Jobs in Orlando with Lockheed Martin Eliminated
One major local employer has eliminated nearly 50 jobs in Orlando.
Lockheed Martin Corporation recently announced that it has laid off 44 workers from the company's high-tech training unit in Orlando. The company said the layoffs from Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support were necessary because of a decline in workload.
Those who lost their jobs include local computer engineers who were responsible for working on certain military training-simulator programs, which are soon coming to an end; systems engineers; software engineers; and hardware engineers. The workers will receive outplacement help from an unnamed company, severance pay and some extension of benefits.
Jobs in Fort Lauderdale Lost
More than 1,000 jobs in Fort Lauderdale were lost recently as the city's unemployment rate continued to climb to match that of the nation.
During September, the Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach area saw its unemployment rate increase from 9.6 percent to 9.8 percent, following a decrease from July's rate of 9.7 percent. The area's current unemployment rate is now even with that of America as a whole.
The Fort Lauderdale area had a total non-farm employment of 736,400 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 737,900 workers during August and a 3.3 percent decrease from last year.
Energy Smart Jobs in Miami Expanded Across Florida
A new effort to become more green will help create thousands of jobs in Miami (Click here) and throughout the state.
President Barack Obama recently announced that the State of Florida will receive $200 million in federal stimulus funding in order to expand the Energy Smart Miami program throughout the state. The funding, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is part of the government's $23.4 billion effort to transition the nation to a smart grid system.
The program, dubbed Energy Smart Florida, is expected to create or retain more than 6,000 green jobs. It also will stimulate Florida's green economy, give residents more control over their energy usage and make Florida the model for smart grid implementation throughout the country.
Tampa Bay Jobs On the Decline
As the area's unemployment rate continued to climb, more Tampa Bay jobs were lost recently.
During September, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area saw its unemployment rate increase from 11.4 percent to 11.7 percent, which is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent. The area has not seen its unemployment rate decrease since April, when it went from 10.5 percent to 10.2 percent.
The area had a total non-farm employment of 1,161,700 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 1,162,200 workers during August and a 4.5 percent decrease from last year.
Redundant Criminal Background Checks May Cease for Florida Port Workers
Port workers with Florida jobs may soon be able to avoid undergoing costly and redundant criminal background checks.
Rep. Kathy Castor recently added a provision to a bill that would remove redundant background check requirements for workers and businesses in Florida's ports. The amendment prohibits states from requiring a separate security background check unless one is required for homeland security reasons.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives approved Castor's amendment to the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act. But because that bill is currently stalled in the Senate, Castor added the amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act, which was passed in the House of Representatives last week and will soon reach the Senate.
Outplacement Services Offered to Former Ocean Bank Employees
One local bank recently notified several Florida workers that they would soon be laid off.
Miami-based Ocean Bank told 78 employees last week that they would be losing their jobs. This layoff, combined with 33 employees that recently accepted voluntary severance, reduces the bank's total employee count to about 786 workers.
Those involved in the latest round of layoffs will be offered one week of severance payments for every year of service, outplacement services from an unnamed company and unused vacation pay. All of the employee reductions will result in about $4.3 million in savings per year.
Florida Jobs with the Vulnerable Get Background Check Review
State officials are making an effort to ensure that any workers with Florida jobs dealing with vulnerable people undergo background checks.
Gov. Charlie Crist recently announced his plan to convene some state agencies in charge of reviewing legal requirements for screening those who work in facilities that provide care to children, the elderly and those with disabilities.
Currently, only certain employees of some child daycare centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other residential care settings are required to pass criminal background checks before they are hired, leaving the chance that these places could potentially make costly and harmful hires.