CareerCast lists the best part-time jobs for 2015

Accountants, delivery truck drivers, graphic designers and writers/authors are among the best part-time jobs for 2015, according to a newCareerCast report. IT jobs such as computer programmer and network and computer systems administrator also made the list.

Not all businesses or organizations can afford on-site IT professionals, so retaining part-time expertise to address any technology issues that might arise is a logical alternative. Many contract computer programmers and network/computer systems administrators can earn a living from part-time assignments, or they can focus on supplementing their income by floating from business to business.

For employers that experience a rush at one particular time of year, part-time hires are necessary to meet that demand. For instance, accountants are in high demand every spring before tax time, and delivery truck drivers have no problem finding work around the holidays. The suppliers sending out a surplus of products at the holidays also need material movers, so job seekers looking for extra money at that time of year often can find work in warehouses.

At a higher level, a fresh, outside perspective from a contract or freelance management analyst can be an asset to a company's leadership. For management analysts seeking new challenges, this can be a rewarding career path.

"The best part-time jobs include traditional part-time jobs, seasonal jobs, freelance and consulting employment," saysTony Lee, publisher, CareerCast. "Turning part-time or contract work into a full-time business is one way in which professionals in struggling fields have overcome slowed hiring."

The good news on the employment front is that part-time hiring, which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines as one to 34 hours per week, increased considerably amid the economic recovery since the recession of 2008. Part-time employment remains high, partly due to the Affordable Care Act, which has resulted in companies cutting employee hours to get around providing health care to employees working more than 30 hours a week.

The following are the10 bestpart-time and temporary jobs for 2015, using criteria from the CareerCast Jobs Rated report:

ACCOUNTANT
Median Hourly Wage:$30.55
Hiring Outlook: 13%

COMPUTER PROGRAMMER
Median Hourly Wage:$35.71
Hiring Outlook: 8%

DELIVERY TRUCK DRIVER
Median Hourly Wage:$13.23
Hiring Outlook: 5%

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Median Hourly Wage:$21.22
Hiring Outlook: 7%

MANAGEMENT ANALYST
Median Hourly Wage:$37.79
Hiring Outlook: 19%

MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST
Median Hourly Wage:$28.99
Hiring Outlook: 32%

MATERIAL MOVERS
Median Hourly Wage:$11.04
Hiring Outlook: 10%

NETWORK AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR
Median Hourly Wage:$34.88
Hiring Outlook: 12% 

PROOFREADER/COPY MAKER
Median Hourly Wage:$15.93
Hiring Outlook: 3%

WRITERS/AUTHORS
Median Hourly Wage:$26.89
Hiring Outlook: 3%

Wage information and hiring outlook is culled from BLS figures. Hiring figures are for all new jobs, part-time and full-time, by 2022.

CareerCast.com, created byAdicio, is a job search portal that offers extensive local, niche and national job listings from acrossNorth America; job-hunting, career-management and HR-focused editorial content; and videos and blogs; and provides recruiters with the ability to post jobs directly to more than 800 niche career sites. CareerCast.com also compiles the Jobs Rated Report (www.jobsrated.com), where 200 jobs acrossNorth Americaare ranked based on detailed analysis of specific careers factors.

Study shows Meals on Wheels about more than food

A research study of those served by Meals on Wheels America showed recipients of the daily meal felt less anxiety, improved safety and even better health than seniors not on the program, a national study revealed.

Meals on Wheels America said the research study it commissioned from Brown University's Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, with funding provided by AARP Foundation, showed the real value of the program to its recipients. The study was released Monday to commemorate the start of the organization's 13^th March for Meals, a nationwide celebration of local Meals on Wheels programs throughout the month of March.

"The Meals on Wheels network faces tough choices forced by limited funding, rising costs, unprecedented demand and need, and increasing for-profit competition," said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. "Thanks to Brown University and AARP Foundation, we have the research-backed evidence that confirms what we've all known for decades anecdotally through personal experience: that Meals on Wheels does in fact deliver so much more than just a meal."

"The findings in this study show the great value of Meals on Wheels America's work as their volunteers provide not only a needed meal but a friendly face and safety check," said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation. "The report reinforces our resolve at AARP Foundation to address the interrelated issues of senior hunger and isolation by pursuing both immediate relief and longer-term solutions."

Meals on Wheels America contracted Dr. Kali Thomas, PhD of Brown University's Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, to design and execute the 15-week More Than a Meal pilot study involving more than 600 senior participants to compare the experience and health outcomes realized by older adults who receive three different levels of service: daily traditional meal delivery, once-weekly frozen delivery and individuals on a waiting list for meals.

