In this April 25, 2011 photo, a “We’re Hiring!” sign is shown at Office Depot in Mountain View, Calif. More people sought unemployment benefits last week, the second rise in three weeks, a sign the job market’s recovery is slow and uneven.(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

WASHINGTON (AP) — More people sought unemployment benefits last week, the second rise in three weeks, a sign of the slow and uneven jobs recovery.

Applications for unemployment benefits jumped 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 429,000 for the week ending April 23, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the highest total since late January.

The four-week average of applications, a less volatile measure, rose to 408,500, its third straight rise and the first time it has topped 400,000 in two months. Applications near 375,000 are consistent with sustained job creation. Applications peaked during the recession at 659,000.

Several economists attributed the increase to difficulties in seasonally adjusting the data around the Easter holidays. Since the timing of Easter changes each year, the data around the holiday week can be volatile.

“Given these technical factors, we are inclined to dismiss the recent backup,” said Carl Riccadonna, an economist at Deutsche Bank Securities. “We will be looking for claims to move back below 400,000 in early May.”

Other analysts were more slightly more concerned. Ryan Wang, an economist at HSBC Securities, noted that the four-week average has increased by 20,000 in the past month.

“Minor seasonal distortions are not a good reason to dismiss the underlying increase in jobless claims,” Wang wrote in a note to clients. “This is a big enough increase to merit some concern about the direction of employment growth going forward.”

Some analysts have predicted that auto factory shutdowns, stemming from supply disruptions in Japan, would cause applications to rise. But a Labor Department analyst said only one state reported auto-related layoffs and the increase was modest.

Economic growth slowed sharply in the first three months of the year, according to a separate report Thursday from the Commerce Department. Rising gas prices cut into consumer spending, bad weather delayed construction projects and the federal government cut defense spending by the most in six years.

The economy grew at a 1.8 percent annual rate in the January-March quarter, a much weaker pace that the 3.1 percent growth in the previous quarter. But economists say the slowdown is mostly the result of high gas prices and other temporary factors. They expect gas prices will stabilize and growth will exceed 3 percent pace for the rest of this year.

Unemployment benefit applications trended down for about six months, but have leveled off in recent weeks. Still, other recent evidence shows that businesses have stepped up hiring. Companies added more than 200,000 net new jobs in February and March, the fastest two-month pace in five years. The unemployment rate fell in March to 8.8 percent, down a percentage point in one month.

The reports come a day after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the economy is steadily recovering, but is slowed down by persistent unemployment. Bernanke said the Fed can’t take further steps to try to reduce unemployment without risking higher inflation.

The Fed has kept short-term interest rates at a record low level of near zero since December 2008. It is also buying $600 billion in Treasury bonds in another effort to lower interest rates. Both moves have spurred criticism from some members of Congress that the low interest rates could spur higher prices.

More than 3.6 million people are receiving unemployment benefits from regular state unemployment programs. Millions more are receiving aid under emergency programs put in place by Congress during the recession. All told, 8.2 million people obtained unemployment benefits in the week ended April 9, the latest data available. That’s a drop of about 100,000 from the previous week.

BarryStaff is pleased to announce our spring sports teams.  We are sponsoring 5 youth baseball teams this spring.  Check out each teams pages on the sports section of BarryStaff.com.  Check back often as there will be reports following each game.  Good luck to all teams!

Good Attitude is a key component at any organization. A cheerful receptionist, a friendly delivery person or a sales clerk with a winning smile can be money in the bank for your business. But by the same token, a bad attitude on the part of your staff members can drag your organization down like a 500-pound anchor.

The economy and certain business cycles bring out negative attitudes. This kind of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ can infect your entire organization. One or two bitter employees can poison the perspective of the whole staff. If you come across Stinkin’ Thinkin’ in your organization, gain control immediately before it affects your profitability.

Even under the best conditions your company can’t afford to turn off customers. But when the economy is soft and you are trying to attract business, Stinking Thinkin’ just makes things worse. What can you do? It’s important to eliminate any staff misconceptions and set the record straight. Bring your employees together and level with them.

