Briefs: High school diploma does mean something

Think a high school diploma does not count for much in the workplace? Think again.

By Times Staff
Published January 27, 2008

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High school diploma does mean something

Think a high school diploma does not count for much in the workplace? Think again. The U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics looked at 9,000 young men and women born between 1980 and 1984 who are now in their 20s. The survey - focusing on the young people's status between the October when they were 19 and October when they were 20 - found that high school graduates not enrolled in college were employed 78 percent of that time. In contrast, youths who had dropped out of high school by the October when they were 19 were employed, on average, 55 percent of those weeks. Young women also outperformed young men. By the October when they were age 20, 84 percent of women had graduated from high school compared with 79 percent of men.

Job cuts come early this year

We're less than a month into the new year, and nine companies have reported substantial job cuts in Florida under the state's WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Notices) rules. Jobs cut as of Jan. 23: 965. The biggest cuts - 430 - were announced by Universal Maritime Services Corp. of Port Everglades. Two St. Petersburg companies - Choicepoint and Film Technologies International - have combined job losses of 177. It could be a long year. Track it yourself at floridajobs.org.

WorkNet series begins Feb. 13

WorkNet Pinellas' new job fair series, WorkNet Wednesday, launches its first bilingual job fair from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th St. N, Clearwater. For more information, visit www.worknetpinellas.org.