I have often said that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that could not be truer in Central Washington’s rural communities.The owners and employees of Main Street businesses are integral to the well-being of our communities, and the support for small businesses I have witnessed during my...
Young adults can complete free, individualized program to earn GED diploma, get help finding a jobThe opening of TC Futures in Kennewick has created a home base for young adults looking to earn their GED diploma, get help finding a job or even wash laundry and grab a bite to...
In the Tri-City area, retail jobs are among the top five most in demand.That’s according to the state’s recently released Employment Security Department’s employer demand reports. Retail salespeople, retail sales supervisors, registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and teacher assistants were the top five jobs advertised online in August in Benton...
The residential construction industry provides a rewarding career path for women. Builders and remodelers across Washington state are seeking skilled artisans and professionals, including carpenters, architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians and painters. In the U.S., women make up about 50 percent of the workforce, but only 9 percent of women work...
By Don C. BrunellEmployers and employees need to set aside their differences and partner with one another. The same advice should be heeded by our elected officials.Easier said than done, especially in a vitriolic and politically-charged atmosphere punctuated by an absence of listening and a profusion of people shouting at...
By Jennifer L. DreyIt’s a good time to be a job seeker in the Tri-Cities.The unemployment rate for Benton and Franklin counties hit a record low in September, dropping to 4.1 percent and marking its lowest point in the 28 years kept on record by the state’s Employment Security Department....
In January, employers will begin collecting premiums for the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance program passed into law last year.Although benefits won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2020, this statewide benefits program will allow workers to take up to 12 weeks of guaranteed paid time off — 18...
The top 1 percent of earners take home 19.7 percent of all the income in Washington.That top 1 percent also make 24.2 times more than the bottom 99 percent in the state.That’s according to a recent Economic Policy Institute report on income inequality.The institute, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank, reports that income...
By Jerry GoodsteinWashington became the 11th state to adopt the Fair Chance Act on June 2, extending “ban the box” job seeker protections to cover the state’s public and private employers. The bill delays criminal background checks until an applicant meets the basic criteria for the job and prohibits employers...
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries could soon be proposing new wage requirements for salaried executive, administrative and professional employees.The wage requirements would be tied to the state’s minimum wage, which is set to go up $1.50 every year through 2020 with the passage of Initiative 1433. The...
