For workforce developers, knowing which occupations are most in demand is an essential component for developing programs that meet the needs of their local labor markets. However, a particular occupation growing nationally doesn’t necessarily mean it is growing in every geographical market. In this article, we’ll consider the projected occupational growth demand in Pennsylvania compared with growth demand in the nation.
The U.S. economy has expanded for 107 months as of this month, making it the second longest expansion on record. The big question is whether economic growth will last 15 more months to hit record territory in July 2019 when it would surpass the longest expansion on record at 121 months.
April 17, 2018 is the deadline for Americans to file their individual tax returns for 2017. With the passage of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, there are significant changes in the federal individual income tax rates and deductions allowed. While those changes will mostly impact American taxpayers when they file tax returns in 2019, it is never too early to start understanding and planning for changes.
A lot has already been said regarding Amazon and its search for a second headquarters (HQ2). Some argue HQ2 will bring a great benefit to the selected region, with Amazon saying they will invest over $5 billion and hire up to 50,000 employees for HQ2. Others have been more critical, arguing that the cost in the form of tax subsidies may not be worth the benefit gained. Additionally, there has been a lot of comparing the cities competing for HQ2, with front runners including Austin, Washington DC, and Denver, depending on which analysis you read.
Colleges and universities offering programs that lead to careers in occupations that are relatively high-paying and have low unemployment tend to have lower student loan default rates. Some of the top “low-default occupations” for jobs that typically require an associate’s degree theoretically would be dental hygienists and respiratory therapists.