Troy, MI, December 8, 2009 – Brian Payne has been named Director, Service Delivery at Jawood, an IT business process solutions and staffing company headquartered in Troy, MI.  Brian has an extensive healthcare IT background. His most recent position was Vice-President of Theramatrix Managed Care Operations.  Prior to that he was a Manager/Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

About Jawood
Jawood is an IT business process solutions and staffing company headquartered in Troy, MI.  It is a Certified Women Owned Business Enterprise with a unique understanding of the healthcare payer industry.  The company’s growth is documented locally in Crain’s Book of Lists as one of the Largest Staffing Service Companies and one of the Largest Women Owned Companies in SE MI.  Nationally, they are listed on the Inc. 5000 list of the 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S.

Recession may be over, but recovery will be gradual >

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—This year has been one of the most brutal years in a generation for Michigan’s economy and next year will still be difficult, say economists at the University of Michigan.

But the Michigan economy will begin to turn the tide with modest job gains by the end of 2011, and an extrapolation of U-M’s annual state economic forecast suggests continued job growth during 2012.

"As we look ahead to Michigan’s economic prospects over the next two years, the deck may seem stacked against any turnaround," said George Fulton, director of U-M’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics. "But the Michigan economy is in a more encouraging position now than it was at the beginning of 2009.

"Since then, we have endured the worst U.S. economic recession since the 1930s, and the auto industry has recently emerged intact from its greatest crisis in history, yet dramatically different and still fragile. One might expect from this backdrop that we have left the worst behind us but still have some distance to travel before we see sustained job growth in the state—and that is indeed how we characterize our outlook for Michigan."

In their forecast of the Michigan economy, Fulton and colleagues Joan Crary and Donald Grimes say the state will lose 283,000 jobs in calendar-year 2009—the largest single year of job loss in at least 70 years, which is as long as the data have been collected. This will be followed by shrinking calendar losses of 85,000 in 2010 and 36,000 in 2011.

They predict that unemployment will average 15.6 percent in the current quarter of this year, then drift up to average 15.8 percent in 2010—the highest annual rate in at least 40 years. The rate of 15.4 percent projected for calendar-year 2011 would be the third-highest rate.

"If our forecast proves correct, the job decline that started in mid-2000 would bottom out in the summer quarter of 2011, with an aggregate job loss of 937,000 over that 11-year period, or about one in every five jobs that existed at the beginning of the period," Fulton said. "By the end of 2011, auto manufacturing in Michigan is forecast to employ just over a quarter of the workers it had on its rolls in mid-2000."

According to Fulton and colleagues, manufacturing will account for 36 percent (or 91,000) of the state’s total job losses over this year, with just under half of those losses in motor vehicle manufacturing. With downsizing efforts not yet complete, the beating will continue, but losses will slow significantly over the next two years as auto companies move toward a lower cost structure, a lighter debt burden and improved sales, they say.

In all, Michigan is slated to lose 24,000 manufacturing jobs from the end of this year to the end of next year and another 16,000 during 2011.
The trade, transportation and utilities sector (which includes some auto-related activity but mostly retail trade jobs) will be down about 16,000 jobs next year and 8,000 more during 2011, after losing 55,000 jobs during 2009.

"Five out of eight jobs in this sector, however, are in retail trade, which has been lethargic for several years now," Fulton said. "With the local economic environment continuing to be weak, consumers more hesitant to spend, and with more motor vehicle dealerships scheduled to close over the forecast period, we see no meaningful turnaround in retail employment in the next few years."

The service industries, which lost 49,000 jobs during 2009, are expected to shed 4,000 jobs during 2010 and add 11,000 jobs during 2011. While most of the losses will continue to be in professional and business services—reflecting weakness in the commercial environment as well as the loss of white-collar workers related to the auto industry—private education and health services will once again account for nearly all of the job gains in the service sector over the next two years.

Construction, which lost 27,000 jobs this year, is projected to lose 3,000 more during 2010, but then gain them back the year after.
While the next two years will mark a run of 11 straight years of job losses in the state—after averaging 58,000 new jobs annually in the preceding 30 years—the U-M economists are hopeful.

"In Michigan, prolonged difficulties have become a way of life," Fulton said. "But we are nearly done with one of the worst economic years in our modern history, maybe the worst. The progress that’s being made, however, does reflect improvements in fundamentals.

"The national economy appears to have turned the corner, Chrysler and General Motors have emerged from a quick bankruptcy and although job loss is forecast to continue in Michigan, it is expected to do so at a much-reduced pace."

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN (AP) – 21 hours ago

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan’s economy will improve in 2010, but only in comparison to what has been "one of the most brutal years in a generation," University of Michigan economists said Friday.

