John Zappe on ERE.Net wrote an interesting article, entitled  Consumer Confidence Improves But Job Numbers are Hard to Predict.   Are they ever?   Depending on who you talk to, where they live,the prognosis for the job market various widely.   It may stink in California and Nevada but show signs of life in the Houston and Atlanta.   Some of the Mid-West and Plains States have companies are hiring, but some of the more traditional industrial areas are having their troubles.

As Zappe writes, indicators are that for August 110,000 jobs were lost, but most of them through the continued layoff of Census Workers.  I July, some 71,000 private sector jobs were created.  I think this is the job sector that counts the most.   Zappe points to the ADP National Employment Report.  The Report is usually more conservative than the government’s and usually reports lower job figures.

Here is the synopsis of the ADP National Employment Report for August–The ADP National Employment Report

August 2010 Report

“Private sector employment decreased by 10,000 from July to August on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report® released today. The estimated change of employment from June to July was revised down slightly, from the previously reported increase of 42,000 to an increase of 37,000. The decline in private employment in August confirms a pause in the recovery already evident in other economic data. The deceleration in employment was evident in the major sectors and by size of business. This month’s decline in employment followed six monthly increases from February through July. Over those six months the average monthly gain in employment was 37,000 with no evidence of acceleration.”

In the shorthand, the report indicates that the economic recovery may be slowing down.  Maybe.  But again there are sections of the country where factories are up and recruiting if not brisk is steady.   As for small businesses who are having trouble borrowing money to hire new workers and to upgrade equipment and such, it would be nice if someone could make available some funding.  It would be nice to see the small businesses of America hiring people again.   That more than anything would go a long way toward an economic recovery.

For those who conduct background checks for various businesses throughout the United States, they see companies are hiring.   While some clients are still pretty quiet, there are others who are moving forward and have intensive recruiting campaigns in operation.  In some cases there are companies who have been making do with skeleton staffs in order to survive, and now with their employees exhausted the employers see it as necessary to bring in additional staff.

Zappe points out that the job sites are posting more jobs that are available.  That should signify something.   But for now it is tough to say what is really going on.   If there is any conclusion that borders on the absolute…it is that there is at this time no real accurate way to predict which way the job market is going.   Everyday is a new adventure.e  Employers hope to survive, and employees hope to keep their jobs.  Or find one.

Here and there you get the story that is funny at the outset but upon further review it is no laughing matter.  As I am an author and was in show business for a fair number of years, I do know a thing or two about dark humor.   I also realize that dark or gallows humor is typically based on some grisly reality that we only laugh at the avoid some of the pain.

CNN reported the case where a security card was suspended from a Hollywood Department store for taking his job much too seriously.  What did he do?  Well, apparently a deaf customer walked out of the story with what might have been an article he hadn’t paid for.  At least the alarm went off, which indicates that the person did have in his possession good that were not accounted for by the cashier.   However, the suspected shoplifter, being deaf, didn’t hear the alarm.  He kept right on walking.

Until an overzealous guard tackled the suspected shoplifter and put him to the ground, applying a stranglehold.   The incident was captured by video cellphone.  The suspected shoplifter’s lawyer is threatening to sue Forever 21 for excessive force.   Now bear in mind that the suspected shoplifter, Alejandro Rea ,was convicted twice before on misdemeanor petty theft charges, in 2002 and 2008, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said.  And now because he resisted, Rea faces he faces felony second-degree robbery.  His alleged violent resistance to the security guard and his prior arrest record apparently played a role in the more serious charge, the lawyer said.

So what a mess.   Now perhaps there is an issue of training here.  Perhaps before tapping the suspected shoplifter, the security guard could have tapped him on his shoulder to get his attention.   Perhaps it terms of the security guard or security forces in general, besides the usual background checks it is necessary to provide sensitivity training, aptitude and psychological testing and other reports that would help employers best determine how well their candidates are fit for the job.  Granted, most security guards are in law paying positions, and often they have maybe a high school diploma.  So it would make sense the additional training would be helpful if not necesssary.

Now the store faces possible litigation if Rea’s attorney does move forward with a lawsuit contending that the guard used excessive force that was disproportionate to any shoplifting issues.    The offset cost of one successful lawsuit may go a long way toward conducting additional background checks on job applicants, in terms of criminal records, psychological testing, and sensitivity training.   Otherwise, an incident like this makes for embarrassing headlines and the possibility that someone  in the melee could have caused another physical harm.

Like I said, it’s almost funny for a moment.  But in a situation like this, nobody wins in the end.

Looking for work. According to an article in the New York Times, then maybe you should be looking in China.  At least if you are a CEO or a “C” level executive.   This move is considered a reflection on the Communist Party’s unhappiness with the performance of some of the larger companies in China.

According to the times article the ad was looking to recruit candidates  for 20 senior management jobs in industries ranging from nuclear power to automotive and textiles. While some of the positions were restricted to Chinese nationals,  some of the ads were designed to solicit foreign applicants.    Several required proficiency in foreign languages like English and French.

There were also recruitment ads for junior executives.  These postings were for positions in mining, communications, construction, nuclear power and shipping.   The advertisement stated that the candidates are expected to “serve the reform and development of the S.O.E.s,” or state-owned enterprises, according to the Times.

The Internet biosphere erupted with various comments, not all flattering.   There were remarks about nepotism and how it is prominent in Chinese industrial culture.

Is this a trend or merely an occasional recruiting campaign?   It is difficult to say at this point.