WDEL Interview 2/22/2024

Placers President Chris Burkhard joins WDEL’s DelAware to discuss Delaware’s job market status, 2024 hiring trends, changes in degree requirements for state jobs, and insights from his book “Opposite The Crowd” on personal development.

Talking Points:

1. Delaware’s Job Market:

   – Delaware’s unemployment rate stands at 4.2%, slightly higher than the national average.

   – Job growth in education, healthcare, hospitality, and government sectors noted.

   – Employers face challenges finding specific skilled talent, particularly in trades, bookkeeping, and healthcare.

2. 2024 Hiring Trends:

   – January’s job report showed unexpected growth with 353,000 new jobs, defying predictions.

   – Significant wage increases observed, suggesting a potential trend for job growth and economic impact.

   – Speculations made on the impacts of these trends on the economy and future hiring.

3. Degree Requirement Changes:

   – Delaware’s recent adjustment to degree requirements for state jobs opens opportunities for skilled workers without traditional degrees.

   – Focus on skills and experience over specific academic qualifications highlighted.

   – Positive impact noted on filling roles promptly with qualified candidates.

4. Personal Development Lesson:

   – Insights shared from Chris Burkhard’s book “Opposite The Crowd” on the “Culture of One” and personal growth.

   – Emphasis on self-awareness, goal-setting, and measuring daily efforts towards success.

   – Encouragement for listeners to invest time in themselves, setting and measuring daily efforts towards goals for personal and professional advancement.

Key Takeaways:

– Delaware’s job market overview and the challenges faced in finding specific skilled talent.

– Surprising growth in January’s job report, with potential implications for the economy and future hiring trends.

– Shift in degree requirements for state jobs towards valuing skills and experience over traditional degrees.

– Lessons on personal growth and the “Culture of One” philosophy from Chris Burkhard’s book, emphasizing self-improvement and goal-setting for success.