The number of Vegas transportation jobs is getting larger, according to various reports.

Nationwide, job prospects are climbing as well.

About 22 percent of employers plan to add staff, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today by ManpowerGroup. According to the seasonally adjusted survey results, the Net Employment Outlook for Quarter 3 2013 is +12%, up from +11% during Quarter 2 2013 and the same period last year.

“Continued uncertainty plays a critical role in hiring decisions, and employers are forced to function in a fast-moving business environment where local and global events impact employment strategies more than ever before,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup President. “These new market conditions require employers to think differently about workforce models and the talent they need for business success. Many economic indicators pointed toward measured optimism during the first half of the year, and our third quarter data show a rise in hiring intentions that demonstrates improved demand for products and services.”

In addition:

employers Increasing Staff Levels: According to seasonally adjusted data, the overall percentage of anticipated hiring increases is at 22 percent for Quarter 3 2013. This is the highest percentage of employers projecting an increase in hiring since before 2009.

• Strength in Industry Sectors: Employers in two industry sectors convey notable national growth for Quarter 3 2013.

o Construction employers anticipate a moderate increase in hiring in Quarter 3 2013, with the Net Employment Outlook rising 8 percentage points compared with Q2 2013. The Construction industry sector last surpassed the current Outlook of +18% in Quarter 3 2007.

o Employers in the Leisure & Hospitality industry sector also indicate a moderate increase in hiring in Quarter 3 2013 with an Outlook increase of 6 percentage points. The Leisure & Hospitality industry sector’s Outlook for Quarter 3 2012 is 30%. This rivals the previous strongest Outlook in the Leisure & Hospitality industry sector, which was last seen one year ago.

For Quarter 3 2013, employers have a positive Outlook in all 13 industry sectors included in the survey: Leisure & Hospitality (+30%), Wholesale & Retail Trade (+20%), Mining (+18%), Construction (+18%), Professional & Business Services (+18%), Transportation & Utilities (+17%), Financial Activities (+15%), Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (+14%), Durable Goods Manufacturing (+13%), Information (+12%), Other Services (+10%), Government (+9%) and Education & Health Services (+6%). When the industry sector data is compared quarter-over-quarter, employers in the Construction, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Leisure & Hospitality sectors anticipate a moderate hiring increase, while employers in the Mining, Transportation & Utilities, Financial Activities and Government sectors look for the hiring pace to slightly increase. Staff levels are expected to remain relatively stable among employers in six industry sectors: Durable Goods Manufacturing, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Information, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services and Other Services.

Vegas continues to have poor job numbers, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it also has one of the highest unemployment rates.

Of the 49 metropolitan areas with a Census 2000 population of 1 million or more,
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev., and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., had
the highest unemployment rates in April, 9.6 percent each. Oklahoma City, Okla.,
had the lowest jobless rate among the large areas, 4.1 percent. Forty-two of the
large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, four had increases,
and three had no change. The largest unemployment rate declines occurred in
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., and Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville,
Calif. (-2.0 percentage points each). Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark., had the largest
over-the-year jobless rate increase in a large area.

Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates in
April, at 30.3 percent and 24.0 percent, respectively. Midland, Texas, had the
lowest unemployment rate, 3.0 percent. A total of 213 areas had April
unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 7.1 percent, 153 areas had rates
above it, and 6 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

El Centro, Calif., had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in
April (-3.9 percentage points). Seventeen other areas had rate declines of at
least 2.0 percentage points, and an additional 66 areas had declines of at least
1.0 point. Yuma, Ariz., had the largest over-the-year jobless rate increase
(+4.0 percentage points). The next largest increases were in Decatur, Ill., and
Eau Claire, Wis.

Eleven of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 34 metropolitan
divisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In
April, Lawrence-Methuen-Salem, Mass.-N.H., had the highest jobless rate among
the divisions, 10.6 percent. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash., had the lowest
jobless rate, 4.5 percent.

Twenty-six of the metropolitan divisions had over-the-year jobless rate
decreases in April, while five had increases and three had no change. Seattle-
Bellevue-Everett, Wash., had the largest rate decline from a year earlier (-2.1
percentage points). Seven other divisions had rate decreases of 1.0 percentage
point or more. Gary, Ind., had the largest unemployment rate increase from a
year earlier (+0.6 percentage point).

Many employers are optimistic about the regrowth of Vegas jobs, according to a recent survey from the Conference Board.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved in April, increased again in May. The Index now stands at 76.2 (1985=100), up from 69.0 in April.

Consumers’ appraisal of present-day conditions improved in May. Those saying business conditions are “good” increased to 18.8 percent from 17.5 percent, while those stating business conditions are “bad” decreased to 26.0 percent from 27.6 percent. Consumers’ assessment of the labor market was also more positive. Those claiming jobs are “plentiful” increased to 10.8 percent from 9.7 percent, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” edged down to 36.1 percent from 36.9 percent.

Consumers were considerably more optimistic about the short-term outlook. Those expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months increased to 19.2 percent from 17.2 percent, while those expecting business conditions to worsen decreased to 12.1 percent from 14.8 percent.

Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was also more upbeat. Those expecting more jobs in the months ahead improved to 16.8 percent from 14.3 percent, while those expecting fewer jobs decreased to 19.7 percent from 21.8 percent. The proportion of consumers expecting their incomes to increase dipped slightly to 16.6 percent from 16.8 percent, while those expecting a decrease edged down to 15.3 percent from 15.9 percent.

Says Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board: “Consumer Confidence posted another gain this month and is now at a five-year high (Feb. 2008, Index 76.4). Consumers’ assessment of current business and labor-market conditions was more positive and they were considerably more upbeat about future economic and job prospects. Back-to-back monthly gains suggest that consumer confidence is on the mend and may be regaining the traction it lost due to the fiscal cliff, payroll-tax hike, and sequester.”

With the promotion of a key members, one company has created more real estate jobs in Vegas.

The Ballen Group of Keller Williams, team of Las Vegas Short Sale Specialists, has promoted Tom Wirt to CEO.

Lori Ballen and her husband Richard Ballen manage the  Las Vegas Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas. As Las Vegas Short Sale Specialists, Lori and her team focus on distressed properties and residential real estate in Nevada.

They are also looking to fill more real estate jobs. The Ballen Group is seeking additional talent for the team as well including buyer specialists, listing agents, short sale processors, administrative and marketing staff, and a web master.

Lori Ballen, Leader of The Ballen Group says, “We are excited to have Tom Wirt leading our Las Vegas Real Estate team. Tom always has our client’s best interest in mind and their number one goal is his number one goal. He is a natural leader, a determined individual, and is great with the details.”

Tom has been with The Ballen Group since April of 2011 and quickly became the teams “go to” person for advice, leadership, and training.

The Ballen Group has been recognized for top achievements in Listings, Production, and marketing.

The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance has hired a key person for executive jobs in Vegas.

Kathy Parker has been appointed to the position of Senior Executive Administrator and Free Trade Zone Coordinator.

The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, previously known as the Nevada Development Authority, is Southern Nevada’s economic development agency. For 57 years, it has continued to diversify and improve the economy of Southern Nevada. For more information, call 702.791.0000 or visit www.lvgea.org. The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance is located in The InNEVation Center powered by Switch.

Switch is the world’s most reliable technology ecosystem, in the country’s safest desert. Switch is a Nevada-based technology ecosystem that includes the Switch SuperNAP, a 407,000-square-foot facility that houses the servers of Google, VMWare, HP, Intuit, eBay, Zappos, and many more. The SuperNAP has gained global attention through its use of patented technology to house servers at a density that far surpasses industry standards, with additional safeguards provided by armed security and Las Vegas’ unique geography as a city free from natural disasters.

A company with a lot of data relating to jobs took a closer look to determine if HR jobs in Vegas are growing, and if HR jobs nationwide are on a steady climb.

The Wanted Analytics found that over the past 90 days, more than 14,000 jobs ads for human resources professionals specified that candidates would need either a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification or a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

This is an 8.5% increase in the number of jobs that specify this certification in their ads. This only represents about 7% of all HR-related job ads posted online during the past 90 days.

It’s likely that employers will find positions that require these certifications hard-to-fill. Nationally, this requirement scores a 78 on the Hiring Scale. (The Hiring Scale ranges from 1-99, with 99 representing the most difficult market conditions.)

The best location in the US to find potential candidates with SPHR’s or PHR’s is Eugene, Oregon. Although Eugene doesn’t necessarily have the largest talent pool in the US, it has just a few open positions.

Employers that are able to source candidates from this area are likely to experience very little competition from other companies trying to attract the same candidates.

With the addition of a new employee, one Nevada company has created Vegas training jobs.

Vegas PBS, which expands its television broadcast impact through supplemental materials on Vegas PBS.org, PBSKids.org, PBSKidsGO.org, PBSParents.org and PBSParents.org, said this week that Jami Miller has been appointed Workforce Training and Economic Development Coordinator for the television station.

The economy is expanding, and one recent sign is the fact that one company has created real estate jobs in Vegas.

Commerce added three new brokers to its roster, Sharon Beesley, Adam Collins and Curtis Sanders—all of whom joined the company from the NAI Global Las Vegas office.

A recent labor poll shows that the economic situation, including Vegas jobs, is looking up.

The Vegas job market is predicted to be much stronger, according to a Manpower analysis.

Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA employers expect to hire at a healthy pace during Quarter 2 2013.

Job prospects appear best in Construction, Transportation & Utilities, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Other Services and Government. Employers in Durable Goods Manufacturing plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in Nondurable Goods Manufacturing and Wholesale & Retail Trade is expected to remain unchanged.

“Hiring activity is expected to improve considerably during the second quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2013 when the Net Employment Outlook was 3%,” said Manpower spokesperson Andy Katz. “Employers also expect much more robust employment prospects compared with one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 5%.”

From April to June, 22% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 6% expect to reduce staff. Another 69% expect to maintain their current workforce levels and 3% are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook* of 16%.

Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed in the United States, 18 percent expect to add to their workforces, and 5 percent expect a decline in their payrolls during Quarter 2 2013. Seventy-three percent of employers anticipate making no change to staff levels, and the remaining four percent of employers are undecided about their hiring plans. When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the Net Employment Outlook is +11%, stable compared to the Quarter 1 2013 Net Employment Outlook of 12%.