Career Builder Survey Results on 2009 Employment market

CareerBuilder.com released the results of its latest survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, tracking projected hiring trends for 2009. The survey, titled "2009 Job Forecast," was conducted from Nov. 12 through Dec. 1, 2008, among 3,259 hiring managers and human resource professionals in private sector companies.

"The job market of 2008 suffered as the U.S. economy weakened and entered into a recession," said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder.com. "Looking ahead, recruitment levels are expected to be lower in the new year, but employers are not out of the mix completely; instead they're taking 'a wait and see' approach to hiring. Fourteen percent of employers, surveyed by CareerBuilder.com, state they plan to increase full-time, permanent employees, and 16 percent plan to decrease in 2009. The remainder of employers say they are unsure or don't plan to make any changes to their headcount in the new year."

• Full-time: Fourteen percent of employers plan to increase their number of full-time, permanent employees in 2009, compared to 32 percent who anticipated increasing headcount in 2008. Sixteen percent plan to decrease staff levels in 2009 while 56 percent expect no change. Thirteen percent are unsure.
• Part-time: Eight percent of employers plan to increase their number of part-time employees in 2009, down from 21 percent who expected to do so in 2008. Fourteen percent plan to decrease headcount in 2009; 62 percent expect no change and 15 percent are unsure.
• Hiring By region: Staff expansions are expected to be strongest in the South and West in 2009. Eighteen percent of employers in the South and 14 percent of employers in the West plan to add full-time, permanent employees, compared to 13 percent in the Midwest and 11 percent in the Northeast. Employers in the Northeast are projecting one of the largest amounts of staff decreases at 19 percent, followed by 17 percent in the Midwest, 16 percent in the West and 14 percent in the South.
• Hiring by industry: Comparing select industries, job creation in professional and business services and information technology is expected to carry into the new year. Twenty-eight percent of IT and 23 percent of professional and business services employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in 2009, followed by 20 percent of employers in transportation and utilities, 16 percent in sales, 14 percent in health care and 13 percent in financial services.

Seven Major Hiring Trends for 2009

• Increased salaries: Even as companies explore ways to cut costs, employers still plan to increase salaries in the coming year.
• Flexible work arrangements: Close to one third (31 percent) of employers say they plan to provide more flexible work arrangements in 2009.
• Green jobs: Employers plan to become more environmentally-aware in the new year. Thirteen percent of employers say they plan to add "green jobs" in 2009, compared to one-in-ten who say they added them in 2008.
• Recruitment tools: As recruitment budgets tighten, more employers are leveraging the Internet as a vehicle for finding potential employees.
• Retaining retirees: A quarter of employers surveyed report concern over the loss of intellectual capital at their organizations as a large number of baby boomers approach retirement age.
• Diversity recruitment: When asked if there is a particular segment of diverse workers they plan to target more aggressively in 2009, employers pointed to Hispanic workers, women, African-American workers and mature workers.
• Freelance or contract hiring: As the nation waits for the economy to bounce back, employers are turning to freelance or contract workers to help support their businesses.

Relocation Announcement

W&O moving operation s from Jacksonville, FL to Houston, TX

Woman's Relocation Assistance; Relocation Announcements

Let me begin by wishing all the readers, a wonderful and happy holiday season to each of you and your families. May 2009 be better for all of us.

Women's Relocation Assistance

Women’s Business Growth & Relocation Center

The Women’s Business Growth & Relocation Center is a referral network developed by WomenPartner International to connect self-employed women with the specialized resources they need to relocate their business (or career) and family to a new metro area in the US, Canada, and UK. It will also provide expert content on how women can strategically grow their client base throughout their state or province. As they add more international companies to WPI, we will include more countries in our Center.

It will offer information about:

• Business licenses
• Sales tax permits
• Local business and job market
• Commercial & residential funding
• Sources of new clients
• Office space
• Networking opportunities
• Job market & starting a new career

The Women’s Business Growth & Relocation Center will also feature the Self Employed Woman’s Guide to Buying Real Estate and Reinvention 2.0: The Sophisticated e-Woman’s Guide to Reinventing Her Business Or Career to Thrive in a Slow Economy.

Relocation Announcement

Neopost USA - Moving from California to Milford Connecticut. About 150 families affected

Relocation Announcements

Sentry Pumping Unit International - moving from Wichita, Kansas to Kilgore, Texas

Gulfstream Services - Moving from Houma, Louisiana to Kilgore, Texas

Tips from Kristen Fife on Her Blog

Kristen is the moderator of HRPN on Yahoo groups and in her recent blog she posted the following information. I pass it on for your use if appropriate in this economy we are in at the moment:

Dealing With A Layoff

Have you been recently laid off? It's becoming more and more common in the US, with over 10 million unemployed professionals and growing.

Here are some tricks to weather the situation.

