San Diego’s Unemployment Lowers, Economic Outlook Rises

Last week, the Employment Development Department reported that San Diego County’s unemployment rate fell to 8 percent, the lowest rate since December 2008, when it was at 7.4 percent. Data show that county businesses added a total of 31,400 employees in the past 12 months. California is seeing a decreased unemployment rate along with the majority of the nation—including 37 other states, Puerto Rico and D.C.  In the past year, California employers added 293,000 payroll jobs and had a job growth rate of 2.1 percent, higher than the nation’s 1.5 percent job growth rate.

California’s unemployment fluctuates greatly from county to county. Imperial County has the highest unemployment rate at 24.2 percent, while Orange County enjoys a much lower rate of 6.5 percent, mostly due to highly visited attractions such as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Some factors that may contribute to San Diego’s decreased unemployment rate are:

Diverse Industries – San Diego’s diverse and growing industries, including biotech, engineering, and healthcare, are driving new job creation. San Diego is also a region of continuous research, with universities and independent research institutes that hire regularly.

Real Estate – San Diego’s real estate market was hit especially hard during the recession. This year, economists expect a turnaround in San Diego’s housing market with home prices and home sales to increase by 5.5 and 7.5 percent, respectively. Data from the State of California Employee Development Database also show a decrease in monthly foreclosures in 2012.

Tourism – The tourism industry was greatly affected during the recession, but increased jobs and revenues from 2012 show that the industry is making a big comeback. In 2013, a record number of business and leisure travelers are expected to come to San Diego County. This is mainly due to the increase in discretionary income combined with San Diego’s many popular attractions—SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and famous beaches, to name a few.

Other hopeful signs include an increase in online help-wanted advertising, local stocks performing well, and an optimistic outlook of the nation’s economic health. Factors that could potentially hinder San Diego’s economic growth include: healthcare reform, rising oil prices, and increased taxes.

Between 2012 and 2013 San Diego County added 31,400 jobs, almost all jobs sectors showed gains, the biggest winners included:

Job Sectors	Job Gains
Professional and Business Services	11,000+
Leisure and Hospitality	6,000+
Education and Health Services	5,700+
Construction	1,600+

In February alone, San Diego County gained 9,800 jobs. The largest contributor in the county was the leisure and hospitality sector, up 3,300 jobs, with 2,100 of those coming from the restaurant and bar industry. This is a good indicator of a recovering economy since increased restaurant sales usually mean an overall increase in discretionary income.

With more jobs being added each day, now is the time to meet with a career coach at UC San Diego Extension’s Life/Work Center to see what the future holds for your career.

Figures do not include people no longer looking for work, underemployed workers, or the many who have already used their unemployment benefits.

Sources

Horn, J. (2013, March 29). UT San Diego. SD Unemployment Drops to 8 Percent
Horn, J. (2013, March 22). UT San Diego. San Diego Shows Robust Job Growth
San Diego Business Journal. (2013, April 1). San Diego County’s Unemployment Rate Falls to 8 Percent in February
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. (2012, June). San Diego’s Road to Economic Recovery (PDF)
National Conference of State Legislatures. (2013, March 29). State Unemployment Rates Improved in February 2013

Health Care Needs Lawyers

In recent years, federal and state legislators have focused on public health care policy. As a result, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, health-insurance companies, and private public-interest firms need health law professionals to advocate on their behalf.

Legal and medical experts agree that health law is one of the fastest-growing areas of legal practice. Health care reform is just one of several reasons for growth in this sector. Additional reasons include more government regulation of health care, the rise of bioethical and biotechnology issues, tort reform related to malpractice, aging of the baby boomer generation, and the consequent growth of Medicare.

Government agencies at both the state and federal levels need health law professionals to develop program policies and to promulgate regulations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the leading federal agency that formulates health care policy and regulations.

Primary settings for practicing health care law are nonprofit advocacy and public-interest organizations, hospitals, health services corporations, health administration and regulatory government agencies, and public-interest firms. For example, one nonprofit advocacy organization is the National Health Law Project (NHLP), which works to improve health care for the impoverished, uninsured, unemployed, minorities, elderly, and disabled. Nonprofit corporations are mostly comprised of hospitals and community clinics.

Specialization in health law is facilitated by a master’s degree, abbreviated LL.M., awarded to lawyers after receiving their law degree. LL.M. Health Law programs usually require an additional year of study. Integration of medical-legal issues spans a wide range of career interests, such as health-care administration, program and policy development, public health, biomedical and biotechnical research, and the pharmaceutical industry.

California Western School of Law and UC San Diego have joined forces to create a health law master’s degree program, as part of the Institute of Health Law Studies. According to their website, “We encourage our students to take courses in law at California Western School of Law, other graduate courses such as those in the Department of Political Science and the School of Medicine at UCSD, and public health courses at San Diego State University.”

