Monday, August 09, 2021

Best Business Books | 2020


"Reading taught Elon Musk to build a rocket,
and showed Tony Robbins how to build a better life.
How reading makes you a better leader too."

Inc. Magazine

While I won't promise results on the level of Elon Musk or Tony Robbins, the books that follow are most likely to add value to your career. So say the business experts. So say the readers.

For the 13th year in a row Beantown Web has conducted a quasi-scientific meta-search to identify the best business books published during the calendar year. This year's search began by identifying 15 "Best of" lists. This resource list is available upon request. The final results are presented here.

A total of 199 unique books were mentioned on at least one "Best of" list. Among the unique books, 161 were mentioned only once and 38 received multiple recommendations.

The Honorable Mention Shelf

Of the 38 multiple recommendations, 28 books were mentioned on two lists. These books comprise the Honorable Mention list.

The Must-Read Shelf

Of the 10 remaining book recommendations, four were mentioned on three lists. These books comprise the Must-Read list:




The Top Shelf

Of the six remaining book recommendations, two were recognized on four lists:

One was recognized on five lists:

Two were recognized on six lists:

One was recognized on eight lists:





Personal Recommendations

If 10 books are too many to chose from, then check out the following Short List. The four highest rated books on Goodreads (of the 10 pictured here) are as follows:

I have read none of the six Top Shelf books and one from the four on the Must-Read Shelf. As I work through this reading list, I will post my reviews at Goodreads.com and share links here.

You can access more than 100 Leadership and Strategy books I have read at Pinterest.

Suggested Success Strategy

Regardless of your professional discipline, business is the engine that drives economic growth. The economy continues to improve and job growth continues to look promising in 2021. You can help enhance your personal economic prospects by learning more about the business of business.

Goal: Select one business book from the 10 pictured above, read it, practice its principles and shift your career into a higher gear in 2021. Of course, you can select all 10 books, read one per month, and receive a guaranteed seat in business class!

NOTE: The 28 Honorable Mention Books of 2020 -- those recognized on two "Best of" lists -- are being counted down on Twitter @genebabon. You can also follow Beantown Web on Facebook @beantownweb.


View ALL annual Best Business Books blog postings.


Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Boston Web Tech Job Market | May 2021




The Headlines

LinkedIn Workforce Report May 2021 Boston

April's Expected Hiring Boom Goes Bust

The Job Market in Boston

What a difference a year makes. The following chart from LinkedIn graphically represents the current state of job postings vs. a year ago.

hiring turnaround

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for May. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are The Top 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from mid-April, 2021] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

May 2021

  1. Python | 4,594 (job postings) up 10% (from April)
  2. agile | 4,430 up 15%
  3. SQL | 3,498 up 12%
  4. Java | 3,118 up 14%
  5. AWS | 2,975 up 14%
  6. SaaS | 2.564 up 13%
  7. JavaScript | 2,285 up 10%
  8. Azure | 1,806 up 18%
  9. scrum | 1,547 up 15%
  10. C# | 1,380 up 14%

*** Note:  While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

Web Apprentices 

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to Boston PHP Meetup members. May's learning opportunity focuses on agile (#2 in this month's demand analysis) and is called Agile Appetizer, Season 5. Join us.


agile appetizer

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 10 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.


Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Boston Web Tech Job Market | April 2021



The Headlines

U.S. Job Openings Jump to Two-Year High in Boost to Labor Market

Fed Chair Powell Says Economy About to Grow Much Quicker Due to Vaccinations and Fiscal Support

The Job Market in Boston

The job market continues to recover with job openings returning to pre-pandemic levels.

help wanted


The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for April. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

This month's report focuses on The Second Ten, those technical skills which are in demand and directly below the Top 10.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are The Second Ten of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from mid-June, 2020, the pandemic low for job postings] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

April 2021

  1. API | 1,195 (job postings) up 146% (from June)
  2. Web Services | 1,111 up 510%
  3. Git | 1,023 up 102%
  4. JIRA | 972 up 152%
  5. Docker | 950 up 125%
  6. Kubernetes | 896 up 132%
  7. React | 799 up 422%
  8. UI | 664 up 66%
  9. Jenkins | 658 up 72%
  10. social media | 610 up 362%

Web Apprentices 

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit  Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to  Boston PHP Meetup  members. April's learning opportunity focuses on CSS (#35 in this month's demand analysis) and is called  HTML5 Brunch, Season 13. Join us.


