One company's move to open a new call center will create Phoenix management jobs.

First American Corporation recently announced that it will open a call center in Phoenix this March. The facility will initially employ 100 workers, with that number expected to grow to anywhere between 200 and 400 workers by 2012.

In addition to management positions, available jobs will include those for front-line customer service representatives and claims agents. Pay for customer service jobs will range between $10 per hour and $16 per hour.

"This is a great win for the City of Phoenix and for the Valley," Barry Broome, CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said. "With their plan to bring 400 jobs in the next 24 months, First American is providing a much-needed boost to the local economy."

Santa Ana-based First American offers home warranties in 35 states. The company also does mortgage lending and title insurance, as well as other financial services.

"As we looked around the nation for a location for our new call center, Phoenix offered the ideal blend of technological infrastructure, convenience and access to talented employee candidates," Jeff Powell, vice president of First American, said. "We plan to grow our operations over the next several years, and this new call center will enable us to provide the responsive support our customers deserve and expect."

The Phoenix area could certainly use the additional jobs. Although the city's unemployment rate has decreased as of late and more jobs have been added on a monthly basis, Phoenix has lost workers when compared to last year.

During November 2009, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area's unemployment rate decreased from 8.7 percent to 8.1 percent, following an increase from 8.6 percent during October. That places the city below the national unemployment rate of 10 percent.

The area had a total non-farm employment of 1,731,500 workers during November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 1,722,700 workers during October, but a 6 percent decrease from October 2008.

Labels: Phoenix management jobs