For more information visit ihls.org

Employment of all lawyers, not just those in health care, is expected to grow about 14 percent in the coming decade, primarily as a result of growth in the population and in the general level of business activities. Job growth among lawyers will also result from increasing demand for legal services in not just health care, but in such areas as intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust, and environmental law.

Career Strategy Session—Negotiating What You Want at Work and in Life

UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Life/Work Strategies is offering a new quarterly series to help professionals succeed in their careers. These free Career Strategy Sessions will feature a series of subject matter experts speaking on a variety of topics around job and personal growth.

According to the Harvard Business Review only 45% of people are satisfied with their jobs. The majority need to know there are ways to feel happier with work.

Everyone is faced with opportunities to negotiate on a regular basis.

On January 15^th at 9:30 a.m. at UCSD Extension’s University City Center, career coach and Extension instructor, Camille Primm, will lead a career strategy session on negotiating how to get more of what you want at work and in life.

Primm brings to our attention that “everyone is faced with opportunities to negotiate on a regular basis.”  Her workshop will teach tips for collaborating that can be applied in any work or life scenario requiring give and take. Primm’s practical approach walks you through scenarios where you have the opportunity to negotiate and collaborate. You’ll learn skills to become a better negotiator and boost your confidence along the way.

The Career Strategy Session is free to attend, but pre-registration is recommended.
Register now

Camille Primm is an award-winning career and performance strategist. She is author of Learning the Ropes: The Insider’s Guide to Winning at Work; and contributor to Discover Your Inner Strength. Camille is a graduate of Longwood University in Virginia and her training and consulting practice, Primm and Partners, is based in San Diego, CA.

The Center for Life/Work Strategies is committed to providing resources to help individuals think about their career success and satisfaction, and take control of their future for a rewarding life.

The Top Five Issues in the November Election

by Sanford Lakoff

Confused about the complexity of the issues surrounding the election cycle? We’ve asked professor emeritus of political science at UC San Diego, Sanford Lakoff, to summarize his thoughts on the important questions that face us all in the November election.

1. The Economy

Obama and Romney pose sharply different approaches. Obama would modify the Bush tax cuts to preserve them for all but the top 3% of earners and raise taxes on dividends and capital gains. The receipts would be used to create jobs and end the recession. Romney would lower both individual and corporate taxes and make unspecified cuts in non-defense spending. The aim would be to encourage entrepreneurship, shrink the size of government, and dramatically lower the national debt in the near term. Ryan has also proposed eliminating tax loopholes, though which ones are not specified.

2. Health Care

If Obama wins, the Affordable Care Act–alias Obamacare– will go into full effect in 2014, mandating either employer-provided insurance or privately purchased policies from exchanges designed to promote competition and curbing insurer restrictions and administrative costs. Support for Medicare Advantage policies would be dropped and reimbursements to provider institutions would be cut, allowing savings to Medicare of about $700 billion over ten years and extending the solvency of the Medicare trust fund until 2024. Medicaid would cover more poor families. An estimated 30-35 million currently uninsured citizens would be covered. Romney has pledged to repeal Obamacare. He would also restore the proposed $700 billion in cuts to Medicare, arguing that they are being taken from seniors to support Obamacare. The new administration would set the stage for a transition to a new form of health insurance for the elderly, providing vouchers (or premium support) to be used either to buy traditional Medicare or private insurance. In response to critics, Ryan has modified his original proposal to guarantee that vouchers would keep pace with increased costs.

3. Immigration

Obama would renew efforts to pass the “Dream Act,” allowing young people brought into the country illegally to attain citizenship. He would probably also propose more comprehensive reforms, allowing temporary work permits and providing a path to citizenship for the “undocumented.” Romney has not yet put forward specific proposals, but would probably emphasize security, including completion of the border fence. In the primary campaign, Romney suggested that illegal immigrants should be induced to “self-deport.”

4. Regulation

The Obama administration is pledged to maintaining efforts to regulate the financial sector, as specified in the Dodd-Frank Act and regulation by the EPA of greenhouse gas emissions. Romney has argued that the economy is over-regulated and that market forces are better at promoting both growth and safety than bureaucratic intervention.

5. Energy

The Obama administration has sought to promote a transition from reliance on fossil fuels toward a mix of energy sources in which renewables would become increasingly prominent and automobile fuel efficiency would be greatly improved. The aim is to both promote energy independence and curb emission of greenhouse gases. As a candidate, Romney has not said that he accepts the scientific findings on climate change and has campaigned for more efforts to exploit conventional forms of energy. He has promised to approve the Keystone pipeline project (held up by Obama), to send oil from Canada’s tar sands through the Midwest to southern refineries.