Consider the absentee owner of a car dealership who was experiencing his worst slump in 20 years. Sales were off sharply and overhead was eating him alive. When he made one of his infrequent inspections of the business, he was shocked to find the place in disarray – dirty windows, filthy floors and dusty cars on the lot that were unwashed. Employees weren’t even bothering to answer the telephones.

The owner discovered the source of the problem was the disgruntled general manager. He spread lies to the employees and fostered discontent throughout the organization. No wonder sales were off.

The general manager was fired and the owner called a meeting of the entire staff. He began by accepting partial blame. He acknowledged that he contributed to the dealership’s problems by failing to keep in contact on a day-to-day basis. Then, he explained that things were changing. A high standard of performance was now expected from every employee and the owner assured the staff that he was confident they could deliver. He also made it clear that those who didn’t comply would be shown the door. It turned out to be a very motivational speech and negative staff attitudes evaporated on the spot.

The payoff: During the next 10 days, the dealership sold more cars than it had during the previous 30. So if you spot any Stinkin’ Thinkin’ in your organization, try to get rid of it ASAP!

BarryStaff of Cincinnati Weekly Newsletter
4/14/11
By Scot Feldmeyer

Well, it looks like spring has finally arrived. The weather is warm and sunny, my grass finally got mowed, my wife is planting flowers and the pear trees are covered in blossoms. Still, there is something happening this time of year that strikes terror into the heart of every father in the country with children under the age of 40…..SPRING BREAK!

Yes my 25-year-old daughter is going on Spring Break in Florida. I used to think that this would pass once she graduated from college. Unfortunately she’s a schoolteacher so she still gets a Spring Break. Oh sure, she’s going with some friends to an area that is not usually a haven for drunken college kids but, as a dad, I know there will still be young men with raging hormones prowling the beaches. It doesn’t help that her new bathing suit cost over $50, which comes out to about $1 per thread. My wife says it is modest by today’s standards but I would still prefer she wore her old sweat suit from her high school track team.

The poor kid suffers from walking in the footsteps of her older brothers. Years ago I sent them off to college with a sufficient number of brain cells and they came back from Spring Break with a suntan and a blank stare. What do college kids need a break from? All they do is party and sleep.

How can we ever forget that message on our answering machine of, “Mom and Dad, I’m still in Florida. All of my friends have gone back to school but my car is wrecked and I’m out of money.” Yes, those were the good old days. No wonder I’m thinking of asking my doctor for a double dose of Xanax now that Spring break is once again upon us.

It’s a good thing that I’m distracted from my worries here at BarryStaff where we’re busy recruiting quality people for our clients. Despite the economy, it’s always a challenge to find good people. And we don’t want to find just good people, we want to find the BEST people available. That’s why we check their background, references and put them through our Skills Assessment testing. We can even do drug screening right here in our BarryStaff office.

If you have a need for anything from light industrial temps to professional recruiting of top management and key personnel, just give us a call. We are here to help.

BarryStaff of Cincinnati Weekly Newsletter
4/6/11
By Scot Feldmeyer

This week, BarryStaff, inc. announced its recent Accreditation by your Better Business Bureau of Dayton/Miami Valley, Inc. As a BBB Accredited Business, BarryStaff, Inc. is dedicated to promoting trust in the marketplace. It’s Accreditation will help people understand who the organization is and the core values it believes in.

You can read all about this honor for BarryStaff on our web site(www.barrystaff.com) and clicking on “NEWS.” You can also click on “sports” to learn about the five youth teams BarryStaff is sponsoring this spring. There is also “Customer’s Stories where some nice folks offer some kind words about doing business with BarryStaff. And last but not least, you can check out pictures and profiles of all the folks at BarryStaff by clicking on “Our People.” I must warn you, however that the photographer was using some kind of lens that makes me look heavier and balder than I perceive myself in the mirror. You can also check us out on Facebook and Twitter

