Posted: 26 Mar 2010 08:45 AM PDT

Arizona's employers created almost 20,000 positions from January to February, which gives economists hope that the state's job market is expanding.

Another figure might seem to reflect the reverse: Arizona's jobless rate rose to 9.5 percent in February from 9.2 percent in January, according to the Commerce Department.

That could mean job growth is not keeping pace with a growing labor pool. It also could reflect that more people are resuming job searches that they abandoned amid the deep recession, experts said.

Those who stop looking for jobs are not counted in the unemployment statistics. As they gain confidence that opportunities are growing and pick up their searches again, they will boost the official jobless rate.

"The job growth was a little anemic for February, but it still is moving," said Dennis Hoffman, an economics professor at Arizona State University.

"Last year at this time, (the size of the workforce was) falling at a 6-7 percent clip. January was 5 percent. We're at a 3.9 percent clip now. Every month that goes by, that year-over-year loss approaches the zero line."

The state still has about 97,000 fewer jobs than a year ago and 323,700 fewer than it did in December 2007.

Last year at this time, the state reported that 5,100 jobs had been lost from January to February.

"I suppose the headline will be that the unemployment rate picks up, but I'm seeing these numbers completely different," Hoffman said. "I see the job market improving."

As people resume their searches, it could cause the jobless rate to go up to 10 percent or more, even as the job market improves, he said.

Hoffman and Ronald Gunderson, a Northern Arizona University economics professor, said they are concerned the rising unemployment rate, the most cited economic indicator, will further damage consumer confidence even as times improve.

"My sense is that there is still too much uncertainty out there, and until people actually start feeling better about the economy, they won't make any major decisions increasing their purchases," Gunderson said. "That depresses spending, and you get prolonged exposure to a recessionary environment."

The economy is sending too many mixed signals to consumers for them to feel good, he said.

"There's still lots of uncertainty in the housing market, there still is concern what will happen in Arizona with passage of a sales tax, and even though the health-care issue has gotten a lot of notoriety nationally, that isn't even settled yet," Gunderson said.

"You need a dominance of things moving in a positive direction before you get people's minds turned around," he said.

Job seekers have a mixed outlook.

Lore Honer, 46, has been job hunting since January. She and her husband run CompuMAC computer services in Scottsdale, but with business slowing down, she has decided to get another job after helping run the family business for 15 years.

"I'm totally optimistic I'll find something," she said. "The question is: Will I find something that I want? I hate to sound picky, but we are still doing business, so I can be a little pickier."

She is working with Ace Resume of Phoenix to help her search and has submitted about 10 resumes.

"There are jobs out there," she said. "I don't understand why there's all this doom and gloom."

Others, however, are struggling to find work.

"I've gotten to the interview and final-interview stage upwards of 15 times, and there's always just one person on the market with one more year experience than I've got," said 32-year-old Chris Ostermeyer of Phoenix, a former network administrator whose employer went bankrupt in late 2008.

He has spent his time since then working temporary jobs and homeschooling his three daughters, but he is pushing hard to find permanent work.

"It's very ugly right now," he said. "It has been for a year and a half."

He said he is excited about job opportunities he has found through the Tech Finders Inc. recruiting service in Phoenix.

"There's not no jobs, there's just few jobs, and people are sorting through stacks of resumes that are pretty deep," he said.

Sharon Bondurant, president of Tech Finders, said the companies using her firm to recruit workers are ramping up hiring after a major slowdown last year, but they are more selective about who they employ.

Employers started to contact her about finding new employees late in 2009 but often put new positions on hold, Bondurant said.

Now, they are starting to fill those jobs, which in turn is attracting more candidates who were not searching during the depth of the recession.

Job seekers should see some hope in most sectors of the economy. Every sector in Arizona added jobs in February except financial activities, which cut 200 jobs from January to February.

Of the 19,900 new jobs in Arizona in February, 5,700 came in the leisure and hospitality sector, which grew at pre-recession levels.