Sanford Lakoff, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at UCSD. He earned his doctorate at Harvard, where he taught in the Department of Government. His publications include Democracy: History, Theory, Practice; Max Lerner: Pilgrim in the Promised Land; and (with Herbert F. York) A Shield in Space? Professor Lakoff teaches People, Power and Politics every Fall and Winter quarterly at UC San Diego Extension, where he discusses the political powers that be and their existing and potential effect on our lives.

 

Career Boost Camp Inspires Professionals to Seek Best Job for Their Skill Set

UC San Diego Alumni and UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Life/Work Strategies have teamed up to offer an inspirational and eye-opening “Career Boost Camp” that will take your career to the next level. Executives, managers and recent grads will gain a new sense of control and a conviction to energize their work style, create unique value and build a blueprint to take control of their lives.

The Career Boost Camp will take place Saturday June 2nd, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the UC San Diego Institute of the Americas conference hall. Registration is $10 per person and includes breakfast and a raffle ticket for books and Extension workshops. Parking is free (recommended parking at N. Torrey Pines and Pangea Dr.).

Kicking off the morning session is Associate Vice Chancellor, Armin Afsahi, which will be followed by keynote address from Will Marré, Co-Founder of the Covey Leadership Center and Emmy-Award Winner.

According to Marré’s research, only 19 percent of professionals today are truly satisfied with their careers. He will share with you ways people are thriving in today’s job market by turning their talents and passions into value to maximize their opportunities, earnings and fulfillment.

A panel of entrepreneurs and UCSD alumni will share their journeys to building successful businesses. The experiences of these innovators range from career entrepreneurs to an alumnus who decided to start his own business after years in industry. Moderated by Lisa Gordon, San Diego Small Business Ambassador, the session will include stories from Erik Maki ’08, Founder of Maki Longboards, Joon Han ‘96, Business Strategist, and Elizabeth Kaplan ‘88, Founder of The Pure Pantry.

U-T San Diego Job & Career Columnist and Co-Author of Closing America’s Job Gap, Henry DeVries, ’79, will discuss how to grow companies and land good jobs in the age of innovation. Interviewer Elizabeth Gibson, Advisor to UC San Diego Extension’s Career Transition & Development for Professionals Program, will share her perspective along with Henry on what it takes to secure a job along a successful career path.

The event’s closing session will feature Christine Didonato, Director, Talent & Organizational Development, Sony Electronics. She’ll address the tough questions many professionals experience today: how do you get developed and promoted in a time when organizations are in the midst of constant change and have limited resources?  Through her 7 Must-Have Mindsets™ Didonato will help you to understand the unspoken beliefs to give you an edge and accelerate career progression.

To register for this thought-provoking and insightful Career Boost Camp event, visit http://alumni.ucsd.edu/careerboost.

Questions? Contact ksears@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-8178.

Quiz: Is My Career Right For Me?

By Will Marre

Research confirms that your career is the cornerstone of your personal well-being. Yet sadly less than two in ten people are fully engaged with their work.

Take this short, 10-question quiz to see if your career is right for you. This spring’s new course, “How Your Unique Design Will Help You Reboot Your Career,”  course could transform your life.

Discover where to invest your time and energy to attain your best future.

Quiz:

1. Do you find yourself looking forward to going to work?
   Yes, frequently
   No or very rarely

2. Do you consistently engage yourself in new activities that make your work more fulfilling and enjoyable?
   Yes, every week or every other week
   No or very rarely

3. Do you work with good friends that you trust and encourage you?
   Yes
   No, not really

4. Are you actively developing your strengths and talents to get more out of work and life?
   Yes, consistently
   No

5. Do you have a low stress work style that is enjoyable in terms of its pace, variety, and growth?
   Yes, usually
   No, rarely

6. Do you usually have high energy and feel fit and healthy?
   Yes, usually
   No, not as often as I’d like

7. Are you in a highly satisfying relationship with your boss that makes you feel valued and affirmed?
   Yes
   No

8. Are you frequently coming up with and taking action on new, creative ideas to make both your work and your life better?
   Yes, frequently
   No, rarely

9. Are you clear that the career you’re investing yourself in is the right one for you?
   Yes, I am clear and happy
   No, I often wonder about it

10. Do you have an excellent coach or expert friend that helps you make great decisions about your work and your life?
    Yes, I talk to him/her every week
    No, I try to figure it out on my own

Score:
# No
# Yes

This quiz is based on the forces of the new science of Life Harmony, which studies human thriving when our careers, relationships, and lifestyle are aligned.

