Ah, Labor Day. A celebration of the fact that we work by taking a national day off.

What is Ahwatukee Foothills taking a day off from? Local residents have a wide range of occupations, some of which involve dodging Nerf footballs thrown by Rick Springfield or jumping over an oncoming go-kart.

Here is a look at just a few.

 

Tim McCabe

lighting technician for casinos

After attending the Conservatory of Recording Arts in Tempe, McCabe moved to Los Angeles to work in post production audio.

His dream job, he said, would be to work with music in any form.

“I’d love to actually produce or have my own recording studio,” he said.

What is your title or position? Entertainment technician

How long have you worked there? Four years.

Describe your most interesting day on the job. “There was one time when performer Rick Springfield came and did a show. While I was helping the front house engineer patch cables, Rick hit me in the head with a Nerf football from across the room. He came over and gave me a noogie by way of apology.”

If you could describe your job in one word or phrase, what would it be? “It sure beats working in an office.”

 

Brice Erausquin

Fiddlesticks

Having just started his first year at Arizona State University, Erausquin said working at Fiddlesticks is still a good thing to do on the weekends.

Erausquin’s major is in general business and he’s leaning towards marketing, and said his dream job is “something that makes him happy and makes a lot of money.”

What is your title or position? Team leader

How long have you worked there? Two years, three months

Describe your most interesting day on the job. “There have been a lot, but one that sticks out is the day I jumped over an oncoming go-kart because they weren’t paying attention and I was in the way.”

If you could describe your job in one word or phrase, what would it be? “Hectic.”

 

 

Lindsay Jones Jensen

on the job hunt

Jensen just returned to her hometown of Ahwatukee Foothills from Utah and has been on the job hunt for two months.

“I put my resume up on Monster and Career Builder, and I haven’t even had so much as a phone call,” she said.

Formerly a 911 dispatcher, Jensen also worked in medical billing and for Microsoft. She said she would love to be a 911 dispatcher again.

“I love the action multi-tasking, and it keeps you busy knowing what’s going on in your city,” Jensen said.

 

 

Erik Weise

home theater installer

What is your title or position? Owner of Lights&Sounds LLC

How long have you worked there? “I have been a home theater installer for about six years. But I have been operating my own installation company for two years now.”

Describe your most interesting day on the job. “The one that comes to mind is the 16-hour install day me and my co-worker put in on a house in Pinetop to meet a deadline ... it was long and very hard ... but it was nothing short of amazing!”

If you could describe your job in one word or phrase, what would it be? “Stunning.”

 

Kelly Athena

photographer

What is your title or position? Goddess photographer at Athena Portraits.

How long have you worked there? 25 years

Describe your most interesting day on the job. “My most interesting days are Goddess Party days – I have a big party with lots of food, prizes and events at my home and just before sunset when the lighting is sweet and perfect, I take each woman’s portrait who would like one.”

If you could describe your job in one word or phrase, what would it be? “Scrumptiously delicious visual creativity.”

 

Sally Ann Lockhart

costume designer

What is your title or position? Owner of SAL Designs

Describe your most interesting day on the job. “Every day is interesting in costuming. I’m going to be working with Cryptic Illusions this fall, that will leave me with some wacky stories, I’m sure.”

If you could describe your job in one word or phrase, what would it be? “Creative.”

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICS

Who Are We Celebrating?

155.1 million

Number of people 16 and older in the nation’s labor force in May 2009. 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

 

Employee Benefits

83 percent

Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2007.

Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States:

2007

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html

 

77 percent

Percentage of workers in private industry who receive a paid vacation as one of their employment benefits.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 634

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

7.7 million

Number of workers who hold down more than one job. So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population. Of these, 4 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 589

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

288,000

When do they sleep? Number of moonlighters who work full time at two jobs.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 589

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

10.4 million

Number of self-employed workers.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 585

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

28 percent

Percentage of workers 16 and older who work more than 40 hours a week. Eight percent work 60 or more hours a week.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 582

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

4

Median number of years workers have been with their current employer. About 9 percent of those employed have been with their current employer for 20 or more years.

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 591

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

-10.8 percent

Percentage decline in employment in Elkhart County, Ind., between September 2007 and September 2008, the largest percentage decline among the nation’s 334 largest counties. Maricopa, Ariz., posted the largest numerical job loss over the period: 67,100.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewqtr.pdf

 

3.2 percent

Percentage increase in employment in Yakima County, Wash., between September 2007 and September 2008, the largest percentage increase among the nation’s 334 largest counties. Harris, Texas, posted the largest numerical job gain over the period: 26,500.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewqtr.pdf

 

5.7 million

The number of people who work at home.

Source: 2007 American Community Survey

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm

 

Another Day, Another Dollar

$45,113 and $35,102

The 2007 annual median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.

Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States:

2007

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html

 

Hot Jobs

53 percent

Projected percentage growth from 2006 to 2016 in the number of network systems and data communication analysts. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate than any other. Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other is registered nurses (587,000).

Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 598

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

 

Early, Lonely and Long – the Commute to Work

 

76 percent

Percentage of workers who drive alone to work. Another 10 percent carpool, and 5 percent take public transportation (excluding taxicabs).

Source: 2007 American Community Survey

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm

 

3.4 million

Number of workers who face extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day.

Source: 2007 American Community Survey

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm