3+ min ago (206+ words) Massachusetts needs to apply common sense to fix the ratio problem at the heart of our construction labor shortage. Apprentices are being sidelined by outdated state laws Massachusetts needs to apply common sense to fix the ratio problem at the heart of our construction labor shortage. Massachusetts does indeed face a huge shortage of construction workers (Would you hire an electrician from Harvard Vocational School?" Opinion, Nov. 19) and expanding vocational-technical high school capacity to accommodate the over 10,000 students currently on voc-tech wait lists would be an important step. Unfortunately, that would only be part of the solution. Even with additional vocational school capacity, under Massachusetts apprenticeship laws, construction ratios require up to five experienced journeypersons in a trade for each apprentice on a job site. That's right " unlike in classrooms or hospitals, where a teacher or physician leads a cohort…...

5+ min ago (406+ words) Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. Gilbert Clark salutes during morning colors at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., June 26, 2025. Clark was relieved of his duties on Nov. 24 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, according to a Navy statement. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Naval Academy) A U.S. Naval Academy commandant responsible for the military training and professional development of thousands of sailors and Marines was fired this week after less than six months on the job. Capt. Gilbert Clark, commandant of midshipmen, was relieved by academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte on Monday, the Navy said in a statement the same day, citing a loss of confidence in Clark's ability to lead. The service typically does not specify the reasons behind the firing of an officer. Capt. Austin Jackson, deputy commandant of midshipmen, has assumed duties as the interim commandant, the…...

10+ min ago (85+ words) The meeting also approved a proposal to present a supplementary budget for 202526 during the winter session of the Assembly, starting November 27. The Odisha government approved amendments to three service-related rules on Monday to streamline the state's recruitment process, an official said. The decisions were made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The meeting also approved a proposal to present a supplementary budget for 202526 during the winter session of the Assembly, starting November 27....

10+ min ago (846+ words) DALLAS'When it became clear to Texas high school theater teacher Gigi Cervantes that she couldn't ignore a new state law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in her Fort Worth classroom, she felt she had no choice. She resigned from the job she loved. In the small city of Whitesboro, eighth-grade U.S. history teacher Dustin Parsons welcomed the new poster on his classroom wall, saying the display helps him demonstrate the influence of Christianity on the country's founding principles. Across Texas, there are no shortage of strong opinions among teachers, parents and students as the state undertakes the nation's largest attempt to hang the Ten Commandments in public schools. In the rush to navigate the Republican-led mandate that took effect in September, the rollout has forced some administrators, teachers and school boards to confront hard choices. "I just was not…...

12+ min ago (1064+ words) These jobs won't turn you down for being "overqualified." Have you ever been told that you're overqualified for a job? Some employers don't want to hire applicants they believe are "overqualified" because they worry that the employee will ask for too much money, struggle to follow instructions from someone less experienced, or leave for a better job opportunity when it comes along. Fortunately, being overqualified can actually help you move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, as it can be an advantage in certain positions. Does the following list include a position you'd like to pursue? Editor's note: Salary information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median pay: $65,850 per year Companies need highly experienced people who understand how to design training and development programs that prepare employees for their roles. If you have in-depth industry knowledge, this is an excellent…...

18+ min ago (395+ words) Unfortunately, the magic wand is sputtering. Layoffs have been growing heavy, and the ranks of the unemployed are filling with a large number of well-educated workers. If you consider all holders of post-secondary degrees, they comprise 41.3% of the unemployed. In October 2025, U.S.-based corporations announced 153,074 job cuts, according to outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That was up 183% from the 54,064 job cuts in September. The October figure was up 175% from 55,597 the year before. "Through October, employers have announced 1,099,500 job cuts, an increase of 65% from the 664,839 announced in the first ten months of last year," they wrote. "It is up 44% from the 761,358 cuts announced in all of 2024. Year-to-date job cuts are at the highest level since 2020, when 2,304,755 cuts were announced through October." The firm tracked almost 450 individual job-cut plans last month. There were just under 400 in September. Through October, there were 1,099,500 job cuts....

23+ min ago (309+ words) An NYU Silver study found that hybrid models integrating virtual simulations with in-person training may help address a citywide shortage of qualified mental health professionals in New York City." "What we're doing is breaking down and targeting the direct practices we want students to learn," Anne Dempsey, researcher and associate clinical professor at Silver, said. "They get to practice in a low-stakes, non-harmful environment, which reduces harm to actual clients. Because if your social worker is more anxious than you are, that could be very unsettling." As a part of the project, students worked through two actor-based simulations and interviewed three subjects about serious subjects such as suicide risk assessments and gender-affirming care. . "We are aiming to make it as authentic as possible," Lanzieri said. "The same feelings might arise in the student in the practice, so we can help…...

23+ min ago (157+ words) Meet the Author - book launch Author David Ebsworth will be in conversation about his latest thriller, Telford's Odyssey. A novel in 10 acts, following the further misadventures of correspondent Jack Telford. The event will take place at Wrexham Library on Monday, December 1, at 6pm. To reserve your place, email the library at [email protected] or call 01978 292090. Wireless printing at our libraries Author of the Month Garry Disher grew up on a wheat and wool farm in the mid north of South Australia. He has written about this area often in his novels; Paydirt and Chain of Evidence, both crime fiction novels. New dyslexia-friendly books now in stock Did you know Wrexham's libraries have a wide range of smartphone and tablet help guides? So, if you're struggling to get to grips with your new technology call in to your local library and borrow a…...

23+ min ago (450+ words) Northern Ireland Executive 25 Nov 2025, 17:30 GMT+ Good Jobs in Northern Ireland 2025 was published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA). This analysis provides the proportion of good jobs in Northern Ireland from 2017 to 2025 with the focus on the following key cohorts; sex, age, work pattern, local government district, industry sector, occupation, and priority sector. Commentary on the latest release is provided below. For the purposes of this measure and the analysis in this publication a "good job" is one which meets the following requirements:" This analysis provides the percentage of jobs in Northern Ireland that meet the criteria set by DfE. The measure relates to employees aged between 16 and 64 and has been derived from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. The rate of good jobs in Northern Ireland has fallen from the peak in 2022 The rate of good…...

24+ min ago (1132+ words) The 2025 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results were released at 11am on 25 Nov, with 98.5 per cent of Primary 6 students qualifying for secondary school. According to a joint statement by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), a total of 37,926 pupils sat for the national exam this year. Under Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB), students eligible for Posting Groups 1 and 2 can take core subjects " English, Mother Tongue Languages, Mathematics, and Science " at a more demanding level in Secondary 1, depending on their Achievement Level (AL) scores. This flexibility allows students to learn each subject at a level that best matches their strengths. Students who scored AL 5 or better in a PSLE Standard subject are eligible to take it at G3 or G2 level, while those with AL 6 in a Standard subject or AL A in a Foundation subject may…...