Understanding Your Score

• If your Yes score is 9 or above: Congratulations.  You are in the top 10% of people who are thriving in their work and consistently taking action to keep their life progressing in a fulfilling and rewarding direction. Why you should take the class: As a hungry learner your thirst for development will be maximized by the quick and efficient tips, techniques, and insights you will receive over three fast paced sessions.  And you will likely enjoy encouraging and inspiring others to achieve what you’re achieving.
• If your Yes score is 7 or 8: Be encouraged.  You are very close to having self-inspiring career.  Your score means you have a lot of things right and just a series of small, consistent changes may add up to a big change in how you feel about your career.  Your score may reveal a certain area you can focus on that the new skills and science based know-how that you will learn from the course will help you conquer.  You are close.  Join us.
• If your Yes score is 6 or below: You are a member of a very big club of the vast majority of people who are suffering every day with stress and uncertainty wondering what to do.  Our “Reboot” course is designed to free you from the little, invisible mistakes you are likely making and give you the power to change your work, improve your performance, and remodel your career into a more fulfilling, and enjoyable one virtually every day.  Our Career Center is a growing community of people just like you that are making positive, life-fulfilling changes every day.  There will never be a better time to free yourself from whatever is in your way.

Will Marre’s next class, “How Your Unique Design Will Help You Reboot Your Career,” begins Thursday, April 12th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at UCSD Extension University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Dr., San Diego.  The class meets three times (4/12, 4/23 and 5/7).  Fee is $95, and includes eight assessments. Parking is free.

Will Marré is the co-founder and former president of the Covey Leadership Center where he translated the concepts of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into powerful leadership courses taught to millions of executives worldwide.   Today Will is an evangelist of socially strategic enterprise that transforms Corporate Social Responsibility into Corporate Social Opportunity. Will is founder and CEO of ThoughtRocket, a learning community systematically designed to center your life around your personal purpose so that you have enriching work, fulfilling relationships, and a lifestyle of full engagement. Read more about Will

UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Life/Work Strategies is a nexus of resources to help professionals manage their short and long-term career paths. As the job market has fundamentally changed, so must the way in which people approach their employment—it’s up to individuals to understand and build upon their strengths and develop a plan to meet their career goals.  Workshops, assessments, coaching and online careers resources are available at extension.ucsd.edu/careers.

Don’t Stop Believing: 3 Reasons to Job Search During the Holidays

By Elizabeth Gibson

Network during the holidays—professional organization parties, corporate events, neighborhood get-togethers—and find more opportunities to connect with key contacts.

A challenging job market, everyone on vacation, deadline-driven managers:  what do each of these have in common?  They’re all excuses that job seekers give to skip job hunting over the holidays.  Why bother, you ask?

• Reason #1:  Less Competition
  If everyone else believes you can’t get a job during the holidays, let everyone else stay home drinking eggnog.  Much like the early bird getting the worm, the job seeker who stays focused during the holidays maintains momentum, demonstrates commitment to employers, and is far more likely to encounter and take advantage of existing opportunities.  Job seekers who are prepared with their story, their motivation, and a plan can make a big impact on their target contacts at a time when the competition is focused on finding Zhiu Zhui pets at Toys ‘R Us.
• Reason #2:  More Opportunity
  Organizations often map their first quarter hiring needs during the last quarter of the calendar year, so opportunities may be evaluated, discussed, and/or posted in December and January.  Job seekers who continue to research key organizations and stay on task during the holidays are more likely to land on a hiring manager’s radar early in that process.
• Reason #3:  Better Connections
  Let’s face it, there are more opportunities to network during the holidays – professional organization parties, corporate events, neighborhood get-togethers – and people are typically a little more relaxed.  Job seekers who are strategic about networking may find more opportunities to connect with key contacts, or find that people are more inclined to help.  (A word of warning – while people are a bit more relaxed at this time, dancing around in a Santa hat and demonstrating how the alcohol in your breath can replicate a blowtorch probably won’t land you that dream job.)

Also, while administrative staff may take vacation during holidays, executives or managers in key areas will often work at least part of the time in order to meet deadlines and finish strategic projects.  Well prepared job seekers may be able to bypass a gatekeeper by calling key executives between Christmas and New Year’s.

If you’re looking to sharpen your job search skills, whether it’s resume-building, interviewing, or identifying your career passion, UC San Diego Extension’s Career Center courses can give you the guidance you need to stay focused and effective this winter.

A Career Center student creates a personal brochure to market his skills.

Elizabeth Gibson is director of UC San Diego Extension’s Career Transition & Development for Professionals Program.  She is a community leader with expertise in career development, HR, organizational development, and change management, and has presented to industry associations and Fortune 500s. She was VP of Business Development at Lee Hecht Harrison, where she consulted on career transition, leadership development, and workforce solutions. She is a Past President of the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management.

This winter quarter, Elizabeth Gibson will be teaching Career Management, which begins January 25^th.