1) File for Unemployment Insurance as soon as you find out you are being RIF'd. Your local unemployment office has classes on resume writing, worker retraining programs, and free computer usage in addition to providing you with financial support.

2) Start hitting up your professional network. Clients, former and current coworkers, professional associations, and a trick is to contact recruiters. Then it's time to call upon your second tier network, your social contacts. Think of the people in your network that actually deal with people for a living. Brokers/financial planners, barber/hairdresser, landscaper. Don't underestimate the power of networking. It's the key to finding a job.

3) Harness the power of the internet. LinkedIn, Plaxo, Grouply, Facebook are all "Social Networking" sites that can be invaluable for networking online.

4) Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Pursue multiple lines of inquiry, think "outside the box" for opportunities. For example, if you have been in auto sales, think of related industries that might have a use for your talents. Auto parts, public transportation, travel industries may all be moves to consider.

5) Be prepared to make changes. You may need to remember that times are lean, companies are paying less for top skills than they did two years ago. Also seriously consider relocation as an option. Some cities are better off than others.

6) Stay busy. Believe it or not, networking and job hunting take a lot of time, but it's also important that you take care of yourself. One of the best ways, which you can also put on your resume, is to volunteer in your field. For example, a naturalized citizen that is a recruiter friend of mine is volunteering at the local Refugee Center helping recruit volunteers to help transitioning refugees to life in the US.

7) Most importantly, take care of your mental health. Try not to get overwhelmed or depresssed. Seek professional help if you need it. Most communities have free or sliding fee scale payment plans.

Realignment and Pets Part 2

Prudential Realigns Operations

Prudential Financial, in order to function with the current economic climate, is merging it's real estate and relocation businesses to primarily be based in Arizona.

Moving Pets Part 2
Part Two
Important Questions for Important Members of the Family

The general transportation procedure may be understood by the transferee but there are often concerns questions regarding the care and safety of their beloved pets, rather than the “nuts and bolts” of the logistics. "Most important is how our clients feel about [their pet's move]," said Rick Olson, Regional Operations Manager of Crown Relocations in Los Angeles. "It is a foreign process to them loaded with emotion and concern." This sentiments and anxieties can lead to a multitude of questions that a relocation professional might be faced with.

Many myths surround pet safety and air travel, which perpetuates anxieties that a transferee inevitably has when they first start contemplating a pet move. Most of the horror stories that circulate about pets flying are a direct result from pet owners attempting to fly their pets on their own. Anyone who has ever tried to highlight their hair using an at-home kit, or build a deck after picking up some two-by-fours at the local hardware store, knows that some processes, while not impossible to do on one's own, are better left to professionals. It helps to remind the transferee that they will be in experienced hands—for professional pet relocation companies, their duty is to ensure that every pet arrives safely and without incident.

The risk of extreme temperatures affecting the pet’s safety is one of the other common concerns among pet owners—many airlines will even embargo pets during the winter and summer months. However, most reputable pet relocation companies work with airlines that have programs in place to keep pets in climate control the entire duration of the flight. The pet is never exposed to inclement weather and this allows companies to relocate pets all over the world year-round. Dogs escaping from or getting hurt while in their crates is an example of why pet relocation companies emphasize to clients that they crate train their pet before the day of the flight. Some relocation companies can even arrange professional crate training classes for them. It is important to contact the pet relocation company as soon as a potential transferee mentions they might be relocating their pet as the more time he can spend getting used to his new crate, the more relaxed he will be on the day of his flight.

There are three different ways a pet can travel on an airplane: with the owner in the passenger cabin or as accompanied (or excess) luggage in the cargo hold, or as manifest cargo (typically without the owner). Most owners initially want to take their pets in the cabin but unfortunately due to airline restrictions on weight and size limits as well as various government restrictions for international imports, rarely does a pet qualify to fly in the cabin. However, as long as care is taken in choosing the correct airline, the cargo hold where the pet will travel is always pressurized and climate-controlled. This means a transferee’s pet will travel in comfort even when apart from his owner. While direct flights are ideal, direct routing is not the only factor when choosing which airline a pet should fly on. Some airlines are not adequately set up to take care of pets in the event that there is a delay or emergency. “Pet friendly” airlines such as Continental Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have created dedicated pet programs to care for their four-legged travelers that keep pets in climate control not only while in the plane, but also while waiting to board. These airlines also have kennel facilities at their main hubs, where during layovers, all of the pets pet are checked on, watered and if necessary, fed.

Despite all of this careful attention, there are still some pets that most pet relocation companies consider to be “at risk” when traveling. Older, infirm dogs and cats can travel as there is no age limit, but it is always best for the transferee to seriously consider the amount of stress an elderly pet can endure. High-anxiety pets also pose a risk for hyperventilation and injury to themselves if they are not properly crate trained and conditioned ahead of time. Snub-nosed dogs such as pugs and English bulldogs are at an elevated risk for traveling due to their delicate respiratory systems which can become impaired under high stress situations. The length of travel and the pet’s individual personality can contribute to the amount of risk. Ultimately, it’s left at the pet owner’s discretion to make an informed decision after consulting with their pet relocation specialist and veterinarian.