"That could be a reflection of (hotels adding staff for) spring training and bad weather on the East Coast," said Aruna Murthy, economic-analysis director for the Commerce Department.

Despite the strong gains, even that sector still is 5,800 jobs smaller than it was in February 2009.

Other bright spots were manufacturing and construction, which posted small gains in jobs after steep declines since 2007. Both added about 1,300 positions to their payrolls during the month.

"In construction, we've seen an increase in specialty labor and in heavy construction," Murthy said. "Whether that is a short-term change only, I don't know."

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AVW Administration Remains Silent on Principal Investigation (WJFW Rhinelander)

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 07:21 AM PDT

- After a more than three hour-long meeting Thursday night, the Arbor-Vitae Woodruff School board still will not say what the decision is regarding Principal Steve Holt.
The Arbor Vitae Woodruff School Board, The Principal and the District Administrator met in a closed session, the published topic being, "releasing disciplinary action," but they say they're not releasing their decision at this time.
The AVW School Board and administrative staff have been investigating Holt for several weeks now.
AVW parent Jessica Greenfield says she was concerned about a disturbing conversation Holt had with her 12-year-old son.
Greenfield brought a complaint against the principal before the school board back in February, asking for his removal.
Several parents turned out to hear the board's decision this evening, but there is still no firm answer.
Board members turned direction over to District Administrator Rick Morgan in open session during the last few minutes of tonight's meeting.
Morgan will not confirm details of the investigation, or the board's decision, saying, "Basically from the board's directive that was given in open session, they've directed me, with closure to the parent complaint, to follow through with the decision that they've made."
Rick Morgan says as of right now Steve Holt will remain the principal.
He cannot say when a firm decision will be announced regarding Holt's future at the school, or if any punitive action will be taken against him.
Greenfield says she is outraged that the administration refuses to tell parents what will be done. She says, "It's so frustrating. Because why? I mean, if they've come to a decision, why can't he answer us? They're sending the message to not only my son, but other kids, that they're not listening to them."
Greenfield says she does not feel her son will be safe going to AVW, as long as things stay the way they are.
She says she will homeschool him until a definite decision is made.
She's not the only parent who feels this way.
"We will be homeschooling our child with the curriculum as of tomorrow. Our son will not come here, because we want to protect our son from anything happening," says concerned parent Cathy Iverson.
The AVW District Administrator contends students will be safe continuing to go to school.
He says he'll release more information regarding this incident and the investigation when he is able to.
Steve Holt was at the meeting and declined to comment on the investigation or the meeting, saying it would violate student confidentiality.

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Golfing sensation Paul on the right track (The Star)

Posted: 25 Mar 2010 03:44 PM PDT

weiloon@thestar.com.my

SINCE the age of two, promising junior golfer Paul San Weng Yau had the desire to make it into the top flight after watching icon Tiger Woods playing in the US Masters on television.

The 13-year-old has not only been coping to overcome the challenges in his quest to excel on the greens.

In the chase to fulfil his dream, his father Sylvester San and mother Mary Anne Tiong are also dealing with the responsibilities in providing the best for their only child.

Sylvester admitted the constant arguments relating to Paul's serious involvement in competitive golf has created a strain on the husband-and-wife relationship.

Last year, the 46-year-old director of a local IT company allowed Paul to skip his homeschooling programme once a week to rub shoulders with the local professionals for a round of golf.

"Others, including my wife, have been saying that I am obsessive in encouraging Paul to do well in golf. Last year, Paul featured in several amateur open tournaments and failed to make the cut in only two meets (Malaysia Amateur Open and Sabah Open). He developed better confidence going up against a better field of senior golfers. And he accomplished all that at the expense of his studies," Sylvester said.

Paul, who currently holds a handicap of four, chalked up a perfect attendance in the boys' Under-15 contest of the SportExcel junior open and Premier-Elite series last year.

And it came by as no surprise as he went on to emerge as the overall champion and runner-up for his section in the Premier-Elite and junior open respectively.

