Good news for contractors: Short to medium term outlook looks good for umbrella company contractors

Good news for contractors: Short to medium term outlook looks good for umbrella company contractors

Good news for contractors; the latest Jobs Outlook report from REC shows that the overall jobs outlook is varied but in the short to medium term the demand for temporary agency workers is actually set to increase.

85% of contractor employers surveyed said they either plan to maintain the amount of contractors they employ or in fact increase the number.

In such a competitive post recession job market, flexible working options such as contract work is a great work opportunity for job seekers looking to get back into employment.

The Jobs Outlook report also outlines:

• 6% of employers are planning to decrease the number of permanent employees within the next 3 months.
• 26% of employers intend to increase their workforce over the next 12 months.
• Two thirds of employers insist they will keep staffing at the same levels they are at presently.

In conclusion I believe this report justifies that employers still feel wary due to the post recession recovering economy however businesses are now starting to gain confidence in the market and looking towards renewed commitment to using agency workers. This definitely sends a positive message as to the importance of the UK’s umbrella company contractors., making it a good alternative for people looking for new methods of entering the job market.

For more information contact Danbro Umbrella Service on:
Head Office: 01253 600140
London Office: 0207 836 84000
Manchester Office: 0161 228 7841

or visit www.danbro.co.uk

If you’re a contract or temporary worker looking for expert advice on a payroll or accounting solution tailored to your individual needs, call us today.

About the Author

Danbro is a firm of award winning Chartered Management Accountants, providing specialist accountancy and payroll services to contractors and freelancers throughout the UK.

FAS-TV #39 Contracting as the Glamour Life 030511

How Construction Contractors Get Rich

The perfect business is one that generates money while its owner sleeps. That’s not literally possible for most businesses, but it perfectly demonstrates the two primary goals of most business owners: (1) maximize wealth and (2) break free from their business.

Businesses do not create wealth and freedom by accident. They happen because its owner creates systems that turned the business into a well-oiled machine. Have you systematized the six primary functions your business needs to succeed?

• Marketing
• Selling
• Staffing
• Planning
• Tracking
• Financial Control

After looking at the six, you may think you have systematized your Construction Business, but a better test is to look at the subsystems that make up the six systems. To help you develop a clearer picture of the activities your company should be performing, here’s a look under the hood of these six essential business systems at the subsystems that make them go.

MARKETING

The purpose of your marketing system is to produce a flood of qualified sales leads. You need systems for:

-Generating leads from new customers.
-Generating leads from existing customers.
-Prodding referrals from existing customers.
-Collecting testimonials.
-Staying in touch with your customers.
-Publicizing your business.
-Developing new advertising pieces.

SELLING

The purpose of your selling system (and you need to think of selling as a system) is to get commitments from buyers to hire you. The selling subsystems are a combination of sales tasks, motivation, and development. You need systems for:

-Assigning and prioritizing leads.
-Qualifying leads.
-Following up with prospects.
-Creating proposals and presentations.
-Processing orders.
-Following up with customers after their project is finished.
-Motivating the pursuit and procurement of profitable sales.
-Improving selling skills.
-Networking.
-Strengthening your customer relationships.

STAFFING

The purpose of your staffing system is to get the right people in your company and get them placed in the right jobs so that they are successful individually and as a group. You need systems for:

-Advertising openings.
-Interviewing.
-Creating and updating job descriptions.
-Communicating performance expectations.
-Monitoring market wage rates.
-Dismissing non-performers.
-Developing employees’ skills.
-Rewarding good performance.
-Selecting the right people for promotion.

PLANNING

The purpose of your planning systems is to eliminate negative surprises by solving problems before they arise. You need systems for:

-Determining which markets you are going to pursue.
-Creating your annual budget.
-Creating a cash flow budget.
-Increasing your bonding capacity.
-Planning project completion.
-Scheduling your work crews.
-Determining when to buy equipment.

