Revised Economic Forecast

[Twentyover]

I'd like to report that the economic forecast for 2009 has been significantly upgraded, at least for me. After 10 months on the dole, it appears I have secured employment.

Some may know that my prior employer was a tier 1 automotive HVAC supplier (although, after I was separated in January, I called it a tear 1.)

I signed an open ended contact Monday to work for an OEM as a release engineer for HVAC systems. These types of contracts are common in Detroit, with people working entire careers as a job shopper.

Fortunately, the commute will only add another 7-8 miles each way, and, as one might guess, the tech center has it's own off ramp from the freeway straight into the parking structure.

My time off was mis-spent mostly, taking classes in Pro-E and Catia, with a little Labview thrown in. While these did not in themselves enhance my hire-ablility, the fact that I could answer more than 'looking for a job' when they asked what I'd been doing certainly helped.

Anyway, I've already blown the front suspension off the Camaro for a winter rebuild- now maybe I can afford to look at the rear suspension also.

[Damn True]

Congratulations on the new gig.

[derekf]

My time off was mis-spent mostly, taking classes in Pro-E and Catia, with a little Labview thrown in.

Growing your skillset is never misspent. You never know, it might come in handy soon enough; and I expect that employers look at self-improvement like that as a chance to get a more motivated worker.

Congrats on the new job.

[Twentyover]

Growing your skillset is never misspent. You never know, it might come in handy soon enough; and I expect that employers look at self-improvement like that as a chance to get a more motivated worker.

Congrats on the new job.

hmmmm

Must have forgotten to mention the beer drinkin' and woman chasin'

[Damn True]

hmmmm

Must have forgotten to mention the beer drinkin' and woman chasin'

Equally important in terms of morale!

[Mkelcy]

Congratulations. Detroit has to be ground zero for the economic meltdown.

[Twentyover]

Sadly, true. While unemployment may have peaked at 15.5+%, when including those who have exhausted their UI and discouraged workers (currently not seeking), and Detroit's 'hidden' unemployed, the estimates are close to 25% unemployed in MI. 1 able bodied person in 4. Staggering.

MI's rate has exceeded the national rate since December 2002, and at what I think are considered recessionary rates (7-7.5%) for over 6 years, and that rate has doubled in the last 18 months.

[Damn True]

There are regional wiggles in those numbers all over the place that the press is either too lazy to talk about, too stupid to understand or too afraid to bite the hand that is feeding them.

The 13 Bay Area counties are approaching a full 3% higher than the rest of the state.

Intel sacked another 5000 Monday on top of the 3-4 earlier in the year and MSFT will sack close to 10k before June of next year unless there are some BIG changes in the outlook (not likely within that timeframe).

Doom/gloom aside, I am very happy to hear you are back on your feet.

[JMarsa]

Good News Greg.

--JMarsa

[dadto2jays]

Congrats!!!!!!! it definetly shows that something will pop up sooner or later...

[Twentyover]

I'm really jazzed about it. I've worn through my feety pajamas watching Oprah and shufflin off to the fridge for bonbons. It feels good to be a taxpayer again.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

home team!!