Even as the unemployment rate creeps toward double digits and job losses mount, many remain optimistic that we are on a “gradual course to recovery”.
The Council of Economic Advisers released a report predicting a surge of jobs in health care and environmental-related careers. The report, “Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow”, looks at how the U.S. labor market is expected to grow over the next few years. The report also discusses the skills, training, and education needed to prepare workers for these growing occupations.
More jobs on the horizon?
Even jobs in energy, education, and technology are expected to grow quickly as stimulus funds are invested in new and old projects around the country. Jobs in construction and manufacturing are also expected to make a come back and add an even greater demand for well trained workers. Filling these jobs won’t be easy if there aren’t enough people with the right skills (read the full story on Reuters).
Jobs that require higher education and training are growing faster than others. Getting additional training and education now, may put you in a better position for a good job tomorrow! Read our previous post on job training, here.
Be sure to check out our sister site, The Beehive, for a great section on how to get the skills you need and the job you want!
A new concern in the world of identity fraud came up this week when researchers said they had figured out how to guess most social security numbers based on public data.
How did they do it?
Well, turns out that most social security numbers are predictable. And, the best way to guess the SSN of a living person is to find the record of a dead person who was born close to the same date and location. This is especially true of people born after 1988, when the government began requiring newborns to be given a number shortly after birth.
How does it work?
The first three digits, known as the area number, are assigned based on date and location of birth. Those born in the same hospital on the same day are likely to have these digits in common.
The next two numbers, known as the group number, change slowly over time and often remain the same for a region over several years.
The last four digits are the only ones that are unique to each person. they are given out in numerical order.
Where do the dead people come in?
When people die, their SSN and other information becomes public. The quickest way to find out a living person’s SSN is to get the SSN of a dead person who was born at about the same time in the same area.
SSN’s were invented in the 1930s to keep track of people as they paid taxes for social security benefits. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be a secure identification. But in recent years, more and more businesses and government agencies have required people to give their SSN as part of applications for loans or government benefits.
This has led to criminals using SSNs of other people to commit fraud. With publicly available data, they don’t have to steal anything. They just have to know how to guess.
What can you do?
Keep your SSN secret. Don’t tell it to people outside of those in your family
Don’t have your birth date, including year, listed online at sites such as Facebook
Don’t let strangers know what city or hospital you were born in.
We did a series on identity theft last year. Take a look, it’s still got some great advice. Our sister site, The Beehive, also has a ton of information to help you protect your identity and avoid fraud.
You can read the full research paper on guessing SSNs here.
It seems like we’re all looking for a “magic pill” to make us healthier, thinner, non smokers, etc. Unfortunately, magic pills usually come with a price or at least a few side effects you should be aware of.
While smoking cessation drugs aren’t magic pills, they have helped some people quit smoking. For others, the side effects become costly and in some cases life threatening.
This is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are requiring two stop-smoking drugs, Chantix and Zyban, to include a “boxed warning” on their label. The new warning alerts patients and doctors to the drug’s serious risk of mental-health issues including depression, hostility, and growing reports of suicidal thinking and behaviors (read the full story on Reuters).
If you’re ready to quit but need some help, consider your options and talk to your doctor. While a magic pill would be easier, there are other ways to become a non smoker:
Hotlines: The National Cancer Instituteoffers a toll free number that connects you to counselors who may be able to help you quit today.
Online support: Sites like Smokefree.gov and helpguide.org provide information, support groups, and helpful links
Behavioral modification: Half the battle can be overcoming your routine. The American Lung Association offers a free program that focuses on changing your behaviors to reflect a smoke free lifestyle.
Quit smoking aids: The patch or gum can make it a little easier for some to quit, find out if it’s right for you by talking to your doctor.
For now, the FDA states that the benefits of quitting outweigh the risks of these meds. If you’re taking one of these drugs and it’s working for you, keep it up! Talk to your doctor if you notice any changes or problems.
Check out our sister site, The Beehive, for helpful resources and more information about healthy living.
The nation’s annual obesity rankings are in and it doesn’t look too good. According to the report by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight.
The report shows that obesity rates have grown to 25 percent in 31 states and now exceed 30 percent in four states. As a comparison, not one state had an obesity rate above 20 percent in 1991. Once again it seems to be the worst in the south too (read our previous post, here). Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults and children are in the South.
