GE, which specializes in solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance, announced this week a big push to hire for manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island, among other locations around the U.S.

The company unveiled a program aimed at strengthening America’s global competitiveness by building a more highly skilled workforce, lowering healthcare costs and supporting the integration of the nation’s veterans into the workforce.

As part of its focus on what works, GE will launch several new programs throughout the year, including:

· New pilot programs with partners to improve healthcare delivery in Louisville, KY, and Erie, PA, to achieve better health at lower costs in each community. This follows a successful program in Cincinnati that has resulted in significantly lower costs for both local employers and providers while improving access and maintaining quality care.

· Hiring 5,000 U.S. veterans over the next five years and sponsoring a “Hire our Heroes” partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help veterans integrate into the civilian workforce and match them to jobs.

· Opening several manufacturing skill-building centers called “GE Garages” to spark interest in skills for jobs and partnering with GOOD/Corps on the What Works Project, a new interactive platform to highlight what works by inviting the public to submit stories, images or video depictions of what is currently driving American competitiveness. The project will award up to $10,000 each week through November to selected non-profit organizations that support American jobs and skills training.

· Doubling the number of GE engineering interns to more than 5,000 as part of an initiative proposed by the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to add 10,000 more engineering graduates a year in the U.S.

Narragansett Bay Insurance is promoting from within and enhancing the pay of insurance jobs in Rhode Island.

Chief Executive Officer Nick Steffey recently announced the promotions of several employees, citing their dedication and accomplishments and reinforcing Narragansett Bay Insurance Company’s commitment to creating a work environment focused on professional growth and upward mobility.

Calling the employees “shining stars,” Steffey made the announcements at the company’s expanded and renovated headquarters at 25 Maple St. in downtown Pawtucket. The renovations include a state-of-the-art fitness center for Narragansett Bay Insurance Company’s employees, offering free gym memberships, professional trainers, nutritionists and a massage therapist.

Since 2008, the number of NBIC employees has grown 76 percent, and that growth continues, with 15 additional professional positions approved for Q4 hiring. Cited by the “Providence Business News” as the fastest growing company in Rhode Island among firms with up to $25 million in capital, NBIC is expected to have a record-setting year.

Bank of America said this week it is recruiting for dozens of finance jobs in Rhode Island among other locations.

The banking giant is also hiring for finance jobs in Boston, and other locales.

The company previously said it would hire 1,000 small business bankers across the nation by mid-2012.

Now the bank is hiring more than 50 small business bankers in New England to provide guidance and counsel to local small business owners, it said in a press release.

These bankers bankers will consult with small business owners at their place of business and assess their companies’ deposit, credit and cash management needs.

These new hires will support the unique needs of small business owners in the following regions:

Massachusetts – 32 hires, including 13 in Greater Boston.
Connecticut – 14 hires.
Rhode Island – 5 hires.

“For well over 200 years, New England has been a pioneer of entrepreneurial innovation, and Bank of America is proud to be supporting the region’s entrepreneurial heritage,” said Bob Gallery, Massachusetts president for Bank of America. “Our small business bankers will provide business owners in New England with the tools they need to continue to be the engine that drives our local and national economy forward.”

“Our bankers spend the time needed with each of our clients to fully understand their deposit, credit, payroll and cash management needs, while serving as a conduit to experts across the Bank of America franchise,” said Raj Kochhar, Small Business Banking region executive for the Northeast. “They can help small business owners with complex issues ranging from commercial real estate needs to providing the right retirement solutions for themselves and their employees.”

Bradley-Morris has announced a slew of new job fairs designed to help the military find Rhode Island jobs.

The military-focused recruiting firm helps companies find talented military personnel for key positions.

The ConferenceHire events will take place in the following locations:

• 1/23 Austin, TX
• 1/23 Norfolk, VA
• 1/30 Atlanta, GA
• 2/13 Providence, RI
• 2/13 San Diego, CA
• 2/27 Austin, TX
• 3/05 Atlanta, GA
• 3/12 Norfolk, VA
• 3/19 San Diego, CA
• 3/26 Chicago, IL

Bradley-Morris is also connecting job seekers with Atlanta jobs.

“Military-friendly companies are approaching 2012 with a renewed sense of optimism,” said Sandra (Sandy) Morris, CEO. “For these employers who are already taking advantage of the military talent pool to help them grow and diversify their businesses, and also for companies who may be new to hiring transitioning military and veterans, the first quarter presents an ideal opportunity to leverage BMI’s hiring events.”

Narragansett Bay Insurance has promoted several people to Rhode Island insurance jobs.

Executive Officer Nick Steffey recently announced the promotions of several employees, citing their dedication and accomplishments and reinforcing Narragansett Bay Insurance Company’s commitment to creating a work environment focused on professional growth and upward mobility.

Calling the employees “shining stars,” Steffey made the announcements at the company’s expanded and renovated headquarters at 25 Maple St. in downtown Pawtucket. The renovations include a fitness center for Narragansett Bay Insurance Company’s employees, offering free gym memberships, professional trainers, nutritionists and a massage therapist.

Since 2008, the number of NBIC employees has grown 76 percent, and that growth continues, with 15 additional professional positions approved for Q4 hiring. Cited by the “Providence Business News” as the fastest growing company in Rhode Island among firms with up to $25 million in capital, NBIC is expected to have a record-setting year.

A new survey posits that jobs in Rhode Island could burgeon.

A national survey conducted by Dice Holdings, Inc., a provider of specialized career websites for professional communities, found that nearly half (47%) of hiring managers and recruiters say they plan additional hiring during the first half of 2012, as compared to the second half of 2011. (more…)

The Providence Police Department has been given a federal grant totaling $1.3 million to hire for law enforcement jobs in Rhode Island.

The money will be used to hire more police officers to keep citizens safe.

It is expected that the money will cover the officers’ salaries and benefits.

Approximately five brand-new police officers can be hired with the funds. (more…)

Bradley-Morris has announced a series of events designed to help companies hire veterans for Rhode Island jobs.

The largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., announced fourth quarter dates for their ConferenceHire events. The military hiring events are for employers who need to make the most of their year-end recruiting budgets. At these events, Fortune 1000 companies interview JMOs (Junior Military Officers), technicians and diversity candidates with military backgrounds for positions in Management / Engineering, Technician / Supervision / Field Service and Consulting / Sales / Business Development.

The ConferenceHire events will take place on the following dates:
October

10/10 Providence, RI
10/17 San Diego, CA
10/24 Atlanta, GA
10/24 Austin, TX

November

11/07 Norfolk, VA
11/21 Chicago, IL

December

12/05 Atlanta, GA
12/05 San Diego, CA
12/12 Norfolk, VA

The events will also help boost Chicago jobs.

Rhode Island jobs took a dip this summer, according to a new report from an outplacement firm. But overall American jobs are better from last year.

Challenger, Gray, and & Christmas, the outplacement firm, said that United States-based employers announced plans to trim 51,114 workers from the payrolls in August, a 23- percent decline from July, when the number of job cuts hit a 16-month high of 66,414.

The August decline follows three consecutive increases in the monthly job-cut total that saw job cuts rise from 36,490 in April to the July peak. The August total, however, was up 47 percent from a year ago, when employers announced just 34,768 job cuts during the month.

Employers have now announced 363,334 planned layoffs so far this year. That is only 2.9 percent below a 2010 eight-month job-cut total of 374,121. The gap between 2010 and 2011 year-to-date job cuts has steadily fallen over the last few months. In March, year-to-date job cuts were 28 percent behind 2010. By June, the difference dropped to 17 percent. Now, less than three percent separates 2011 and 2010.

“July job cuts spiked as a result of a handful of surprisingly large jobcut announcements in the private sector. It is too soon to tell whether those cuts were an anomoly, but they appeared to be driven by industry- and company-specific trends, as opposed to larger economic ones. In August, the private sector once again took a backseat to the government sector, which saw job cuts surge to the second highest monthly total this year,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

A move from BNY Mellon has resulted in the loss of Rhode Island finance jobs.

The company plans to move 250 jobs from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Westborough this fall, and to add an additional 150 positions there.

In addition, BNY said that it will cut about 1,500 positions or approximately 3% of its global workforce this year.

Turnover and hiring freezes will be the actions the company takes to eliminate the positions. (more…)