The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 10 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.


Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Boston Web Tech Job Market | March 2021



The Headlines

U.S. economy gains 379,000 jobs in February, in first full monthly employment report under Biden

Job postings tell two different stories of recovery so far

The Job Market in Boston

The job market continues to recover. However, we are still nearly 10 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels.



The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for March. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from mid-June, 2020, the pandemic low for job postings] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

March, 2021

  1. Python | 3,979 (job postings) up 72% (from June, 2020)
  2. agile *** | 3,759 up 93% 
  3. SQL | 2,965 up 90%
  4. Java | 2,661 up 58%
  5. AWS | 2,411 up 90%
  6. SaaS | 2,200 up 289%
  7. JavaScript | 1,972 up 61%
  8. Azure | 1,464 up 146%
  9. scrum  *** | 1,359 up 79%
  10. API | 1,149 up 136%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

Web Apprentices

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to Boston PHP Meetup members. March's learning opportunity focuses on JavaScript (#7 in this month's demand analysis) and is called JavaScript Broth, Season 1. Join us.

JavaScript

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Boston Web Tech Job Market | February 2021



The Headlines

Massachusetts Jobless Rate Rose In December To 7.4%

Shelter in job? For 74% of the U.S., that cautious path feels right in 2021

The Job Market in Boston

The job market for tech skills continues to recover from its June 2020 lows. However, job growth is stalling, most notably in non-tech sectors of the U.S. economy.


The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for February. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

This month's report focuses on The Second Ten, those technical skills which are in demand and directly below the Top 10.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are The Second Ten of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from mid-December, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

February, 2021

  1. API  | 1,087 (job postings) up 21% (from December)
  2. Web Services  | 1,001 up 20%
  3. Git  | 929 up 21%
  4. Kubernetes  | 927 up 28%
  5. Docker  | 863 up 14%
  6. JIRA  | 863 up 18%
  7. UI  | 798 up 21%
  8. React  | 724 up 17%
  9. Jenkins  | 625 up 12%
  10. IoT  | 594 up 28%

Finally, according to Indeed.com, job postings have recovered fully and have now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Indeed job postings


Web Apprentices

The Top 10 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 10 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to Boston PHP Meetup members. February's learning opportunity focuses on Git (#13 in this month's demand analysis) and is called Git Lunch, Season 5. Join us.


View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Boston Web Tech Job Market | January 2021

 

The Headlines


Jobless Claims Surge to Highest Weekly Total Since August

Tech Hiring Stands Out in December Jobs Report

The Job Market in Boston

The K-shaped Recovery in job postings for technical skills in the Boston metro area continues into 2021. Meanwhile, job opportunities lag behind in certain sectors that require workers who interface with customers and may require fewer technical skills. Basically, those who can work from home, do. Those who can't, may continue to struggle.


The list of  Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston  has been updated for January. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

This month's report focuses on The Second Ten, those technical skills which are in demand and directly below the Top 10.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are The Second Ten of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from mid-December, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

January, 2021

  1. Git | 810 (job postings)  up 5%  (from December)
  2. Docker | 777 up 3%
  3. JIRA | 776 up 6%
  4. scrum | 773 down 31%
  5. Kubernetes | 738 up 2%
  6. React | 669 up 8%
  7. OOP | 651 up 902%
  8. SaaS | 605 down 65%
  9. Jenkins | 571 up 3%
  10. SharePoint | 543 up 13%
*** Note: The "scrum", "OOP" and "SaaS" trends appear to be anomalies and are inconsistent with previously reported data. Future monthly reports might well confirm these irregular trends.

Open Jobs in Boston


Web Apprentices

The Top 10 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 10 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit  Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to Boston PHP Meetup members. January's learning opportunity focuses on Amazon Web Services (#5 in this month's demand analysis) and is called AWS Snack, Season 4. Join us.

AWS Snack


View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Friday, December 18, 2020

Boston Web Tech Job Market | December 2020


The Headlines

Big Companies are Firing and Slowing Down Hiring Going into the 2020 Holidays

U.S. Economy Gains Just 245,000 Jobs in Final Report of 2020 as Recovery Stalls with Covid Surging


The Job Market in Boston

The K-Shaped Recovery in job postings for technical skills in the Boston metro area continues. Job postings are now approaching pre-lockdown levels not seen since the beginning of 2020.