"As a former Meals on Wheels volunteer and the granddaughter of a recipient, I have witnessed firsthand the valuable benefits this service provides to those fortunate enough to receive it," said Kali Thomas, PhD, principal investigator, Brown University. "We structured this study as a randomized control, blinded study and what we found in the data is significant evidence that seniors derive several benefits beyond nutrition alone from this service."

Key findings include:

• Those receiving and/or requesting Meals on Wheels services are significantly more vulnerable compared to a nationally representative sample of aging Americans.
• Those who received daily-delivered meals experienced the greatest improvements in health and quality of life indicators over the study period compared to the other two groups (individuals who received frozen, weekly-delivered meals and the control group).
• Those receiving daily-delivered meals reported greater benefits from their home-delivered meal experience compared to the group receiving frozen meals.
• Those who lived alone and received daily-delivered meals were more likely to report decreases in worry about being able to remain in home and improvements in feelings of isolation and loneliness over the study period, compared to the other two groups.

For more information, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/MTAM.

Throughout the month-long March for Meals celebration, local Meals on Wheels programs in virtually every community across the country will hold events, speaking out and recruiting supporters to bolster the services they provide to vulnerable seniors. This valuable research will support these programs in making the case for much-needed funding and resources, whether to elected officials, private funders and foundations, or donors.

To find a local March for Meals celebration near you, visit www.marchformeals.com.

Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, strengthen communities, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated charity. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.   

Ameren asks customers to beware of scams

Ameren Corp. wants its customers in Illinois and Missouri to be aware of scam artists who are using Ameren's name illegally.

Last year an estimated 1,400 Ameren customers were affected by phone scams, with losses totaling more than $23,000. The majority of scams reported to Ameren threatened disconnection of utility service unless a payment was made immediately from a pre-paid money card over the phone. Some thieves have even come right to customer doors.

"We've received reports of scam artists coming to homes and businesses suggesting that there are problems with electrical equipment," said Tim Reagan, director of corporate security at Ameren. "Scammers will demand payment for repairs that don't exist. We never demand payment at a customer's home or business."

Ameren offers these tips against scammers:

• Ameren never demands personal, account or financial information for immediate payment. Never give your credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or saving account numbers to anyone who comes to your home, calls or sends an email requesting this information.
• Ameren field employees do not accept payments.
• Never let anyone into your home claiming to be from the utility unless they show proper Ameren badge identification.
• Ameren never sends emails that include attachments, unless you've contacted us to specifically request information. Never open attachments unless you've contacted Ameren and are expecting to receive information.

Ameren continues to work with federal, state and local authorities to investigate utility scams. "We know how important it is to keep customers' information safe and secure, and we appreciate any information they can provide to help eliminate these scams altogether," said Reagan.

If you suspect someone is impersonating an Ameren employee, end the conversation and immediately call Ameren Illinois at (800) 755-5000 or Ameren Missouri at (800) 552-7583. Customers can also follow Ameren on social media to receive the latest updates on scams.

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation provides power to 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries.

Ameren Illinois provides electric delivery and transmission service as well as natural gas delivery service while Ameren Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of 10,300 megawatts, and natural gas delivery service. Ameren Transmission Company ofIllinois develops regional electric transmission projects. For more information, visit Ameren.com.

Labrador Retriever once again America's favorite breed

The Labrador Retriever has done it again. The American Kennel Club (AKC^®) announced Thursday that the intelligent, family friendly breed holds tight to the number one spot on the most popular list for the 24^th consecutive year, continuing the longest reign as the nation's top dog in AKC history.

While the Lab holds strong, the Bulldog has quietly crept up the list, landing this year at number four for the first time – its highest ranking in breed history. This gentle breed makes an excellent family companion with a natural tendency to form strong bonds with kids, an easy-to-care-for coat and minimal exercise needs.    

Meanwhile, the popular French Bulldog continues its quest for the number one spot, breaking into the top 10 for the first time in nearly 100 years this year at number nine. The Dachshund was knocked out of the top 10 this year for the first time since 1985, landing at number 11.

"The Lab truly is America's dog," said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo, "but the lovable Bulldog breeds are clamoring to dominate. Watch out for an upset next year."

America's most popular aren't the only movers and shakers. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (aka "the 4-wheel drive of hunting dogs") made huge strides over the past decade, jumping 38 spots from 112^th in 2004 to 74^th in 2014. Other breeds making double-digit gains over the past decade include the Havanese (from 52^nd in 2004 to 25^th in 2014), the Border Collie (from 60^th in 2004 to 39^th in 2014), the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (from 118^th in 2004 to 96^th in 2014), and the Black and Tan Coonhound (from 140^th in 2004 to 120^th in 2014).

See below for AKC's top 10 most popular breeds in 2014, along with the 2013 comparison:

The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. For more information, visit www.akc.org.