According to CareerBuilder’s most recent hiring forecast, hiring for Tampa jobs should remain stable.

On a nationwide survey, twenty-six percent of employers plan to increase full-time, permanent headcount in the next three months, similar to projections for the previous two quarters, but trending below Q2 estimates last year.

In a previous survey completed in November 2012, 26 percent of employers planned to hire full-time, permanent employees in the first quarter of 2013. The number of employers who actually hired full-time, permanent staff was 28 percent – down from 33 percent last year – reflecting a cautious environment in the wake of slower-than-expected economic growth in Q4 2012.

Twelve percent of employers decreased headcount, up from 9 percent last year. Fifty-nine percent said there was no change in their number of full-time, permanent employees while two percent were unsure.

26 percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent staff in the second quarter, down from 30 percent last year. Given that employers historically have been more conservative in estimates than hiring activity, the number may come in higher at quarter’s end.

Nine percent expect to downsize staff, up from 6 percent last year. Sixty percent anticipate no change while 5 percent are undecided.

Temporary labor continues to be an important part of the employment mix, though employer estimates for hiring over the next three months are slightly lower than last year’s. Thirty-two percent of employers plan to hire contract or temporary workers in the second quarter, down from 34 percent last year. Nearly one-in-four (24 percent) are planning to transition some contract or temporary staff into permanent employees in the second quarter, the same as last year.

Hiring in companies of all sizes – while trending below Q2 2012 – will continue at a steady pace into the middle of the year.

· 50 or fewer employees – 17 percent plan to add full-time, permanent staff in Q2, down from 20 percent last year; those reducing headcount increased to 6 percent in 2013 from 5 percent last year.

· 250 or fewer employees – 21 percent plan to add full-time, permanent staff in Q2, down from 22 percent last year; those reducing headcount increased to 7 percent in 2013 from 5 percent last year.

· 500 or fewer employees – 22 percent plan to add full-time, permanent staff in Q2, down from 25 percent last year; those reducing headcount increased to 8 percent in 2013 from 5 percent last year.

· More than 500 employees – 33 percent plan to add full-time, permanent staff in Q2, down from 38 percent last year; those reducing headcount increased to 10 percent in 2013 from 7 percent last year.

One company has made the big leap and hired someone for marketing jobs in Tampa.

Entia Biosciences, Inc., has hired Sabrina Jetton to spearhead the Company’s product innovation, communications, and branding initiatives as Director of Marketing.

Jetton has been initially tasked with developing and leading the product innovation and branding strategy for the expanded GROH® hair care and beauty line, which has been designed to work synergistically to supply the powerful nutrients from nature that our bodies genetically need for anti-aging and the health of our hair, skin, and nails. Entia’s first medical food product ErgoD2® Hemo, for the treatment of anemia and diabetes, is currently in clinical trials and has a targeted launch during 2014. Other ErgoD2® medical food products for neurodegenerative and auto-immune diseases are in the development pipeline.

Jetton has been leading the preparations for the upcoming launch of the expanded GROH hair care and beauty line, which will be introduced May 19-20 during the Spring Symposium of Intercoiffure in Hollywood, Florida.

“I have been fortunate to travel around the world and lead a number of significant branding, innovation, and positioning projects during my career, talking with everyday consumers and identifying the trends that have allowed my clients to successfully bring new products to market,” said Sabrina Jetton. “People today have information at their fingertips and are becoming more educated and demanding when it comes to what they put on and in their bodies. This is a major global trend that is driving the health and beauty industries to provide more natural and scientifically validated alternatives to drugs and other chemicals. When I first learned about Entia’s 100% USDA certified organic ingredients, biotechnology platform, and extensive patent portfolio, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of their team and help bring these important new products to market.”

“Commercialization of our nutritional technologies in the medical foods and consumer products markets is our number one priority,” said Devin Andres, Chief Operating Officer of Entia Biosciences. “Attracting team members of Sabrina’s caliber is essential to the successful launch and distribution of these products and we welcome her insights, energy and extensive experience in this critically important role.”

With the opening of a new office, one company is busy creating finance jobs in Tampa.

Rutherford Asset Planning (RAP), an independent, fee-only wealth-management and financial planning firm with offices in New York City and Naples, Florida, has opened a new branch in Tampa.

The branch will be headed by Keith Amburgey.

RAP currently serves more than fifty affluent clients with portfolios ranging from $1 million to $20 million.

“We saw an opportunity to take the successful business model we had established in Naples and contour it to the Tampa market,” says Amburgey, who notes that independent, client-focused firms catering to high net-worth families are a rarity in the Bay Area.

RAP accepts no commissions, rebates or any other type of soft money. “That means that we are always working solely on our clients’ behalf, because we have no incentive to purchase a particular product,” Amburgey explains.

Clients can rely on the firm for tax preparation, bookkeeping services and advice on purchasing insurance products.

RAP belongs to National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the country’s leading association of fee-only financial advisors.

A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Keith Amburgey has been a member of the team since 2009, when he joined RAP after a 16-year career in Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Securities Division.

Tampa jobs are climbing, according to recent data from the Conference Board. The data reflects new trends from April, just recently released.

Overall the picture was good, nationwide. Online advertised vacancies rose 204,300 in April to 5,103,100 in The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series.

In March, there were 6.8 million more unemployed than the number of advertised vacancies, down from 11.9 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

online labor demand rose in 44 of the 50 States in the U.S. (Table 3). States that decreased were Montana, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia, Utah, and Kentucky. Over eighty percent (41 of the 50 States) are above last year’s April levels.

The largest gain in online labor demand was in the West, up 70,400 in April with almost half of the increase, 32,200, in California. Arizona gained 17,400 and reached the highest level in its HWOL series. Washington rose 8,800 while Colorado gained 1,200. Among the smaller Western States, Oregon gained 3,400 in April and Nevada rose 1,700. Utah fell 300.

Online labor demand in the South rose 39,700 in April (Table A) with Texas experiencing the largest increase (10,700). Florida increased by 7,500; Georgia, by 4,300; Virginia, by 2,600; and North Carolina, by 2,100. Maryland dropped 1,000. Among the smaller States, Arkansas increased by 3,600; Louisiana, by 2,100; Tennessee, by 1,000; and South Carolina, by 500.

Online labor demand in the Midwest also rose 39,700 in April. Illinois posted the largest gain, 8,800. Wisconsin rose 6,900 to its all-time HWOL high. Minnesota was up 4,900. Missouri gained 3,400. Michigan increased by 3,000 and Ohio, by just 300. Among the smaller Midwest States in April, Indiana increased by 2,700; Kansas, by 2,400; and North Dakota, by 1,200.

Online labor demand in the Northeast increased by 20,900 in April with Pennsylvania up 8,200 to 211,900, its series high. Massachusetts and New York both gained 4,800, with the latter reaching its series high. New Jersey was down 700. Among the smaller States in the Northeast, April labor demand increased by 1,400 in Connecticut, 1,100 in New Hampshire, 700 in Rhode Island, and 300 in Maine.

“For many workers looking for a new job, 2013 has been somewhat disappointing with the number of advertised vacancies in April largely unchanged from January,” said June Shelp, Vice President at The Conference Board. “The 204,000 rise in April is a good sign, but the question is: Will the improvement hold next month and will employers begin to add workers instead of just replacing those who leave?”

The 2013 results in the service/manufacturing occupations are mixed with manufacturing stalling and sales workers and food service openings slumping.