So are there any bright spots?

Yes, actually. Health care added 29,000 jobs in October. Temporary employment services had steadily lost jobs in the beginning of the year, but in October they added 34,000 jobs. Companies have the need for more workers, but they’re cautious of adding new permanent employees. If the economy struggles again, they’d prefer to not renew temporary workers’ contracts rather than layoff a group of employees.

Two CareerBuilder.com experts were on TV to discuss the job numbers and the job outlook this morning.

First up, watch CEO Matt Ferguson on CNBC.

And senior career adviser Michael Erwin was on CBS 2 in Chicago. Watch that clip here.

You can also read the detailed, full report from the BLS on its site.

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This latest report also shed some light on discouraged workers:

Among the marginally attached, the number of discouraged workers in August (758,000) has nearly doubled over the past 12 months. Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The other 1.5 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in August had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

It seems many of the people we at The Work Buzz are hearing from these days are discouraged. They say there aren’t enough jobs, there aren’t the right jobs, there aren’t any jobs.

Yes, it is taking more time these days to find a job, but hopefully, we can help you fight that job seeker fatigue. For example, we told you this week about a new CBsalary tool that matches salaries to jobs.

Many of you tell us that you’ll take any job as long as it pays the bills. Here’s one way this tool might fit in. Say you need to earn $50,000 to support yourself and your family. Type in your location and that number and — voila! — you’ll receive a list of jobs that match that pay an average of $50,000 in your area.

While we’re on the subject, we thought we’d give you a list to start with. Here are 50 jobs that pay an average of $50,000 annually in the United States:

1. Millwrights
   Annual average earnings: $50,040*
2. Mechanical engineering technicians
   Annual average earnings: $50,070
3. Industrial engineering technicians
   Annual average earnings: $50,130
4. Vocational education teachers, middle school
   Annual average earnings: $50,150
5. Food service managers
   Annual average earnings: $50,400
6. Vocational education teachers, postsecondary
   Annual average earnings: $51,020
7. Dietitians and nutritionists
   Annual average earnings: $51,540
8. Pile-driver operators
   Annual average earnings: $51,650
9. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
   Annual average earnings: $51,960
10. Court reporters
    Annual average earnings: $52,150
11. Chemical plant and system operators
    Annual average earnings: $52,160
12. Construction and building inspectors
    Annual average earnings: $52,240
13. Elementary school teachers, except special education
    Annual average earnings: $52,550
14. Lodging managers
    Annual average earnings: $52,570
15. Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education
    Annual average earnings: $52,650
16. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
    Annual average earnings: $52,950
17. Forensic science technicians
    Annual average earnings: $52,970
18. Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school
    Annual average earnings: $53,090
19. Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents
    Annual average earnings: $53,100
20. Boilermakers
    Annual average earnings: $53,110
21. Sound engineering technicians
    Annual average earnings: $53,150
22. Respiratory therapists
    Annual average earnings: $53,170
23. Advertising sales agents
    Annual average earnings: $53,230
24. Radiologic technologists and technicians
    Annual average earnings: $53,410
25. Appraisers and assessors of real estate
    Annual average earnings: $53,460
26. Educational, vocational, and school counselors
    Annual average earnings: $53,540
27. Vocational education teachers, secondary school
    Annual average earnings: $53,760
28. Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists
    Annual average earnings: $53,960
29. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
    Annual average earnings: $53,990
30. Electrical and electronic engineering technicians
    Annual average earnings: $54,050
31. Medical and clinical laboratory technologists
    Annual average earnings: $54,120
32. Real estate sales agents
    Annual average earnings: $54,700
33. Librarians
    Annual average earnings: $54,750
34. Training and development specialists
    Annual average earnings: $54,840
35. Music directors and composers
    Annual average earnings: $54,840
36. Special education teachers, secondary school
    Annual average earnings: $55,140
37. Surveyors
    Annual average earnings: $56,030
38. Property, real estate, and community association managers
    Annual average earnings: $56,280
39. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
    Annual average earnings: $56,560
40. Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other
    Annual average earnings: $56,660
41. Legal support workers
    Annual average earnings: $57,060
42. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
    Annual average earnings: $57,080
43. Editors
    Annual average earnings: $57,300
44. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
    Annual average earnings: $57,630
45. Funeral directors
    Annual average earnings: $58,820
46. Public relations specialists
    Annual average earnings: $59,030
47. Sales representatives, services
    Annual average earnings: $59,150
48. Transportation inspectors
    Annual average earnings: $59,650
49. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators
    Annual average earnings: $59,780
50. Instructional coordinators
    Annual average earnings: $59,830

