In Orange County, government employment comprised 159,000 jobs, according to the California Employment Development Department.  The EDD projects that education will account for 85 percent of job growth in government in Orange County from 2006 to 2016. Local government education will add 18,500 jobs, a 25 percent increase with private education employment expected to increase at 16 percent or a total of 3,300 jobs in private colleges, universities and professional schools. For local government jobs check out www.govtjob.net

Ambulatory health-care services also are projected to be Orange County’s largest source of new health-case jobs in the 10-year period ending 2016, according to the EDD. The EDD projects that the county’s health-care sector will have generated 26,200 jobs in the 10-year period, reaching 130,300 jobs in 2016. Ambulatory health-care services is expected to add 16,900 new jobs, more growth than in hospitals and nursing and residential-care facilities combined.

Employment in ambulatory health-care services is expected to reach 73,000 in Orange County by 2016, according to the EDD’s projections.

Check out the upcoming HealthCare Career Fair and get information at http://www.ocregister.com/jobs/careerfair/

When it comes to demand, no occupation ranks higher in Orange County than retail salesperson. According to the California Employment Development Department, the occupation of retail salesperson is projected to have generated more job openings in the county from 2006 through 2016 than any other occupation.

Total retail-trade employment is also expected to have increased at a faster-than-average pace from 2006 through 2016 in Orange County – a 15 percent increase in retail trade employment compared with a 13.4 percent increase in all industries combined, according to the EDD.

The areas projected to provide the greatest job growth are general-merchandise stores, gaining 5,000 jobs; clothing and clothing-accessory stores, gaining 4,600 jobs; and grocery stores, gaining 4,300 jobs.

While the field of administrative services is well-known as a source of entry-level job opportunities, some job seekers may question whether it is a field in which one can establish a career, with opportunities for increased responsibilities – and income – along the way.

In Orange County, administrative services accounts for 10 of the 50 occupations expected to have generated the greatest number of job openings in Orange County from 2006 through 2016, according to the California Employment Development Department. Among those 10 are eight occupations that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, typically require short-term or moderate on-the-job training for entry.

The health-care industry promises to be one of the largest sources of job growth in Orange County for at least the next eight years, according to forecasts from the California Employment Development Department and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.  http://www.laedc.org/

In the midyear update of it Economic Forecast & Industry Outlook, the LAEDC predicted that health care will be the third-largest sources of job growth in 2008 and will be the largest source of new jobs in 2009. The LAEDC expects the industry to gain 2,400 jobs this year and another 2,400 in 2009, averaging 111,900 jobs next year.

Do we have any recent new grads who are looking for positions in the OC area? If so, please share your experience in searching for employment.

Starting a job hunt is a daunting task for many people, and it’s no help to hear that unemployment rates are running on the higher side these days. However, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. had some good news for Orange County job seekers in the midyear update of its 2008 Economic Forecast and Industry outlook, released in July.
While there is no getting around the fact that Orange County has been losing jobs over the past couple of years, the LAEDC is projecting job growth in certain areas in 2008 and 2009. Among the areas tagged for growth are:
* Non-durable-goods manufacturing: A gain of 4,000 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 1,200 in 2009.
* Government: A gain of 2,400 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 1,900 in 2009.
* Health care and social assistance: A gain of 2,200 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 2,600 in 2009.
* Retail trade: A gain of 2,000 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 1,500 in 2009.
* Professional, scientific and technical services: A gain of 1,600 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 1,900 in 2009.
* Transportation and utilities: A gain of 700 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 800 in 2009.
* Educational services: A gain of 600 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 700 in 2009.
* Leisure and hospitality: A gain of 600 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 1,000 in 2009.
* Wholesale trade: A gain of 400 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 600 in 2009.
* Other services: A gain of 700 jobs in 2008 followed by a gain of 700 in 2009.

Anyone having success in gaining new employment in any of these industries? 

Any advice from those that are currently employed in these industries?

Please share….