Kansas City
Job News & Opportunities
Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hotels in downtown Kansas City.
Archived Kansas City Job News:
 Labor Dept. Launches New and Improved Website
Job Market Showing Gradual Improvement
Bright Future Employment Fair
Fewer Workers Say They are Late to Work This Year than Last Year
Many Mature Workers Push Back Retirement Plans
Are Workplaces Ready For The 'Class of 2010'?
Employers Reveal the Outrageous and Common Mistakes Candidates Made in Job Interviews
Workers Less Willing to Jeopardize Job Security
Job Seekers Making Adjustments to Pay, Location and Industry to Secure New Positions
Federal Government Expected to Hire 273,000 New Workers Now Through Fall of 2012
Employers Expect Uptick in Hiring in the New Year
Corporate Executives are Concerned Their Companies are Breaking the Law
Resistance to Change, Budget Constraints and Cost-Cutting Delay New Technologies Into the Workplace
November Jobs Report Shows Employers Face Continued Challenges
Kansas City Hotels Guide features hotels listed by KC neighborhoods, KCI Airport, spotlight on local attractions, Kansas City community and business news, and current entertainment schedule for residents and visitors.
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Income at Risk: Unemployment Continues to Plague Those with Disabilities
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), April 26, 2010 - During first quarter 2010, unemployment rates for people with disabilities continued to significantly outpace the unemployment rate for other workers, according to a quarterly study by Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation and Medicare services, based in Belleville, IL.
The Allsup Disability Study: Income at Risk shows that for the first quarter of 2010, people with disabilities experienced an unemployment rate nearly 40 percent higher than people with no disabilities. Specifically, the unemployment rate for the first quarter averaged 14.3 percent for people with disabilities, compared to 10.3 percent for people with no disabilities, according to non-seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Since the BLS began reporting unemployment rates for people with disabilities 18 months ago, the lowest unemployment rate reported for people with disabilities was 11.1 percent, recorded in November 2008. In comparison, the highest unemployment rate for people with no disabilities remained below 11 percent-topping out at 10.4 percent in January 2010.
"It's clear that people with disabilities face a significantly greater challenge in the current economy," said Paul Gada, personal financial planning director for the Allsup Disability Life Planning Center. "They consistently face higher unemployment rates and many, ultimately, are unable to return to the work force."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that in March about 44 percent of those unemployed had been jobless for 27 weeks or more.
"The financial situation has become dire for many people with disabilities, and those who are not able to return to work face prolonged waits for Social Security disability benefits," Gada said. "They may have limited economic resources, putting them at a significant financial risk while they wait for their claim to make its way through the SSDI process."
Gada cautioned that those considering applying for SSDI need to understand eligibility requirements. "People with disabilities should apply as soon as possible so that they can minimize their wait for benefits," said Gada. "At the same time, those who are not eligible should not apply, and those who are uncertain should seek assistance to determine if they may qualify."
Gada noted that applying for SSDI benefits requires an extensive amount of paperwork. This includes completing an initial Social Security disability application and, in most instances, a detailed activities of daily living questionnaire. Information is needed on the person's work history and the impact of the disability on his or her day-to-day activities. A doctor must verify information and additional medical exams may be required if there is not enough information to make a decision.
Individuals uncertain of their eligibility for SSDI benefits can contact the Allsup Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 279-4357 for a free evaluation.
Ecotech Institute Focused on Careers in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design
DENVER, CO, (PRNewswire-USNewswire), April 26, 2010 - Ecotech Institute has launched its first campus in the Denver metro area, offering seven associate's degrees and a certificate program for people seeking careers in the emerging cleantech economy. Once its flagship Colorado campus, located in Aurora, is fully established, Ecotech plans to expand across the U.S. to help fuel rapidly growing industries in the clean energy sector.
"The time has come for a higher education institution that is 100 percent focused on preparing Americans for green collar jobs, not merely a department or program inside of an institution," said Tom Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Education Corporation of America. "Having been built by and for the renewable energy and sustainable design industries in collaboration with academic leaders, Ecotech Institute delivers practical career education that can transform people into highly skilled green collar professionals."
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Continued
Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, is launching with seven highly practical degree programs and one certificate program that provide graduates with skills that are highly valued by today's renewable energy employers, including:
-- Electrical Engineering Technology, Associate of Applied Science
-- Energy and Environmental Paralegal, Associate of Applied Science
-- Energy Efficiency, Associate of Applied Science
-- Environmental Technology, Associate of Applied Science
-- Renewable Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
-- Solar Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
-- Sustainable Interior Design, Certificate Program
-- Wind Energy Technology, Associate of Applied Science
Ecotech Institute is designed to serve the workforce development needs of this growing industry. A study released in February by Navigant Consulting, Inc. found that the number of renewable energy jobs would more than double by 2025 if the nation adopted a plan to require 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. Several states currently have renewable portfolio standards. Gov. Ritter recently signed legislation that will increase Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard to 30 percent, "A Best in the Rocky Mountain West," by 2020, up from the current 20 percent requirement. The measure will create thousands of new jobs and lead to 100,000 solar rooftops in Colorado over the next decade.
Previous research reports have reached similar conclusions on the vast potential for green collar jobs. In the first-ever nationwide count of jobs created by clean energy industries, The Pew Charitable Trusts reported that clean energy jobs grew by 9.1 percent between 1998 and 2007, versus total job growth of 3.7 percent. Clean energy jobs in Colorado increased 18.2 percent during the same timeframe.
"Between the wind on the Eastern Plains, the sun in the San Luis Valley and the great minds at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden and our colleges and universities, Colorado can lead the world in clean energy production," said Colorado Sen. Mark Udall. "But we also need great workforce development to power growth in renewable energy and that is why I am excited about Ecotech Institute launching in Colorado."
"Ecotech Institute is bringing new jobs and skills to Aurora that will attract renewable energy companies to the metro area and Colorado," said Wendy Mitchell, president and CEO of the Aurora Economic Development Council. "Its presence, and the skilled workforce they will provide, will strengthen our position as a leader in the renewable energy industry."
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