While employment opportunities for non-technical workers slowly reappear, as many as 40% of jobs lost may never return according the International Labor Organization. On the contrary, after reaching a pandemic low in June, technology job postings have now risen for the sixth consecutive month.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for December. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or  down from early November, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

December, 2020

  1. agile  *** | 3,621 (job postings) up 2% (from November)
  2. Python | 3.185 up 4%
  3. SQL | 2,238 up 1%
  4. Java | 2,095 up 4%
  5. AWS | 1,946 up 5%
  6. SaaS | 1,736 up 12%
  7. JavaScript | 1,633 up 7%
  8. scrum  *** | 1,121 up 5%
  9. Azure | 1,104 up 6%
  10. C# | 929 up 5%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.


The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

To learn more about these and other in-demand technologies, visit Web Apprentices, a technology skills development platform offered as a service to Boston PHP Meetup members.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Boston Web Tech Job Market | November 2020



The Headlines

Job Growth Stronger Than Expected in October, Unemployment Rate Slides to 6.9%

Employer Confidence Remains Flat in October


The Job Market in Boston

The unemployment rate continues to drop across the United States. However, more than 20 million Americans continue to receive state and federal financial assistance.


While the unemployment rate declines nationally, tech job postings in the Boston metro area continue to rebound. After reaching a pandemic low in June, job postings have now risen for five consecutive months.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for November. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at  Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early October, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

November, 2020

  1. agile  *** | 3,557 (job postings) up 8% (from October)
  2. Python | 3.058 up 10%
  3. SQL | 2,222 up 11%
  4. Java | 2,008 up 6%
  5. AWS | 1,847 up 10%
  6. SaaS | 1,545 up 9%
  7. JavaScript | 1,533 up 10%
  8. scrum  *** | 1,070 up 9%
  9. Azure | 1,045 up 12%
  10. C# | 883 up 12%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.


The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Boston Web Tech Job Market | October 2020

 
Now Hiring

The Headlines

U.S. Labor Market Slowing as Fiscal Stimulus Fades

Exclusive: America's True Unemployment Rate


The Job Market in Boston

The national labor market improves as the unemployment rate drops. However, nearly 25 million former workers continue to receive financial assistance.

While "continued claims" for unemployment decline nationally, tech job postings in the Boston metro area continue to rebound for the fourth month in a row after reaching a pandemic low in June.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for October. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com . The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early September, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

October, 2020

  1. agile *** | 3,290 (job postings) up 8% (from September)
  2. Python | 2,774 up 7%
  3. SQL | 1,995 up 4%
  4. Java | 1,890 up 6%
  5. AWS | 1,675 up 4%
  6. SaaS | 1,418 up 8%
  7. JavaScript | 1,397 up 2%
  8. scrum  *** | 984 up 3%
  9. Azure | 935 up 10%
  10. API | 805 up 10%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page  @webapprentices.

View recent Boston Web Tech Job Market blog postings.



Friday, September 18, 2020

Boston Web Tech Job Market | September 2020



The Headlines

Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Down To 11.3% For August; Biggest Drop In Country

Startup Layoffs Leveled Off Over the Summer


The Job Market in Boston

The national labor market continues to struggle with nearly 30 million former workers receiving financial assistance.


While "continued claims" for unemployment have remained high nationally, tech job postings in the Boston metro area have continued to rebound for the third month in a row after three months of sharp declines.

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for September. This list is based on keyword searches in job postings at Indeed.com. The most in-demand keywords are listed more frequently than less in-demand keywords. This list reflects the change in the last 30 days.

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston

Here are 10 of the 20 most in-demand web technologies [up or down from early August, 2020] ranked by number of job postings on Indeed.

September, 2020

  1. agile *** | 3,095 (job postings) up 9% (from August)
  2. Python | 2,604 up 6%
  3. SQL | 1,919 up 11%
  4. Java | 1,787 up 6%
  5. AWS | 1,614 up 2%
  6. JavaScript | 1,365 up 3%
  7. SaaS | 1,310 up 10%
  8. scrum  *** | 954 up 12%
  9. Azure | 848 up 4%
  10. Web Services | 752 up 5%

*** Note: While "agile" and "scrum" are not technologies, they are methodologies used in technology development. These two keywords appear in many web development job descriptions.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are being counted down over the next 20 days on Beantown Web's Twitter page  @webapprentices.