This is part two in a three-part series on pet relocations, written by Rachel Farris with PetRelocation.com, based out of Austin, Texas. This series originally appeared in MOBILITY magazine. PetRelocation.com offers on-site and webinar training for CRPs and companies interested in learning how to best answer their transferee's frequently asked questions surrounding domestic and international pet relocations. For more information or to schedule a free training seminar for you and your staff, please contact PetRelocation.com at +1-512-264-9800.

How Strong is Your Relocation Market?

As part of the Manpower Inc. Q1 2009 Survey mentioned yesterday, the survey results ranked the job market expectations for 200 Metro areas in the US. For your information here is a list of the best and worst markets:
Strongest Markets ( In order by rate of change largest to smallest)
Lafayette, LA
Beaumont, Tx
Houston, TX
Amarillo, TX
Burlington, VT
Des Moines, IA
New Orleans, LA
Tulsa, OK
McAllen, TX
Brownsville, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Laredo, TX
Shreveport, LA
R0chester, NY
El Paso, TX
Wichita, KS
Washington DC/Northern, VA/Maryland
Anchorage, AK
Gulfport, MS

Weakest Markets ( In order by rate of change largest to smallest)
Barnstable, MA
Port St Lucie, FL
Reno, NV
San Diego, CA
Flint, MI
Merced, CA
Toledo, OH
San Jose, CA
Wilmington, NC
Greensboro, NC
Detroit, MI
Trenton, NJ
Reading, PA
Fort Myers, FL
Oxnard, CA
Chicago, IL
Champaign, IL
Santa Cruz, CA
Holland, MI
San Luis Obispo, CA
Evansville, IN
Salem, OR
Modesto, CA
Portland, ME
Stockton, CA
Providence, RI
Orlando, FL
Cleveland, OH
Bremerton, WA
Spartanburg, SC
Lincoln, NE
Asheville, NC
Ogden, UT
Chico, CA
Myrtle Beach, SC
Norwich, CT
Fort Wayne, IN
Tucson, AZ
Nashville, TN
Portland, OR
Riverside, CA
Springfield, IL
Olympia, WA
South Bend, IN
Spokane, WA
Stamford, CT
Buffalo, NY
Sacremento, CA
Tampa, FL
Los Angeles, CA

Manpower Releases Survey Results

Manpower has released its Global Outlook Survey for the first Quarter of 2009. The results of the survey taken on a worldwide basis and covering 71,000 global employers revealed the following indices of the job market

• 25 out of 33 countries and territories still expect positive hiring activity in Q1 2009
• 30 countries say that the pace of hiring will slow
• 25 countries see year to year hiring activity weaker with 21 countries reporting the lowest hiring rate on record
• Most active were Peru, India, Costa Rica, Canada, Romania, Columbia, South Africa, Australia, Poland, The US and China
• The Weakest countries were Singapore, Ireland,, Spain and Italy
• 67% of American employers plan to hold their staff levels steady for Q1 2009
• 16% of American employers anticipate increased hiring
• 13% of American employers anticipate layoffs

Strongest US market industry sectors include Mining, Professional and Business Services, Wholesale and Retail trades, Financial Activities, Education and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, Other Services and Government.
Weakest markets are Construction, Durable and Nondurable manufacturing and transporationa nd utilities.

Worldwide ERC Posts Future Conference Locations

• 2010 Global Workforce Symposium - Seattle, Washington
  Seattle Convention Center
  Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers
  Grand Hyatt Seattle
  October 27-29, 2010
• 2011 National Relocation Conference - Las Vegas, Nevada
  Caesars Palace
  May 18-20, 2011
• 2011 Global Workforce Symposium - Denver, Colorado
  Colorado Convention Center Hyatt Regency
  Denver and Grand Hyatt
  October 12-14, 2011
• 2012 National Relocation Conference - San Antonio, Texas
  Convention Center Grand Hyatt
  San Antonio Marriot Riverwalk
  May 9-11, 2012
• 2012 Global Workforce Symposium - Washington, DC
  Marriot Wardman Park
  October 3-5, 2012
• 2013 National Relocation Conference - San Diego, California
  Manchester Grand Hyatt
  May 15-17, 2013

End of the Year, Expats, Pets and Car Costs

End of the Year

As we enter the last month of the year we see all kinds of signs that our financial crisis could have an affect on our livelihood as relocation professionals. I would suggest to you that we have been here before and the relocation industry has always made a comeback. Part of the reason is that every business enterprise needs to have the availability of qualified talent to run their organizations and that means they may need to go out of their market to find the right individual, so relocation becomes the ticket to accomplish their goals. So hang in there and we will return.

