Ready – Set – Jump In … Now is the time to engage in your search

Note: See Job Bank announcement below

"Success will never be a big step in the future, success is a small step taken just now. "
~ Jonatan Martensson

I am often asked – Dan – when does the job market really begin to get on a roll after the holidays?

Many think it is at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. The truth – it isn’t. It is NOW. The job market picks up usually in the 2nd to 3rd week of January as companies return from the holidays and put their new business year plans in high gear, and that often includes hiring. I monitor job market activity in the region, defined as a 50 mile radius of Albany, NY. Over the past few weeks, it has been a bit quiet which is expected and normal for the holidays.

But that all changed this week. Job postings jumped 28% in one week. On last Monday alone, over 1,000 new jobs hit the job boards. The market has come out of its holiday hangover – the time is now. So if you have been waiting – wait no more. If you have been on the sidelines and not engaged in a search for a new job or career, wait no longer. The striking time is the best from now through early summer. Job hiring continues after the early summer, but most opportunities are posted in the first two quarters.

I have posted my most recent job report below … hope you find it interesting and motivating! And thank you for reading this. – Dan
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CBS6 WRGB’s Answers Team Job Bank will air Wednesday 1/19 from 5 – 7 pm. Employers representing over 475 jobs will be taking calls from job candidates. Visit the job bank web site: http://www.cbs6albany.com/sections/infocenter/jobs-bank/
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Job Postings Recover and Increase Significantly After Holidays

(Albany, NY, January 12, 2011) – Job postings increased significantly the past week, after having seen softening and declines just before and through the holiday period, which is not unusual and expected. Postings rose from 3866 to just about 4950, an increase of 28% in one week. “As I have been reporting and commenting the past few weeks, I fully expected to see the number of job postings go up dramatically after the holidays, as they have over the past few years, and it occurred. This past Monday alone, over 1,000 new jobs were posted in the Region and the past few days, there have been close to 5200 job postings on a daily basis for job seekers to pursue. I hope this trend continues and we see continued strength and growth as we are entering into a prime hiring season”, stated Dan Moran, Founder & President of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie. Moran assists individuals in identifying new careers and also those in the midst of a job search and needing direction. His firm also tracks the job market on a regional and statewide basis.

“I have been asked several times this week when one should expect the job market to pick up after the holidays. Many think it is just after the stroke of midnight on New Year’s eve, but it is not so. The market generally begins to pick up rather strongly the 2nd to 3rd week of January – right now – and the market has, in the past, continued to pick up right through early summer. So if someone has been waiting to jump back into the job market, the time is now”.

Other markets in New York State saw increases this past week as well, with New York City leading other markets with close to a 25% increase this past week. While a smaller market, the Capital Region still outpaces other NYS markets (with the exception of metro NYC). This has been consistent for well over three years.

#Background#

Job postings in the Region are normally in the baseline of 4000 – 4900 on a weekly basis and 7-day rolling average, consistent for this area. Monitoring job postings is a leading indicator of hiring within the following 30-45 days. This methodology is utilized by reading research houses nationally and is employed in the Region by Moran’s firm. For the purpose of reporting, the Region is defined as a 50 mile radius of Albany.