Job Market
Cities work to lure remote tech workers
Some tech workers are ditching San Francisco and other areas with high living costs and relocating to more affordable areas instead. And many cities are rolling out the red carpet, aiming to attract highly skilled workers, along with the knowledge and tax revenues they bring with them.
Many cities offer relocation bonuses and other perks to entice remote workers. Why should you choose Tulsa over Memphis? Well, for one, Tulsa could pay you $10,000 to move. The cities that are most aggressively courting remote workers have suffered contracting or slow-growing populations. By drawing in new workers, cities hope to grow their tax base and attract high-value industries, such as tech and engineering.
Tulsa is running one of the best-known programs, offering remote workers $10,000 grants and free access to co-working spaces. The local government also coordinates with other organizations to host events and to help newcomers feel welcomed. Since 2018, Tulsa Remote has drawn in over 1,200 remote workers.
Tulsa is far from alone. At least 70 cities and regions have set up similar programs. The Northwest Arkansas Council launched a Life Works Here initiative, also providing $10,000 grants. Tuscon, Arizona, provides $1,500 to cover relocation costs, plus other benefits. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Ohio, is offering STEM workers who relocate $10,000 that can be put towards paying off student loans.
Freelancing website UpWork estimates that 22 percent of the American workforce, over 36 million people, will be working remotely by 2025. An Owl Labs study found that 16 percent of companies are already fully remote globally. Even as offices open back up, the Pew Research Center has found that 61 percent of employees continue to work from home simply because they prefer to do so.
Business
How to attract millennial employees
According to a survey by Deloitte, by 2025, 75 percent of the workforce will be made up of millennials. As an employer, you must learn this generation’s motivations, needs and expectations to attract, engage and keep them in your company. Here are five things to consider.
1. Highlight values. Millennials want to work for a company with values that align with theirs. For them, a job isn’t just about a paycheck. It’s very much about having a purpose and making a difference.
2. Create flexibility. Millennial candidates are looking for a job that offers a work-life balance. For example, they’ll prioritize companies that offer remote or hybrid work schedules.
3. Prioritize advancement. Career progression is a top priority for millennial workers. They’re much more likely to stay at a company if they feel upper management is invested in their careers. Ensure you have strategies and policies in place to facilitate career progression.
4. Offer continued learning opportunities. Millennials want to advance and learn new things to progress in their careers. They’ll seek out employers who can provide these opportunities. Investing in training and development can help catch and keep their attention.
5. Embrace technology. Technology is essential to the millennial workforce. Therefore, integrating popular technologies and platforms into your business can give you a decisive edge in attracting this generation.
Ensure your company continues to grow and thrive by appealing to millennial employees.
Job Market
Why upskilling and reskilling are so important
The terms upskilling and reskilling became buzzwords at the start of the pandemic. Upskilling is about improving an employee’s existing skill set to grow in their current role. In contrast, reskilling focuses on retraining an employee for a new position or discipline. Here are some of the benefits of each.
Upskilling
Upskilling focuses on helping employees learn future-forward skills. Organizations can fill open positions with members of their current workforce. As demand for new skills increases, upskilling can allow an organization to develop the skills needed to remain competitive.
Reskilling
The World Economic Forum estimates that half of all employees worldwide will require reskilling by 2025 due to technological advancement. Reskilling can help increase a company’s bottom line by bringing out its employees’ full potential.
Both reskilling and upskilling strategies help your company foster a culture of learning in the workplace and help your employees adapt seamlessly to change.
Job Market
Pharmacy nurse: an exciting profession
Pharmacies offer numerous nursing services, so a pharmacy nurse’s daily life is never dull. Are you exploring careers in the health sector and looking for a stimulating job with multiple duties? The profession may vary depending on where you live, but here are some tasks you may have to carry out as a pharmacy nurse.
• Give vaccines. This responsibility might include vaccinations for local health needs like flu, HPV, or chicken pox. It can also involve immunizations for people planning to travel to exotic destinations.
• Deliver health care. Health-related services might include treating warts, changing bandages, removing stitches, and cleaning ears.
• Provide medical advice. Advice may be related to the general health and well-being of the patient. For example, pharmacy nurses can guide and support individuals trying to lose weight or quit smoking. They may also provide information on monitoring blood pressure or managing diabetes.
• Administer tests. Pharmacy nurses are trained to take samples, like blood and urine, for testing to screen for medical conditions.
Does a career as a pharmacy nurse interest you? Explore the training opportunities offered in your area. You may find the perfect career.
Job Market
Wind turbine technician: a career of the future
If you want a challenging career in green technology, consider becoming a wind turbine service technician. Also known as windtechs, these skilled workers install, maintain and repair wind turbines.
Duties
Windtechs test and troubleshoot wind turbines’ electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems and inspect the towers for structural soundness. They service wind field substations, underground transmission systems, fiber optic sensing, and control systems. Windtechs also collect data for research and analysis.
Training
Wind turbine technicians typically study wind energy technology at a technical school. They must also complete at least one year of on-the-job training with a contractor to learn to work with specific wind turbine models. Training covers electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, and braking systems and computer and programmable logic processes. Windtechs are also trained in rescue, first aid, and CPR.
Additional requirements
Windtechs work outdoors, often in challenging weather conditions. They climb great heights and rappel on ropes. They’re expected to handle emergency calls on evenings and weekends. Traveling to wind farms, typically in rural areas, is another aspect of the job.
Visit a college in your area to discover what green technology careers to try.
Job Market
Why your business needs to adopt eLearning
As more people work from home, skills development becomes increasingly challenging for businesses. Training delivered through a digital platform called eLearning can be an effective tool to support your employees and gain buy-in. Here are some good reasons to adopt eLearning.
1. Competitive edge with employees. More people are demanding flexible work arrangements. Online training through learning management systems (LMS) helps you meet employees’ expectations while ensuring they have the necessary tools to meet your organization’s goals.
2. Cost savings. Traditional training programs are costly, requiring employees to take full-day, in-person workshops, sometimes requiring travel. With eLearning, you optimize your training budget and minimize downtime.
3. Built-in measuring tools. Measuring impact is a vital element of any training program. Digital learning programs track progress, log course completion and evaluate test scores.
4. Increased efficiency. The benefits of eLearning modules last long after the training is complete. If problems or questions arise later, users can log into the LMS for fast solutions, reducing downtime and increasing response times.
Explore the many eLearning opportunities available to support employers and employees.
Job Market
3 excellent reasons to become a pharmacist
Are you looking for a career in healthcare so you can help the people in your community? Have you considered a career as a pharmacist? Here are three excellent reasons to choose this profession.
1. You’ll become part of a network of caregivers
As a pharmacist, you’ll work with your customers’ physicians to ensure you provide the most appropriate medications. It may involve substituting one product for another in exceptional situations, such as a supply shortage or drug allergy.
2. You’ll be continuously learning
The variety of tasks pharmacists must perform is constantly expanding. From filling prescriptions to prescribing and administering drugs and beyond, you’ll continue to refine your skills and knowledge.
3. You’ll have multiple career options
If you’re motivated by career advancement, this worthy profession opens many doors. You could work in a hospital, conduct research in a lab or join a family medicine group, to name a few.
If this career appeals to you, explore training programs near you to learn how to get started.
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