NEW JOBS: The employment situation in and around Dalton is improving and some people in the area are beginning to think there might be something to the reports that the economy is stabilizing. First, Shaw Industries announced that it will re-open an idle plant in Calhoun that will eventually create up to 200 new jobs. The facility, which had been a yarn spinning mill, will now primarily process nylon filament. Then, IVC Group said it plans to invest $70 million to build a state-of-the-art vinyl manufacturing plant in Dalton that will add 115 jobs to the community. Between the two projects 315 jobs will be created and that has to bode well for the economic recovery that some analysts believe is on the way.

HIGH TECH: Employers are using social networking sites to investigate potential employees. Currently, 45% use SocNets to gather information about job candidates, up from 22% last year. There’s nothing devious or underhanded about it and it is gaining in popularity. Sites used for screening prospective employees: Facebook, 29%; LinkedIn, 26%; My Space, 21%; search blogs, 11%, and Twitter, 7%. Top industries using computer screening: Information Technology, 63%, and Professional and Business Services, 53%.

BAD NEWS: On the SocNets, 35% of employers found content that caused them to reject the candidate in question. Posting provocative or inappropriate photos or information, 53%; content related to the person drinking or using drugs, 44%; badmouthing previous employer, co-workers or clients, 35%; showing poor communication skills, 29%; making discriminatory remarks, 26%; lying about qualifications, 24%, and sharing confidential information from a previous employer on sites, 20%. How does such personal and damaging information go public?

GOOD NEWS: On the flip side, 18% of employers found content on sites that motivated them to hire a candidate. They had a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit, 50%; the material supported their professional qualifications, 39%; found them to be creative, 38%; they had good communication skills, 35%; they are well-rounded, 33%; they were impressed that others had posted good references about candidates, 19%, and where sites showed awards and accolades candidates received, 15%.

MONEY MEN: Nearly 60% of the 657 Chief Financial Officers are more optimistic about the economy now than they were in May, according to a new survey. And nearly 50% said they are more positive about their own companies’ prospects. Public company CFOs said they expect earnings to increase 3.1% on average in the next year, a reversal from May, when they expected earnings to fall 4% over the following 12 months. Finance executives said they expect their companies to cut capital spending by 3.2% in the next 12 months, a big improvement from the second quarter, when they expected capital spending to fall 11.5% over that period. A solid survey, it was taken by Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and CFO Magazine.

SAME BOAT: Retailers may be unhappy with the recent price increases announced by carpet manufacturers, but they are not alone. Producer prices have risen more than twice as much as forecasted in August to 1.7%, the fourth increase in five months. With the economy depressed, albeit there are some early signs of a slow recovery, it appears this is not a good time for a price increase, But, then, is there ever a good time for a price increase? It’s because of the difficult times that the mills need the added revenue and the retailers can least afford it. So, even with sales less than robust, the retailer must pass the increase to the consumer and make it up with superlative service and lots of value added.