Economist George Fulton expects next year will be "difficult," with job losses continuing and the unemployment rate, — 15.1 percent in October and an expected 15.6 percent this quarter — rising to an average of 15.8 percent in 2010.

But he says 2011 will see modest job gains, although unemployment will drop only to an average of 15.4 percent. He expects job losses to bottom out in summer 2011.

Although Michigan is now home to a vastly smaller auto industry, Fulton said the state’s fortunes remained tied to the domestic automakers. But that’s not all bad, he said.

The small improvement he sees coming in 2011 will be based on the national economic recovery and the improving fortunes of the auto companies, which will have a lower cost structure and lighter debt burden after significantly downsizing and — in the case of General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC — going through bankruptcy.

Still, the damage Michigan and its economy have suffered over the past decade has been so deep that it will take years to recover, Fulton said.

"If our forecast proves correct, the job decline that started in mid-2000 would bottom out in the summer quarter of 2011, with an aggregate job loss of 937,000 over that 11-year period, or about one in every five jobs that existed" in 2000, he said.

The forecast estimates 84,900 jobs will be lost in 2010 and 36,000 in 2011, when a net gain in jobs finally will begin to occur in the second half of the year. Jobs will continue to grow modestly in 2012, Fulton said.

Michigan’s personal income growth rate, which has been steadily sinking compared to other states, will be in negative territory this year, dropping by 3.4 percent. But it should grow by 1 percent in 2010 and 1.7 percent the year after, he said.

However, 2011 is expected to be the weakest year for Michigan purchasing power since 1981, once inflation is taken into account. Fulton and colleagues Joan Crary and Donald Grimes said the state’s revenue outlook will continue to be shaky since residents will see little income increase and may not have as much money to spend.

The economists forecast general fund revenue, which fell 20.8 percent this year, will fall 7.4 percent next year and nearly 1 percent in 2011. School aid revenue also will be down, although not by as much.

"Our forecast for Michigan through 2011 suggest that we have left the worst behind us but still have some distance to travel before we see sustained job growth in the state," Fulton said. "Progress is painfully slow throughout 2010 and during the first half of 2011."

The economists warn in their report that Michigan must continue to diversify its economy, with investments that play to Michigan’s assets and strengths.

And they say the state’s leaders must take steps to re-evaluate how they draws up state budgets and start making tough decisions on how they deal with ongoing deficits.

"Our success will ultimately be determined by our resolve, and we are running out of time," they said.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Associated Press

Lansing — Michigan’s unemployment rate rose to 12.9 percent in April, its highest mark since late 1983.

The state said Wednesday that Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate was pushed up by large job losses in manufacturing and construction.

Last month’s jobless rate was the highest in Michigan since unemployment reached 13 percent in November 1983. Michigan’s jobless rate in March, 12.6 percent, already was highest in the nation.

The national unemployment rate rose from 8.5 percent in March to 8.9 percent in April.

"Michigan’s difficult labor market patterns continued in April," Rick Waclawek, director of the state’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a statement.

A year ago, Michigan’s April unemployment rate was 7.9 percent. But it has been rising fairly steadily ever since and is projected to go even higher, in part mirroring problems in the domestic auto industry.

Economists from the Michigan Treasury Department and the House and Senate Fiscal agencies last week reached a consensus that state unemployment could average as much as 14 percent this year and 15.3 percent in 2010.

Michigan lost about 38,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in April. About 22,000 of those jobs were in manufacturing and another 9,000 were in construction. About 3,000 jobs were lost in retail trade.

Government was the only broad employment category to add jobs in Michigan last month, with a net increase of about 2,000 jobs. Employment in professional and business services remained steady.

Ray Rusch Brings Jawood to Orlando, FL

Troy, MI, May 20, 2009 – Jawood, a Business Process Solutions and Staff Augmentation Company, headquartered in Troy, MI, has appointed Ray Rusch to bring the company to Orlando, Florida. There, he will put to good use his 25 years of experience providing business process consulting services to clients in many verticals. Ray’s primary focus in Florida will be in the healthcare industry as well as the government sector. Through him and his partner in Miami, Toni Pollock, Jawood offers Florida clients the ability to take advantage of the company’s 20 years of experience in the consulting business with a unique understanding of the health care payer industry.

The latest Jawood business offering which Ray brings to the area is a full-service model developed to support health care organizations in their EDI 4010 to 5010 conversion effort. Specializing in testing, their services include: requirements gathering, transaction mapping, staff augmentation, all phases of testing/validation, project planning and management.

Besides Florida and Michigan; Jawood has expanded into New Jersey, South Carolina, Nebraska and most recently, Illinois.