Paul also achieved a remarkable feat as the youngest qualifier at the age of 12 years and seven months for Malaysian Amateur Open thus far.

He earned his place finishing in the 21st position at the Malaysian Amateur Closed.

Paul said it was frustrating that his scores shot up and suffered a drop in form after a good run in the first six months of last year.

"Everything was going well for the first half of the year. But, I did not perform after I made adjustment to my swing because I was still adapting to the change. My shots were going everywhere. I could not control it because of several factors. Besides my posture and stability, I had problem with the release. I feel that there is a need to grow up and change my attitude. It is common knowledge that I am the mischievous character among the juniors. I am also very talkative. But, I will try to control my temperament and leave a pleasant impression. I do not want to be remembered as the 'bad boy' in the group," he added.

This season, homemaker Mary Anne insisted that Paul should catch up on his studies and only focus on major tournaments.

"We have decided that Paul should not take part in all tournaments. He has to go through thorough preparation and aim to do well in selected tournaments. We need to emphasise that it is important for him to gain proper education and has something to fall back on after golf," she said.

And Sylvester has agreed with his wife this time.

"We had a lot of discussions on Paul's intention to turn professional. His mother will be able to give him the full attention that he needs for him to move up to another level. She has been playing regularly for the past five years and she has sound knowledge of the game," said Sylvester.

For more than two years, Paul has been training under Chong Chee Ming at the TrueGolf Academy.

Chong said Paul is an amazing young talent and has increased his driving ability from 180m to 210m over the past 12 months.

"We are trying to guide him on the right track as we address several issues in his approach to the game. He struggled when he revisited the basics and made adjustments to his fundamental skills. We are convinced that he could hit well. But, he needs to be more consistent in managing his shots around the course," he added.

Fact File

Name: Paul San Weng Yau

Date of Birth: 17 October 1996

Ht: 1.70m Wt: 55kg

School: Cempaka AOG-AOP Center, Kelana Jaya

Hobbies: Facebook and listening to music

Ambition: Professional golfer

Favourite Sports Personality: Tiger Woods (United States)

Coach: Chong Chee Ming (TrueGolf Academy)

Achievements:

2005

- Kundang Lakes Golf Club Under-12 junior tournament second

2006

- PTGLC 2006 Family Golf Tournament individual and team second

2007

- Callaway Junior World Golf Championship nine to 10 years 13th placing

- SportExcel junior open first leg boys' Under-12 runner-up

- SportExcel junior open third leg boys' Under-12 third

- SportExcel Premier-Elite fourth leg boys' Under-12 third

- SportExcel Premier-Elite grand finals boys' Under-12 champion

- Klang Valley Junior Golf Circuit first leg boys' Under-12 champion

- Klang Valley Junior Golf Circuit second leg and grand finals boys' Under-12 runner-up

- Rahman Putra Golf Club Annual Championship Under-12 champion

2008

- SportExcel junior open third leg boys' Under-12 champion

- SportExcel junior open fourth leg boys' Under-12 runner-up

- SportExcel Premier-Elite second leg boys' Under-12 runner-up

- SportExcel Premier-Elite fourth leg boys' Under-12 third

- Klang Valley Junior Golf Circuit first leg boys' Under-12 runner-up

- Klang Valley Junior Golf Circuit second leg boys' Under-12 champion

- Klang Valley Junior Golf Circuit third leg boys' Under-12 third

- Pharmaton Endurance Golf Tournament guests' category nett champion

- Rahman Putra Golf Club Annual Championship Under-12 champion

2009

- TrueVision-UBC boys' Under-12 third

-SportExcel Premier-Elite boys' Under-15 overall champion

-SportExcel junior open boys' Under-15 overall runner-up

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Homeschooling

Friday, March 26, 2010

“Arizona added 20,000 jobs in February, but jobless rate rose (The Arizona Republic)” plus 2 more

“Arizona added 20,000 jobs in February, but jobless rate rose (The Arizona Republic)” plus 2 more

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