Prospects for the Austin Job Market - a recruiter's view

Yesterday it was announced that GDP in the US grew by 3.5% from July-September, which was a higher than expected post oficially signaling that the US economy is out of its recession. However, on a national scale we are hearing that unemployment rates remain high and will do for the forseable future. I thus wanted to briefly take a look at what this means for us as jobseekers and labor allocators here in Austin.

First, the good news:

1) Labor markets are geographically differentiated - which means unemployment rates are higher in different cities, states and for different positions. Austin was one of the last cities to enter the recession, which began in 2007, and will be one of the first to recover. Here at Kelly's office, we are finding we are getting orders from customers we weren't getting orders from 6 months ago. Our customer base is also broad and dynamic, showing us that more companies are hiring, and not just the old reliables.

2) Talent is still needed. Whilst we understand that there are many unfortuante exceptions right now, we are finding that applicants with good tenure and skill sets are attending multiple interviews, some with Kelly some outside of Kelly. In otherwords, there is still a level of demand for talent.

Now the not-so-brilliant news:

1) We are finding that there has been a particular decline in Manufacturing/warehouse work, which is being slow to recover. Administrative and marketing fields also remain highly competitive. Areas where there are still a high demand for labor are in Engineering and the Healthcare field (RN, Physician etc)

2) We are finding permenant positions still a little scarce, although better than 6 months ago! We are also setting ourselves for a tough holiday season, as company budgets reach their end.

The better news:

1) Temporary and contingent work is gathering pace. We also expect to see a rise in contingent work as seasonal needs arise. This will mainly been in the form of retail work, seminar work, and admin cover.

The great news:

1) Things ARE getting better, and we are with you on the front line. Austin is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic economies in America. Know that you are in the right place and work hard on at least 10 applications a day and work will come your way.

Kelly Services Named One of America's Greatest Brands!

Standing next to brands like Campbell’s Soup, Energizer, and NASCAR, Kelly Services was named one of America’s Greatest Brands in 2009 by Brand Keys, Inc.

Kelly Services founded the staffing and recruiting industry, which has since grown into a $350 billion market. William Russell Kelly’s original business was created to transcribe and word process documents sent over by customers. One day in 1946 his biggest customer called because their receptionist hadn’t shown up that day and he desperately needed someone to fill-in. “Russ” Kelly lent his own secretary to the customer, and that’s how the concept of "temporary staffing" was created. Eventually other companies heard of his service and began calling Kelly with requests for steel workers, accountants, scientists, and engineers. Over the past 63 years Kelly Services has perfected the art of staffing and has developed the resources to successfully recruit and fill any position.

Fun Facts about Kelly Services:
· Kelly Services has been in Austin for over 45 years! (that’s even before traffic was a problem!)
· Ninety-nine of the Fortune 100 companies are Kelly customers.
· Kelly Services fills a position with a qualified employee every 35 seconds.
· Every 5 minutes a Kelly temporary employee is hired by a customer to become their employee.
· Kelly employees work 4 million hours per week.
· Kelly Scientific Resources is the largest scientific staffing provider worldwide.
· Kelly Educational Staffing substitute teachers fill more than 20,000 classrooms each week.
For additional information, or to request a Kelly employee of your own, feel free to email me at

drakery@kellyservices.com.

Have a great day!!!

Ryan Drake
Branch Manager
512-383-9320
To see other brands awarded this honor, visit www.americasgreatestbrands.com.