Engineers, machinists and skilled trade workers are among the nation’s most challenging positions to fill, according to survey findings released by Manpower Inc.
A federal lawsuit has been filed in New Jersey charging the Bush administration with illegally avoiding the current limits for the H1-B visa program. The Immigration Reform Law Institute, the Programmers Guild and others said the administration has improperly extended the time foreign nationals can work in the U.S. on student visas from one year to 29 months.
The American average existing house price for all housing types was $202,300 in April, which is 8.0 percent below a year ago when the median was $219,900. Total housing inventory at the end of April rose 10.5 percent to 4.55 million existing houses available for sale, which represents an 11.2 month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 10.0 month supply in March.
America’s Hispanic population increased to reach 45.5 million or 15.1 percent of the total U.S. population. With a 3.3 percent annual increase, Hispanics were the fastest-growing minority group. Asians were the second fastest-growing minority group, with a 2.9 percent population increase during the period. The white population grew by 0.3 percent during the one-year period.
American real average weekly earnings fell by 0.2 percent from March 2008 to April 2008 to $602.56 after seasonal adjustment, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Over the past 12 months, weekly earnings rose by 3.4 percent.
Minneapolis took the top spot in a recent survey of America’s Most Affordable Places For a Good Life. Citizens of Minnesota’s largest city enjoy a high quality of life with access to a wide choice of arts, leisure and entertainment offerings and property in Minneapolis is relatively affordable.
The American median existing-home price for all housing types was $200,700 in March, down 7.7 percent from a year ago when the median was $217,400.
Two random selections were conducted, first on applications qualifying for the 20,000 “master’s or higher degree” exemption, and second on the remaining applications, for the 65,000 cap. There were approximately 163,000 applications received.
The opening day for American visas for highly skilled temporary foreign workers begins on April 1st.
St. Bernard — America’s fastest-losing county from 2005 to 2006 — experienced a 42.9 percent population increase between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, increasing its population by almost 6,000. Orleans’ population rose by 13.8 percent, or nearly 29,000.