*National data according to the BLS

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Well, one day down; four to go, kids. In the meantime, here’s some reading material:

• Internships are about more than just getting coffee for the VP.
  Texas students find that Washington internships can open doors for jobs in future
• Are you to your company as Milton is to Office Space?
  How to be more social in the workplace
• This is one of those surveys that’s surprising…but not, if you know what I mean.
  Nobody Wants to Lead the Corporate Dance…

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• Thanks for the (work)buzz kill, NYT.
  Downturn Dims Prospects Even at Top Law Schools
• I’m not sure if I’m surprised by this survey’s findings or not…
  “Productivity Drain” Survey Finds That Many Employees Feel Productivity was a Casualty of the Recession
• Hmmm.
  Postal Service offers $15k to workers for quitting
• The financial industry is hiring already. That does surprise me.
  Hedge Funds Hiring Again After Downturn

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Here’s what you should be reading today:

• Not sure that these sorts of findings really change much, but they’re fun reads, nonetheless.
  Testosterone May Guide Women’s Careers
• Hopefully confidence translates into a better economy.
  Consumers more confident of economy, jobs
• A sad but realistic look at unemployment for some people.
  The Huge Gap Between a Dentist and a Job
• Nice, friendly reminder.
  Job seekers should keep references current

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• Credit problems can be a pain in the plastic, but maybe things aren’t so bad after all.
  Credit trends improve for most credit card issuers
• Further proof that Regis Philbin might save the world.
  Economy pushes game show contestants to play for keeps
• Our past haunts us! DA DA DUN!
  When a Background Check Reveals a Misdemeanor
• Job interviews are often pains in the neck, but some are worse than others.
  Extreme job interviews

See you bright and happy tomorrow, Work Buzzers!

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• A little tough love comin’ atcha.
  Didn’t get the job? Post-analysis is up to you.
• We’re always looking for a silver lining.
  Laid-off workers seize fresh start
• Dress codes really do cause more confusion and anxiety than most any other issue, I think.
  Bare legs or pantyhose at job Interviews?
• Of course, to get a silver lining,  you can’t avoid the rain cloud completely.
  Americans working much harder – for less pay

‘Til Wednesday!

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Just yesterday, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said she sees a bright future for green jobs, even though they’re taking a little longer to catch on with Americans.

Solis told The Associated Press that new government incentives will kick-start hiring in the fledgling industry as companies regain confidence and find it easier to borrow money.

“Once you start seeing more investments made in our economy recovering, as we stabilize and we get people back to work, then I think there’ll be more interest in expanding,” Solis said. “There’ll be more, hopefully, credit available for this expansion, because there will be more confidence because that’s what we’re lacking right now — that investment and confidence in the market.”

CareerBuilder has launched GoingGreenJobs.com to make it easier for job seekers to find careers that fall into the green jobs category. Of course the site makes it easier to look through postings for green job, but it also can serve as a resource for all this green. You can find info on green job fairs and events for job seekers. Also, you’ll find resources for writing resumes that are environmentally conscious.

Here on The Work Buzz, we–or I–like to reference tree huggers when I talk about green jobs just to lighten the mood. But if you look through GoingGreenJobs.com, you’ll see that Earth-friendly jobs exist in fields and industries you probably never thought about. The phrase “green jobs” might be a buzz term now, but the idea will stick around. So if you’re looking for a job, you might find that you’re qualified to have one of these professions and you didn’t even know it!

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But here are other stories worth reading:

• We’ll take signs of recovery anywhere we can find ‘em!
  U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Fall More Than Projected
• People helping people–nice story!
  Job seekers are forming groups to lend each other a hand — and support
• Hmm.
  Teller Fired For Foiling Robbery
• We reported on this guy a while back, and he’s still going!
  50 jobs, 50 states: Quest takes man to Brockton

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Here are the news items that didn’t get quite as much attention:

• I don’t think we highlight veterans enough, and I think this is a story worth telling.
  Economy Makes Job Search Tough For Vets
• Can I also sue my high school teacher seeing as I’ve never once used the Pythagorean Theorem?
  Jobless NYC woman sues college for $70K in tuition
• Now don’t you feel ashamed of yourself for counting down the days until retirement? Or, you know, the weekend?
  101-year-old Dallas-area lawyer Jack Borden honored as nation’s ‘Outstanding Oldest Worker’
• We like pop culture, and we like learning. Here’s what Paula Abdul (yes, Paula) can teach you. Though I don’t know if I agree with the conclusion.
  Paula Abdul’s salary negotiation problem

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