industry or employer been unable to hire locally because of a shortage in the right skills.
"To build a long-term career across many industries, individuals at all career stages must first examine which industries are growing and then seek the skills and career development expertise that will open doors for them across these industries," says Jonas Prising, president of ManpowerGroup. "Essential career-planning resources are found in ManpowerGroup's widespread presence in U.S. communities. The ManpowerGroup network is critical for acquiring the insight into the top skills demanded by today's growing employers."
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