Baby boomers also make up a large portion of this group. In every state, the rate of obesity is higher among people age 55 to 64 compared to those over 65. This could mean higher Medicare costs and even more spending as care typically costs more annually for an obese senior than a non obese senior (read the full story on The Associated Press).
There seem to be a number of reasons for us packing on the pounds. The recession may be one possible culprit as more people opt for cheaper fast food. Higher rates of stress, depression, and unemployment might be causing us to snack a little more too. Fortunately, you can start making healthier choices now for yourself and your children that can help you stay fit and healthy!
You can also check out our sister site, The Beehive, for a great section on healthy living. Find everything you need from how to calculate your BMI to healthy shopping tips you can use!
Even if you think retirement is too far off to worry about, it’s never too early to start planning for the future.
You want a secure, comfortable retirement right? This can be easier than you think when you plan your finances and know what you have to work with. There are lots of ways to save on your own, but you can also make sure you get the most out of your social security.
Social security is a safety net for millions of retirees, family members of workers who have died, and people with disabilities. On average, retired workers see about $1000 per month in social security. This can certainly help out with the bills, but what if it isn’t enough?
Wait to claim: you can start claiming your benefits after age 62, but the longer you wait the more money you have. Each year you delay claiming, your benefits increase by a percentage until your 70.
Work longer: your benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years in the workforce. Every higher-paying year you work later in life cancels out a year when you earned less.
You can also start saving for retirement now to make sure you’re covered later on down the road (read our previous post on saving for retirement, here).
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) also provides monthly benefits to low income people who are over the age of 65, blind, or another disability. Children under the age of 18 who are blind or living with a disability may also be eligible. Find out which programs you qualify for, here.
If your nearing retirement visit the U.S. Social Security Administration website to learn more about saving and social security. You can also apply online for benefits, here.
Check out our sister site, The Beehive, for a great section on saving for retirement.
With many people cash strapped and ready to jump on low rent and special deals this summer, housing scammers are on the prowl.
Like most scams, the goal here is to get your money before you find out. Many of these scams use fake listings, extra low rent, and other tactics that might catch your eye.
Too good to be true?
Apartments that seem too affordable probably are and you may want to keep looking. One of the most common cons involves collecting nonrefundable fees from potential renters. After paying anywhere from $50 to a full months rent, some apartment seekers find the agent, apartment listing, and application fees weren’t real.
Online sites like Craigslist have also become a convenient and popular place for people looking for affordable rental housing. Unfortunately, con artists are also using these sites to find you (read the full story on The New York Times).
Don’t be a target!
A good rule to follow: Do nothing without first meeting the agent or landlord and seeing the property inside and out.
Here are a few warning signs that your deal of a lifetime might be a scam:
The agent or landlord asks for money up front
You are asked to wire money or send cashiers checks
They “can’t” show the rental unit or meet with you in person
Agent or landlord is out of the country, but they have a plan to get you the keys
Craigslist also offers some helpful suggestions on how to recognize and avoid getting ripped off.
If you find yourself the target of a rental scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency and also to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Check out our sister site, The Beehive, for a great resource section on finding affordable housing and getting to know your rights as a renter.
When you left college, you probably left behind a lot of books, some not so close friends and probably more than a few stained shirts. But if your like millions of recent graduates, the one thing you didn’t leave behind was your tuition debt. It still lives with you, like a horrible roommate experiment gone terribly wrong.
But help is on the way. Starting Wednesday, July 1, a new federal “income-based repayment plan” could start saving you hundreds of dollars a month.
If you have a federal loan and your sign up for the program, your repayment is based on your annual income. So if you’ve just gotten out of college and don’t earn much yet, you don’t to pay as much every month.
If your family earns 150 percent of the poverty level or less, you will have no monthly payments. If you make more than that, your payments are capped at no more than 15% of your annual income. Use this online calculator to find out how much you could save.
The balance of the loan will be forgiven after 25 years, even if you still owe thousands of dollars. The balance will be forgiven in just 10 years if your enter public service like non-profit or government work.
You can qualify if your total debt is more than you earn in one year. If you earn $50,000 a year but owe $60,000 in federal debt, you can get into the program.
Take a look at this video to learn even more about the program.
Our sister site, The Beehive, has a great section on paying for college.
A new concern in the world of identity fraud came up this week when researchers said they had figured out how to guess most social security numbers based on public data.
