The Morning Briefing: Credit check screens, unemployment tax bills, tech jobs
"The Morning Briefing" is SmartPlanet's daily roundup of must-reads from the web. This morning we're reading about work opportunities and the job market.
1.) Economy predictions - improvement in job market, hope for reelection? According to economists, improvements in the job market have appeared faster than expected. As a result, they now forecast slightly stronger growth and potentially more hiring this year, in comparison to what was anticipated two months ago.
2.) Is screening applicants based on credit history acceptable? Some law makers across different states are concerned about an emerging trend in the job applicant process -- credit background checks. For some roles, such as those handling large amounts of money, this can be understandable, but hiring managers are more often asking recruitment firms, even for 'standard' jobs, not to send them anyone with bankruptcy in their past.
3.) Cloud Computing to create 14 million jobs worldwide by 2015. According to a study by Microsoft and research firm IDC, cloud computing has the potential to create over 14 million jobs by 2015, as companies stray from expensive servers and adopt virtual workspaces.
4.) Angry Birds boom spurs U.S. Job revival on mobile demand. Postings on tech-career website Dice.com are 12 percent higher than a year ago, with openings for workers skilled in mobile applications up more than 100 percent -- a surge in technology helping to spearhead such jobs entering the market. Demand across the board has risen for computer software applications and data, and as such, those with experience in the field are now in even higher demand.
5.) NM governor signs unemployment fund tax bill. New Mexico businesses will save more than $81 million this year on the premiums they pay into the state's unemployment compensation fund under legislation signed into law Monday. Republican governor Susana Martinez said along with additional tax reforms, the move is aimed at giving businesses a breather from a tough economic situation.
Bonus: Employer vs Facebook: Is there a point to privacy settings?
Image credit: Gangplank HQ
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com