Readers' Comments
Total Comments: 36
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The Shortage of People for Jobs
Total Comments: 36
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| Close | Change | YTD | |
| G | $12.6407 | +0.0013 | +2.94% |
| F | $12.1372 | -0.0503 | +1.74% |
| C | $11.4287 | -0.6930 | -30.99% |
| S | $13.6726 | -0.8353 | -30.91% |
| I | $15.5558 | -0.5904 | -37.17% |
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| L 2040 | $13.2999 | -0.5876 | -27.08% |
| L 2030 | $13.2719 | -0.5131 | -23.77% |
| L 2020 | $13.3354 | -0.4274 | -19.91% |
| L 2010 | $13.9552 | -0.2255 | -9.73% |
| L Income | $12.8027 | -0.1371 | -4.95% |
October 8, 2008
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Is it realistic?
AF
Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:10 PM
Post Reply
While Mr Armstrong does point out the job picture is not as negative as protrayed in the media, neither are things as simple as he would lead you to believe. For example, he mentions the shortage of nurses and engineers. Yet this, like many others, are professions that require a certain personality to succeed. I know I could never be a nurse, platitudes about doing anything aside, my personality won't work. Also, simply saying one can go back to college does not address the fact that many people may not be able to. When someone has a spouse, family, and mortgage to support, they don't have the four years it takes to get an engineering or other professional degree. In addition, if someone has been out of school 20 years working, they may not have the prerequisites needed to get back into college -- another two years prep time. While the advice may work for some, far too many people don't have the options that appear so simple to write about, but are very difficult in reality.
Re: Is it realistic?
AF
Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:11 AM
Re: Is it realistic?
DOD
Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:38 AM
Re: Is it realistic?
FAA
Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:16 PM
Re: Is it realistic?
DoD
Mon Oct 6, 2008 11:25 AM
It's not that there are no qualified American workers. There are no CHEAP, qualified American workers.
Talk to Microsoft's tech workers in Washington state, who recently organized w/Comm Wkrs of America as Washington Alliance of Tech Workers (WashTech).
The hardest thing about working at Microsoft is getting a permanent gig. So most workers come on as temps--in the same boat as temp fed workers: no benefits, no scheduled pay raises, and no rights of appeal. Worst of all, Bill Gates is lobbying to increase the cap of foreign labor into this country: good, qualified workers for next to nothing at Microsoft and everywhere else.
Read about it in the May or Jun issue of The Nation.
Finally...
Been Around
Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:06 AM
Post Reply
...someone notes the simple fact that the American job market is strong, even in "recession." But a shortage of "government workers"? Where? The real issue is that government manages its human capital poorly, apparently afraid to gain economy and efficiency at the cost of a lowered appropriation. Agencies are aided and abetted by the politicians who continue to believe THEY are the local job creation engine. The facts are that this country wastes human resources, beginning in grade school. We restrict professional school attendance, and require licensure for mundane entry jobs, like child care attendant. Worst, we import millions, as noted in the article, while enabling native millions to wallow in their own dysfunction while the economy offers personal opportunity like never before.
Jobs after retirement
DoD
Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:50 AM
Post Reply
"That's a very common model among professionals in our society, whether it's doctors, dentists, CPAs, architects, engineers or public relations professionals. So long as they don't have the professional liability responsibility for plans, which they would have as an architect or an engineer, these valuable professionals in our society can go back and assist on projects. "
That's all very well and good, IF you are a "professional".... I currently have a Federally-designed job I have been doing (and, according to the SSPs and Letters of Appreciation I have received over the years, quite well.) that was designed to fill a professional niche where my DoD agency did not want to hire a "professional". The reason? The "Professional" would have had to be paid at a much higher GS level that I am. What about us? The last time I looked, the greeter position at the Wal-Mart door was filled. Why don't you do a piece on the retirement jobs for "The Rest of Us"?
What about the Federal Community?
GSA
Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:22 AM
Post Reply
This article, while being a good overview of jobs in general, should be subplanted with a look at what government jobs are facing a shortage of staffing. Since the majority of the readers are Feds, it would certainly be of interest to most.
Illegal Aliens and US Jobs
INS (now DHS)
Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:26 AM
Post Reply
What this piece of Chamber of Commerce fluffery doesn't say is that yes there are plenty of men and women who can take jobs. But the jobs are such as to require skills which the illiterate agriculture worker from Mexico doesn't have. The parallel misconception is that there is no work in Mexico. That's simply not true. There are all kinds of jobs in Mexico that require no skills to speak of. The problem is that they pay next to nothing. So if you're uneducated, semi-literate, and can do only the drudge work, where would you rather be? Laboring for almost nothing in Mexico or laboring for something a bit better in the U.S. Duh!
Funny how all of this boils down to employers (both sides of the border) being unable or unwilling to pay a living salary and then complaining that they can't find bodies to fill the slots.
Jobs
USDA
Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:49 AM
Post Reply
When I look at the employment/unemployment "glass", I see it as 96% full employment. Last I knew you either had a job or didn't; I believe it's very rare where someone work 96% or is unemployed at 4%. What this ratio hides is the significant unemployment in areas where high paying industrial jobs are being lost in favor of lower paying service jobs. This ratio avoids the economic loss those areas experience when 1000 $40/hr jobs are replaced by 1000 $10/hr. The loss in taxes, purchasing power, purchased services, etc is glossed over. To my thinking, if you quote employment rates, we should look at economic impact more than just a number or employed.
I also think the plethora of jobs is very localized and the reason may be that no one wants to live there until, forced to by the economy.
RNs, truck drivers, teachers, civil servants
navair
Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:09 AM
Post Reply
These are all jobs that tend to be (mostly) undercompensated and underappreciated, particularly teachers and RNs. I look at the stress and responsibilities of my wife, a teacher, and thank my lucky stars that I didn't choose that profession.
Re: RNs, truck drivers, teachers, civil servants
DoD
Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:30 PM
Re: RNs, truck drivers, teachers, civil servants
Been Around
Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:48 AM