Troy, MI, 5/6/09 – Jawood, is pleased to announce that Toni Pollock, formerly an Account Manager in their Troy, MI headquarters, has accepted the challenge of bringing Jawood to South Florida and has set up a Jawood office in Miami. There she is offering to Florida clients services in training as well as Jawood’s IT consulting, business process solutions and staff augmentation.

Toni has 15 years of experience in the Training industry. She came to Jawood in 1996. With more than a little assistance from her, Jawood has since earned a reputation in MI as a great supplier of top training talent. She has accumulated a vast stable of top training professionals from which to draw. Toni can be reached at www.Jawood.com, “contact us”.

Jawood, a Certified Women’s Owned Business Enterprise, celebrates 20 years of success in 2009. The company is right on schedule with their planned expansion. Besides Michigan and Florida; Jawood has also expanded into New Jersey, South Carolina, Nebraska and, most recently, Illinois.

With other well seasoned veterans like Toni on staff, Jawood plans to take advantage of the extensive experience available to them in the training industry to further their market share. The same is true with Jawood’s unique in-depth experience and deep understanding of the health care payer industry. The plan is to take the business models established in Michigan to other states with similar needs.

Troy, MI, April 8, 2009 – Jawood is pleased to announce that Beth Monahan has been appointed a Jawood Account Manager and will be responsible for the Chicago, Illinois market. Beth brings with her diverse experience and skills in bringing IT solutions to the Health Care Payer industry. Most recently she was a Senior Business Analyst supporting various Blue Cross plans. She has also worked in the healthcare insurance industry as an e-Commerce Project Manager. Beth can be reached via the Jawood website: www.Jawood.com.

The arrival of Beth in Chicago puts Jawood right on schedule with their expansion effort across the nation. Besides a headquarters in MI, Jawood now has offices in Illinois, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida and Nebraska.

About Jawood
Jawood is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise celebrating 20 years of providing consulting and staff augmentation to client companies in 2009. They provide IT business process solutions, staff augmentation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to all industries, with exceptional expertise in the Health Care Payer industry. The company motto: “Experience Hire Power” at Jawood where “Our Business is Our People and Our People Make the Difference.”

Its all about JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! And, Jawood’s got ‘em nationwide nationwide!

Troy, MI, April 3, 2009 – In 2009 Jawood, an information technology business process solutions and staffing company, ushers in 20 years of success. They are celebrating that success by extending their presence into yet another area of the country. Chicago joins the list of markets to which the company has now expanded its niche business. Jawood, headquartered in Troy, MI, has already made their presence known in that state; as well as New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida and Nebraska.

Since inception in 1989, Jawood has acquired in-depth experience in diverse industries with a unique expertise acquired in the health care payer industry. “It just makes sense to take the model we worked so hard to establish here to other states”, says President and CEO, Lynn Mustazza.

Taking on large projects with great visibility in the health care payer arena in several states has uniquely positioned Jawood to gain valuable insight into solutions to that industry’s IT business processes. In order to take on the increased business generated by the expansion, Jawood expects to add 50 new employees to their roster in 2009. The vast majority of the hires will be IT contract professionals with subject matter expertise on various system platforms, EDI transaction sets and testing tools.

The addition of GIS to their product offerings this year expands Jawood’s niche market into Geographic Information System applications. Neal Welbourne, Jawood’s GIS Specialist explains: “These systems are used to capture, store, analyze, manage and present data in a geo-spatial format. Rather than you working hard to understand your data, GIS puts your data to work for you. GIS can provide you with powerful information; not just how things are, but how they will be in the future based on changes you apply internally or based on market conditions.” Together, Jawood’s progressive thinking and Neal’s industry experience make GIS applications an exciting new offering for Jawood. For more information on GIS, see www.Jawood.com and “Contact Us”.

About Jawood
Jawood is a Certified Women Owned Business Enterprise. The company’s growth is documented locally in Crain’s Detroit Business Magazine by their inclusion in the Crain’s Book of Lists as one of the Largest Staffing Service Companies and one of the Largest Women Owned Companies in SE MI. Nationally, they are listed on the Inc. 5000 list of the 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S. The company motto: “Experience Hire Power” at Jawood, where “Our Business is Our People and Our People Make the Difference.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Unemployemtn Rate in the Ann Arbor area dropped from 4.9% in March 2008 to 4.2% in April 2008.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in Ann Arbor inched up to 5 percent in February from 4.8 percent in January.

Job gains in Washtenaw County were seen mostly in the government sector, where 3,400 jobs were added – mostly at public schools and universities.

Typically, the sector gains about 3,000 jobs locally in February each year.

Manufacturing again took a hit, losing 600 jobs in February. Retail trade jobs slumped as well.

Michigan’s seasonally unadjusted jobless rate in February was highest in the nation at 7.8 percent.

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