TRACKING

The purpose of tracking systems is to make sure your business is performing as you need it to. Your tracking system should be monitoring the following items:

-Expenses vs. budget (job and company).
-Revenue vs. budget.
-Gross profit vs. budget (job and company).
-Labor productivity (job and company).
-Advertising effectiveness.
-Selling effectiveness.
-On-time completion.
-Employee performance.
-Equipment costs.
-Labor time by primary tasks.
-Receivables outstanding.
-Sales backlog.
-Safety efforts and lost time injuries.
-Estimating accuracy.
-Mark-up success.
-Re-work.

FINANCIAL CONTROL

The purpose of financial control systems is to make sure that your business is on solid financial ground. You need systems for:

-Developing relationships with bankers.
-Developing relationships with bond and insurance agents.
-Qualifying and evaluating your CPA.
-Getting the proper business licenses.
-Processing payroll.
-Making scheduled federal and state tax payments.
-Managing your cash.
-Verifying money is not being improperly removed from the company.
-Verifying suppliers’ bills are legitimate.
-Collecting late receivables.
-Paying bills are on time.
-Paying employees properly.
-Filing liens and claims.
-Collecting employee information.
-Sending out 1099s.
-Getting proper insurance coverage.
-Verifying lease terms and payments are proper.
-Building and managing your credit line.

Until you get all of these subsystems in place and your people trained on how to perform them properly, you will be a slave to your business and your personal wealth will be severely limited.

About the Author

Ron Roberts runs a coaching practice that shows contractors how to build strong, profitable businesses. Pick up his free report, The 10 Biggest Mistakes Contractors Make, and sign up for his weekly Contractor Best Practices Newsletter at
http://www.filthyrichcontractor.com
.

Lower Initial Jobless Claims Hide Surging Unemployment

By Don Miller
Contributing Writer
Money Morning

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 94,000 last week, the biggest drop in 16 years, the U.S. Labor Department said today (Wednesday).  However, the data was almost certainly skewed by a shortened Christmas week, as continuing total jobless rolls surged to their highest levels since 1982.

“The underlying picture is terrible for the labor market,” said Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at Maria Fiorini Ramirez Inc. in New York. The initial claims figures were “distorted by some sort of breakdown in the seasonal adjustment process, with the holidays,” he told Bloomberg News.

A look at the unadjusted unemployment data paints a clearer picture of the economic slowdown.  The number of initial unadjusted claims increased to 718,468, up 1,892 from the previous week. That total is up by a whopping 200,000 claims or nearly 40% from 2007.

While the seasonally adjusted numbers showed a surprising drop, they continue to support an alarming rise in the number of people who are losing their jobs, signaling a worsening labor market as the economy heads into the second year of a recession.

Initial claims for jobless benefits fell by 94,000 to a seasonally adjusted 492,000 in the week ended Dec. 27 from an unrevised 586,000 the week before.  But the number of continuing claims, drawn by workers on benefit rolls for more than one week, surged by to 4.506 million, the highest level in 26 years.

“Given that these data cover the Christmas holiday and a period of winter storms that may have prevented people from filing, we are not reading much into this decline in jobless claims. At this point, we look for a 500,000 decline in nonfarm payrolls in December and a rise in the unemployment rate to 7.0% from 6.7%,” RDQ Economics told the Wall Street Journal.  

Extended shutdowns by automakers also contributed to the distortions.Auto-parts makers and suppliers are firing more workers as General Motors Corp. (GM). and Chrysler LLC seek government funds to continue operations. Auto industry sales in November were the lowest since 1982.

It’s not hard to guess where the biggest jumps in unemployment claims were either.  The roll of states with the biggest jumps in claims are led by California, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana – all places suffering from debilitating slumps in home construction and auto manufacturing.

Jobless claims will almost certainly continue to rise, as U.S. automakers expand their traditional holiday shutdowns to clear out inventory. Ford  (F) and General Motors recently shuttered 29 of 35 assembly plants until at least the first week in January, while Chrysler idled all 30 of its plants on Dec. 17 for a full month.

And now at least one large auto-parts maker will follow their lead, and close plants. Southfield, Michigan-based auto parts supplier Federal-Mogul Corp. (FDML), controlled by billionaire Carl Icahn, will cut 4,600 jobs worldwide.  The layoffs come on top of 4,000 jobs cut in September.

