JOBWIRE for the week of March 5, 2006

California Job Growth Continues

The Golden State continues to add jobs, with 18,300 new payroll positions created in January. Trade, transportation and utilities led the way, adding 9900 jobs, followed by professional business services (+9800), leisure and hospitality (+4600), education and health services (+4300), financial (+1100) and government (+800). Information lost the most jobs (-6600), followed by manufacturing (-4200), construction (-1300), and mining (-100). The state also revised downward its estimate of new jobs created in December, from 24,300 to 4900. January’s rate of unemployment dipped, from 5.1 to 4.9 percent. Nationally, the rate was 4.7 percent.

On the Job Front

NATIONWIDE – Are Americans’ paychecks about to grow? US Treasury Secretary John Snow thinks so. While visiting Silicon Valley, he told the San Francisco Chronicle that wages have reached a ”tipping point” and are about to rise. ”For the last three months or so, real wages are up something like 1.5 or 1.6 percent” . . . February layoffs numbered 87,437 – 15.5 percent less than in January. Government and automakers did the most trimming . . . Flight attendants with Northwest Airlines reached a pay-cut deal last week. Although details were not available, the airline said it got what it wanted – $195 million in savings. Pilots, on the other hand, are threatening to strike over pay cuts and staffing changes . . . Delta pilots, meanwhile, walked informational picket lines as they also protest proposed salary cutbacks . . . Radio Shack plans to close 400-700 stores.

CALIFORNIA – Thanks to a reduction in the cost of State Disability Insurance, less money is being withheld from worker paychecks. The rate has dropped from 1.08 percent last year to .08 percent this year . . . Five prison workers testified last week that supervisors told them to stay quiet after they questioned irregular purchases of everything from cars to furniture. The testimony was part of Senate hearings probing state prison operations.

CASTRO VALLEY – Approximately 300 union workers at Eden Medical Center were scheduled to end a seven-day strike on Tuesday. Workers say the hospital is not negotiating in good faith. Management denies the charge.

FREMONT – Scios Inc, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has laid off 50 workers at its local operation after safety concerns were raised about its popular heart drug Natrecor.

OAKLAND – The city police department cannot find enough applicants to fill 63 officer vacancies. High housing prices and competition from rival agencies hamper the PD’s recruitment efforts.

RANCHO CORDOVA – Delta Dental will soon hire 83 new employees. The move is in large part thanks to a new contract with the Texas Children’s Health Insurance Program. The company will need customer service representatives, claims auditors and clerical workers.

ROSEVILLE – Arizona Tile will open a 60,000 square foot showroom and warehouse. If all goes according to plan, the store will open on May 1st with 35 to 45 employees.

SAN FRANCISCO – Nearly 300 United Airlines engineers, who are primarily based at SFO, finally have a contract. It calls for a 6.5 percent raise upon ratification.

SANTA CLARA – Yahoo has filed suit here against seven former workers for allegedly stealing company secrets. The technology in question eases the delivery of content to mobile devices.