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE: As professional recruiters we often offer advice to people who are going to be participating in job interviews. In the interest of balance, we thought it might also be a good idea to give people an idea of what NOT to say when LEAVING a job. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Oh, so now you’re willing to give me a raise. Well you know what you can do with that don’t ya?………..Just how much of a raise were you thinking?
2. Com on now let’s be serious. You were going to fire me anyway as soon as you saw my expense reports…..What do you mean that “up till now” you never bothered to read them?
3. Listen if the police call about a bunch of parking tickets for my company car, it’s probably just some kind of administrative error.
4. Is it okay if I keep all of those company pens I have in my sock drawer?
5. And about the Christmas party. Tell that wife of yours that I never would have hit on somebody as ugly as her if I hadn’t been really, really drunk.
6. Is it okay if I leave my golf clubs and hunting and fishing stuff here for a while? I mean, I don’t want them to get the wrong idea at my new job.
7. Yea, well if you weren’t such a ridiculous jerk, maybe I’d still work here. What’s that? You still haven’t mailed my last paycheck. Gee sir, please let me rephrase that.

This week, BarryStaff, Inc. announced its recent Accreditation by your Better Business Bureau of Dayton/Miami Valley, Inc.  As a BBB Accredited Business, BarryStaff, Inc. is dedicated to promoting trust in the marketplace.  Its Accreditation will help people understand who the organization is and the core values it believes in.  You can check out BarryStaff’s BBB reliability report by visiting www.bbb.org or calling (937) 222-5825.

John North, BBB president and CEO says “BBB Accreditation is an honor.  It’s voluntary and Accredited Businesses must meet and maintain your BBB’s Standards of Trust, a comprehensive set of policies, procedures and best practices representing trustworthiness in the marketplace.  The standards call for building trust, embodying integrity, advertising honestly and telling the truth, being transparent, honoring promises, being responsive and safeguarding privacy.”

He continues, “Businesses that meet your BBB’s high standards are invited to apply for Accreditation.  Applicants undergo a review process and ultimate approval by your BBB’s Board of Directors.  According to Princeton Research, seven in ten consumers say they are more likely to buy from a company designated as a BBB Accredited Business.”

“We are proud to have met your BBB’s high standards and we’re excited to be part of an organization that exists so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to gude them on matters of trust,” said Doug Barry.  “We value building trust with our customers and our Accreditaion gives our customers confidence in our commitement to maintaining high ethical standards of conduct.”

Doug Barry continues, “Our Accreditation signifies our commitment to customer service, reliabililty and trust.  For any organization to excel in today’s environment, it’s critical it be fully committed to excellence.  Our acknowledgement by your BBB aligns with and supports our efforts of providing superior service in the marketplace.”

By JEANNINE AVERSA, The Associated Press Updated 10:10 AM Friday, April 1, 2011

WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate fell to a two-year low of 8.8 percent in March and companies added workers at the fastest two-month pace since before the recession began.

The Labor Department says the economy added 216,000 new jobs last month, offsetting layoffs a local governments. Factories, retailers, education, health care and an array of professional and financial services expanded payrolls.

Private employers, the backbone of the economy, drove nearly all of the gains. They added 230,000 jobs last month, on top of 240,000 in February. It was the first time private hiring topped 200,000 in back-to-back months since 2006 — more than a year before the recession started.

The unemployment rate dipped from 8.9 percent in February to 8.8 percent in March. The rate has fallen a full percentage point over the last four months, the sharpest drop since 1983.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The unemployment rate fell to a two-year low of 8.8 percent in March and companies added workers at the fastest two-month pace since before the recession began.

The Labor Department says the economy added 216,000 new jobs last month, offsetting layoffs a local governments. Factories, retailers, education, health care and an array of professional and financial services expanded payrolls.

Private employers, the backbone of the economy, drove nearly all of the gains. They added 230,000 jobs last month, on top of 240,000 in February. It was the first time private hiring topped 200,000 in back-to-back months since 2006 — more than a year before the recession started.

The unemployment rate dipped from 8.9 percent in February to 8.8 percent in March. The rate has fallen a full percentage point over the last four months, the sharpest drop since 1983.

___

April 01, 2011 12:32 PM EDT

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