Work

Jun 9 2011

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I consider myself something of a wordsmith, so I am always amazed at the work of others, especially when they are government bureaucrats.

The most recent unemployment figures, which show the unemployment rate rising, and the pace of job creation slowing, are interesting and incisive. The Employment Situation says that the unemployment rate is “essentially unchanged” as it has moved from 9 to 9.1 percent. In April more than 200,000 jobs were created; in May it was a scant 54,000. Still, the situation was “essentially unchanged.”

Oct 22 2010

August and September

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County held steady at 12.6 percent between August and September, the state Economic Development Department reported today.

The 12.6 percent unemployment rate was above the 12.2 percent rate in September 2009, according to the EDD.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 9.6 percent, the same rate as August.

Oct 20 2010

New MLK Hospital

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Board of Supervisors have agreed to back mandatory hiring of local workers to help build the new Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Center.

The deal approved by the board requires at least 30 percent of the project's construction labor hours be worked by local residents.

First preference will be given to qualified workers who live within five miles of the Willowbrook-area hospital. Next in line will be county residents who live in any Zip code with unemployment more than 1.5 times the county rate.

Sep 15 2010

Homeboy Industries to benefit

LOS ANGELES - The county will spend $1.3 million to help at-risk youths and young adults under a pilot program approved by the Board of Supervisors.

County officials will work with Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit, gang intervention program founded and run by Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest.

The effort will involve "tattoo removal, job development, and re-entry services (for) high-risk, high-need probationers and at-risk individuals between the ages of 14 (and) 30,'' said William Fujioka, the county's chief executive officer.

Joseph Wright  |   OW Senior Staff Writer
Aug 19 2010

Companies remain slow to hire

Many United Sates companies and businesses displayed their lack of confidence about hiring for the third consecutive month in July, giving indications that the nation’s economy will continue to grow slowly for the rest of the year. As a result the unemployment rate held steady at 9.5 percent.

Private employers added a net total of 71,000 jobs last month, which is well below the 200,000 or more jobs needed each month to reduce the unemployment rate.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
California
Yvette Hollingsworth was recently named chief compliance officer for Wells Fargo & Co. Hollingsworth, who most recently served as managing director and global head of operations compliance and financial crimes compliance & risk management for Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, will begin her new role on June 1, 2012. Hollingsworth will be based in San Francisco, and will report to Caryl Athanasiu, executive vice president and chief operational risk officer in the corporate risk group. As chief compliance officer, Hollingsworth will be responsible for ensuring that all areas of the company meet compliance management responsibilities and abide by all applicable laws and regulations. Her team will continue to provide independent oversight of business-based compliance management activities.
District of Columbia
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Los Angeles attorney Paul Watford to serve on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: “It is great news that the Senate has confirmed Paul Watford, an exceptionally talented attorney, to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has a breadth of experience as a former prosecutor and a top appellate litigator and will make an excellent addition to the federal bench. However, I am very disappointed that more of my Republican colleagues did not join us in backing this highly qualified nominee.” When Watford is sworn in, he will be only the second African American serving on the Ninth Circuit.