ExPat Employment Status
In the October-November 2008 issue of the SHRM Legal Report is an interesting cover story regarding the employment status of ExPat employees. Many of us work in states where the rule of law is that employees are hired in a mode where the employer can hire or fire any employee at will, with or without cause. The auhtor of the article suggests that the minute you send an employee overseas, the employee at will condition goes out the door and the expat becomes subject to the at will tenant and becomes subject to the host country's vested rights, severance pay and termination protection.

Runzheimer releases cost figures for operating a mid size 2009 vehicles
Runzheimer International has recently compiled the costs for operating a 2009 mid-size vehicle and determined the most costly areas in the country. This year the most expensive areas are Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Newark, NJ. The least expensive areas wereEau Claire, WI; Bismarck, ND and Sioux Falls, SD.

Strategic partnership created for providing Pet Relocation Services
(see related story below)
PetTravelCenter.com and Pet Relocation.com have entered into a partnership to provide the relocating transferees and the corporate world with information on moving pets both domestically and internationally.

PetRelocation.com provides Pet Relocation Advice
Rachel Farris of PetRelocation has provided this blog with a series of articles dealing with things that you need to be cognizant of when you decide to relocate your pets. Below is part one of Rachel's series:
This is part one in a three-part series on pet relocations, written by Rachel Farris with PetRelocation.com, based out of Austin, Texas. This series originally appeared in MOBILITY magazine. PetRelocation.com offers on-site and webinar training for CRPs and companies interested in learning how to best answer their transferee's frequently asked questions surrounding domestic and international pet relocations. For more information or to schedule a free training seminar for you and your staff, please contact PetRelocation.com at +1-512-264-9800.


Most pet owners treat Fido or Fluffy like another member of the family, with birthday parties and Christmas stockings full of rawhide hanging on the mantle. These pet owners come from the school of thought that a pet is not just a pet—he or she is a beloved member of the family, an integral part of the home and a loyal best friend. Relocation counselors at some point will likely be faced with the task of overseeing the move of this trusty companion. It is not always just a matter of handing off the transferee to a pet relocation company that specializes in the international door-to-door transfer of pets. Many times, the relocation counselor is the one responsible for having the initial conversation about the pet move with the transferee. Having a general knowledge of how the process works and answers to common questions the transferee might have will help ease concerns about the pet’s upcoming move, and can facilitate a smooth transition from the relocation counselor to the pet relocation company.
How does the pet relocation process work?

Pet relocation companies boast the ability to serve the entire world. The practice itself is fairly straightforward: pets are typically picked up at the transferee's residence, checked in at the departure airport, then cleared through customs upon arrival and delivered to their owner's new residence. Pet relocation specialists are also usually responsible for selecting appropriate flight arrangements, carefully reviewing the import and export documents, and counseling the transferee on the intricate details of their pet's move.

Some pet relocation services arrange door-to-door moves by opening offices at major hubs or franchising their businesses in various parts of the world. However, a pet is not always traveling to and from the main ports of entry—sometimes it is necessary to facilitate customs clearances or deliveries in more obscure cities and countries. Most reputable pet relocation companies are members of a group called the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). The association regulates and monitors the pet transportation industry by setting ethics standards and overseeing the performance of their members. As part of their membership, companies are given access to a network of pet transportation professionals worldwide who have guaranteed reputations for the services they provide. "IPATA is crucial to upholding quality service for pet relocations," said current IPATA president, Gay O'Brien. "If a company wants to ensure their transferee's clients are receiving the highest level of care, with careful attention paid to the well-being of the pets, IPATA's listing of member companies is the best place to start." IPATA is compromised of a menagerie of pet transportation professionals—local pet taxis and veterinarians, major corporations and even freight forwarders and customs brokers. Due to IPATA's exacting standards for membership, affiliates are able to safely coordinate the door-to-door service for the most precious of cargo. As a way of bridging the gap often found in a global industry, IPATA also offers an annual conference where the members gather to meet and exchange ideas, attend classes on country import requirements and species-specific handling techniques, and attend forums where representatives from major airlines come to answer questions in a round-table format. International requirements vary from country to country, so working with a quality pet relocation company who is also up to date on the current import requirements is crucial.

These intricacies can often affect the overall cost and many people tend to underestimate the rates surrounding a complete door-to-door relocation for a pet. The cost of the pet move is made up by the ground transportation to and from the airports, the documentation and import fees, and then also the air freight charges for the pets. When pets travel as cargo, the airlines generally charge for the dimensional weight of the travel crate, which can sometimes mean that the cost of a one-way international flight for a pet traveling overseas costs the same amount as a first-class, round trip ticket for his owner.