Tag: jobs

bookmark_borderPhiladelphia Unemployment Rate

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PHILADELPHIA, PA —

According to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate in Philadelphia declined to 6.5% for April 2015, down from 7.1% in March 2015 and 7.5% for April 2014.  In addition, the number of jobs in Philadelphia increased by 4,300 from March to April to 687,100, the highest number for April since 2001 and 10,900 more jobs than April 2014.  By comparison the number of jobs in Philadelphia in January 2008 was 652,100, 35,000 fewer jobs than today.

 

“Philadelphia is on the rise and our Administration is focused on ensuring that all Philadelphians share in this prosperity,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter.  “There are more Philadelphians working today than at any point for almost 25 years, and Philadelphia has recovered from the recession faster than the country as a whole.  We are strengthening our efforts to support business growth and attract new companies to a city that is gaining an unprecedented level of attention.”

 

Other highlights from the recent BLS data include:

 

  • The number of Philadelphians employed increased by 6,795 to 643,557.  Highest number since December 1990.
  • The number of Philadelphians unemployed decreased by 3,841 to 44,690 and the size of the labor force grew by 2,954.
  • State and National unemployment rates continue to hover 20% above their 2007 levels, while Philadelphia’s unemployment rate in April is lower than it was in January 2007.  Philadelphia has returned to its pre-recession level of unemployment faster than the state or the nation as a whole.

 

“The latest employment data is very encouraging and is a reflection of a city that is growing and thriving,” said Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development.  “By supporting the growth of existing businesses through programs such as 10,000 Small Businesses and Kiva City Philadelphia, attracting new companies, and undertaking major new developments such as the $350 million renovation of the Gallery, we are working every day to create new jobs and economic opportunities for all Philadelphians.”

bookmark_borderLux Coming To Philly

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Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that Lux Products Corporation, an innovative HVAC controls company formerly based in New Jersey, has relocated its headquarters to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The company’s employees settled into their new Philadelphia location as of April 1st.

“Lux Products joins the increasing number of companies choosing to start, stay and grow in Philadelphia and we could not be more excited to welcome their team to our city,” said Mayor Nutter. “With our unemployment rate back to pre-recession levels and more jobs created in the city last year than any time since 2000, Philadelphia’s economy is on the rise.”

Lux is a privately held company based in the U.S. with a sales, marketing, logistics, customer service and technical support center in Philadelphia, PA and distribution center in Laredo, Texas. Lux is the second largest retail brand of thermostats, having sold more than 10 million thermostats, and regularly winning a “Best Buy” rating from well-regarded consumer magazines.

“The Navy Yard is an exciting blend of past, present and future,” notes Rob Munin, newly appointed President of Lux Products. “For Lux it is the perfect location for us to plant our flag and look forward; the Navy Yard campus mirrors our own commitment to smart energy innovation and sustainability, we’re very excited for what this means for our brands and our customers.”

The Philadelphia Navy Yard is home to a growing number of companies with approximately 11,000 people now working at the former military base. The Navy Yard offers a unique urban location mixed with historic buildings and modern architecture, renovated and built for today’s high performance technologies and LEED® certifications all along Philadelphia’s waterfront.

“The Navy Yard is the perfect place for Lux Products’ new headquarters,” said John Grady, President of PIDC, which manages the Navy Yard. “We are delighted to welcome them to Philadelphia. By relocating to The Navy Yard, Lux Products joins the many sustainability focused companies on the campus and gains the space to continue to innovate and grow.”

According to the latest preliminary employment information released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for February 2015, there are more jobs in Philadelphia than for any February since 2001. In addition, Philadelphia added more jobs last year than any year since 2000.

“In the last few months we have welcomed HOK, Hill International, Integrichain, American Bible Society, and now Lux Products to Philadelphia,” said Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. “These decisions and investments are a vote of confidence in our city and a signal to the marketplace that Philadelphia is a great choice for companies looking to grow, attract talent, and be part of a dynamic, innovative economy. I want to thank all of our partners for their continued efforts to create jobs and bring new companies to Philadelphia.”

bookmark_borderMontco Radio New Studio Grand Opening

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Montco Radio, the student-run Internet radio station at Montgomery County Community College officially opened its new studio in the Advanced Technology Center, Blue Bell, during a ribbon cutting celebration on March 13.

Streaming live 24/7 via the Internet, Montco Radio provides Digital Audio Production majors — as well as students from all areas of study — with hands-on radio experience both on the air and behind the scenes.

Speaking at the ribbon cutting, College President Dr. Karen A. Stout called Montco Radio “a model for the integration of curricular and co-curricular student involvement on campus.”

“Montco Radio is unique in that it brings together students from all backgrounds and majors to share their passions with a worldwide audience over the Internet,” she said.

Student Manager Chelsea Epstein notes that Montco Radio offers something for everyone.

“We have programs that range from rock, metal, punk pop, a local music show that broadcasts a live band every week, to barbershop quartet. We even have a DJ from Italy who does her show in Italian and now even broadcasts from Italy when she visits there,“ she said.

Epstein, who completed internships with Clear Channel Philadelphia, believes the work she’s doing at MCCC will prepare her for a career in the field.

“Being a station manager is a great feeling because I really want to work in radio when I’m done school,” she said. “It’s really great to put everything I learned into the brand new [Montco Radio] station.”

Morgan Betz, Montco Radio co-advisor and assistant professor of communications, works very closely with the students and experienced their reactions to the new studio first hand.

“The students love the new space. It is truly a state- of-the-art professional environment where students can get hands-on experience that will help them in their future careers,” he said.

Betz notes that students are involved many aspects of Montco Radio, whether it be hosting their own shows, being a DJ, engineer, creating PSAs, organizing events, helping with Music Mondays and Wednesdays, or providing live sound for other College events.

“Students can go to professional radio stations already trained on the equipment they use there every day,” he shared.

Radio at MCCC dates back to the late 1960s, when it began as a student club to DJ music on campus. In the early 1970s, the station gained audience when it began broadcasting in the College Hall cafeteria at the Central Campus in Blue Bell. The station began broadcasting on the Internet in 2003, and in 2008, the College began offering Campus Radio Workshops I and II, resulting in more professional content.

Today, Montco Radio can be heard internationally on the Internet by visiting www.montcoradio.com or by clicking the green microphone icon on the lower left corner of the College’s website, www.mc3.edu.

Montco Radio Co-Advisor and Communications Lecturer Jeff Asch, who is also a news and sports anchor for KYW NewsRadio, hopes the new studio, located in the heart of MCCC’s Advanced Technology Center, will promote student interest in the station.

“We wanted a bigger studio to accommodate multiple show hosts and guests,” he explained. “The new facility allows the Montgomery County Community College community to see us in action, as well as being able to see out onto campus and the lobby of the Advanced Technology Center.”

“I think it gives our students the opportunity to learn and hone their skills in radio on state of the art equipment and in a professional environment.”

by Christine Muszynski