“We continue to take actions in response to the ongoing significant downturn in regional markets and global industry outlook,” Chief Executive Officer Jose Marie Alapont said in the statement on Dec 19, according to Bloomberg News.

Through November, U.S. job losses have totaled 1.9 million.  Unemployment rolls are likely to continue to rise next year, as many economists forecast the jobless rate to hit 9.0% by the end of 2009 from 6.7% last month.

Read More

Investment News

About the Author

Don Miller is an Contributing Writer at Money Morning

Working for a real estate agent: Is this acceptable?

None of this is currently in place but I want to investigate the situation. I do not have a real estate license.

Each state is a little bit different

But in general you would first have to contract with the Broker on record and not the agent; the agent in majority of states have no power by themselves in the real estate deal, all the authority comes from the Broker the agent is merely an employee of the Broker, the actual sales agreement is between the Broker and the seller not the seller and the agent

to wit, unless you are a licensed real estate agent in that state you may not receive a commission on the sale period; so your pay out could not be a % of the sales price

I guess you could for a flat fee go out and identify potential sellers and deliver that list to an agent without getting the broker involved but you could not use the name of the real estate agency in any of your dealings with the potential sellers , and not sure how much an agent would pay for such a list but people do pay for list of potential sellers or even buyers

What are “General Conditions” on a Building Project? (www.AutoBuilders.net)

which security position should i take?

i work security for a contractor company full time as a regular security officer and in house security part time as a regular officer. the contractor company offered me a fill in supervisor position which would pay 12.50 but i would have to quit the in house security job which pays 13.00. should i take the fill in supervisor since i would be getting supervisor experience or should i keep in house security job hoping that full time position opens up?

what is 12.50 and 13.00? do you mean $1250 / $1300 per month or $12.50 / $13.00 per hour?

Jobs Galore in Dubai

One of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. It is world’s one area, which has reflected the rise and fall of the world economy over the last decade perfectly. This place is a major attraction on the worldwide market. There are several reasons attributed for this attraction. The most important of them is flourishing property market that lured property investors which resulted in the loosening of the local economy. Unfortunately, global recession during last few years snatched the sheen from this sector which in turn impacted the job market. But slowly and steadily it is regaining its balance and financial stability thus creating new investments, new businesses and consequently new jobs in Dubai are coming up. Dubai is a great place to live and work in, mainly because it is a tax free state.

It is vital to have an employment opportunity here before visiting the state, if one wishes to move there for work permanently or temporarily. There is a sponsorship system in Dubai for those who are seeking employment or wish to own a business here. One needs to have a sponsor which can either be a person or an organization. There are several companies that offer sponsorship in return for remuneration. The Sponsor is responsible for the candidate while he is in Dubai and acts as a guardian and guarantor for all paperwork pertaining to applying for a visit visa or a resident visa, whichever is applicable. Certain guarantees and obligations are required in case of any potential problems during the candidate’s stay in Dubai. For temporary and permanent jobs, more and more expatriates visit Dubai that results in an increase in the number of placement agencies in the area. To get Dubai jobs, one has to start by contacting headhunters and recruitment agencies. Cold contacting is also one of the methods of job hunting. It is one of the most feared but at the same time most effective methods to find jobs in Dubai.

A variety of opportunities are available in Dubai jobs sector. Some of them are related to Engineering, Information Technology, Hospitality, Finance and Accounts, electrical, customer service, Administration, Management, Sales and Marketing, etc. Expert consultants are available in Dubai who can guide qualified candidates and secure suitable and professional jobs. Since the economy is in recovery mode, jobs in Dubai are robust and extensive. There are different types of job opportunities that are available in Dubai. The temporary job scene is also very good and thriving. Temporary jobs are basically short term contracts and were initially famous as they were offered to migratory labor. Now these jobs are also available in the oil industry, off shore oil exploration sites, ship building and repairs, Construction Industry, IT and education industry, hospitality industry, etc. Temporary workers are mainly hired from outside Dubai by local agencies on behalf of the parent concern. Due to the boom in Construction Business, more and more temporary workers are needed and they are usually from neighboring countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Africa, etc.

There are placement agencies that hire people who are educated and skilled and work as nurses, doctors, engineers, secretaries, executives, teachers, accounting personnel, etc. In most instances, people hired do not pay any charges to these agencies. These are usually paid by the companies hiring employees. These charges vary on the basis of cadre or the level of the employee and the amount is fixed beforehand only. A variety of freelance jobs in Dubai have also come up. Some of these jobs are data entry, accounting, content writing, logo designing, writing, online surveys, etc. People working as freelancers have no fixed working hours or specific work location. They may work from home or their own office or in their current country of residence.

Compensation is paid to them in the form of percentage commission on sales generated. There is no limit on the commission amount earned and people who meet their targets and deadlines can in turn expect to earn very attractive monthly commissions. Since Dubai is a rich country, more and more people are interested in moving there to earn good salaries. The packages offered to professionals in Dubai are quite high and it allows people to maintain a good standard of living.

About the Author

Sonali Dheri writes on behalf of NaukriGulf.com, a leading job portal for Gulf jobs Region, Jobs in Middle East and Dubai jobsMiddle East jobs. Info Edge foray into the Middle East is an endeavour to provide established client base with services that best meet their international requirements as well as expand our operations on to a global arena.

Building and Construction Jobs Aboard

The Construction Industry is an industry that seems to remain on top of everything despite all the ups and downs of the economy. It is an arena that constantly requires replenishment of new workforce. The construction line is a very dynamic environment, with new building designs, improved Construction Methods and innovative technologies being introduced everyday. It is a very energetic working environment that demands you to take a challenge and make breakthroughs consistently.

Around the World there are many emerging and developed economy looking for new houses, roads, office buildings and other infrastructure. There are cities undergoing facelift such as Shanghai, or new stadiums being built in anticipation of the 2012 Olympics in Manchester or the construction of the next ultra luxurious mega project in Dubai. All this generates a very hungry market for building materials, new construction machinery and most importantly talents, people who manages projects, people to design the buildings, people to build the buildings, people who do all the electrical wiring, people who operates the machinery, people who repair and support the machinery, and also people who ensures the safety of all workers.

There are many reasons why people look for building and construction jobs aboard. Firstly is of course overseas construction assignment enables you to earn a higher income compared to working back home. Secondly is to boost your resume since overseas posting experience are valuable when you are furthering your career in the construction line. There is also the added bonus of a new and interesting experience to be able to work in a foreign country, learning different cultures, tasting different foods and meet new people. And finally for the lucky few, there is also the opportunity to participate in some landmark projects such as the Beijing Bird Nest Stadium or the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

If you are interested in embarking on building and construction jobs aboard, there are a few ways to go about. Firstly you have to look through your qualification and experience, do you have a degree in engineering or architecture? Or have you work in a M&E consulting firm before? Having the relevant degree and experience would give you more of an easy start and higher income bracket when interviewing for jobs. Of course do not be disheartened when you have no education or no experience, there are many junior position that does not require any experience or degree, works such as bricklayers, plasterers or joiners usually employs entry level workers but you will eventually pick up very valuable skills and experience later on that will give you a boost in your career prospects and salary. Secondly look through industrial contacts, it will be easy to get information about building and construction jobs overseas if you yourself work in the construction line before, but if you don’t, see if any friends or colleagues of yours are working in the construction job would be able to help. And if all else fails, simply doing a search in Google would probably yield some interesting opportunities.

Working on a Construction Project overseas not only generate a high income for you, it is also a rewarding experience to be able to participate in a different work culture with friends from all over the world, know you are contributing to the community, and who knows there is that added bonus to eventually be a part of something iconic that is changing the city skyline?

About the Author

Read more Construction Jobs articles at http://construction-jobs.blocksandmodels.com/.

Is there a reason why people working in the psychology field don’t make that much money?

The average or starting salary for a person with an MA in counseling is 30-40K, right? I heard that the starting salary for a newly minted doctorate is 50-60K?

it mainly has to do with the call for the job… there is more supply than demand… In other words there are more ma in counseling than there are PHD’s in Psychology. Also counseling is normally in low income places like schools and places like that. Dr are in hospitals and private practice. so there for they are paid different.

Does School Make A Difference?