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There are fewer Americans participating the labor force than ever before. At the same time the GDP is growing, businesses are profiting at a higher level than ever before. The fact is that unless you have some special skill or are extraordinarily productive, you're not any use to American business, unless it wants to be charitable by giving you a job it could've got cheaper by a machine, a telecommuting worker from another country or a worker from another country staying here on an H1B Visa.
Don't worry, though. The government knows that civil unrest would occur if it didn't take care of the massive unemployed class. You can count on Congress to keep your UI rolling in. The question is what effect this will have on society. It's plain horrible for a society when not many people are working. It leads to all kinds of social ills.
If there is civil unrest, the thousands of people in my office will be doing it online. We are working in cubicle farms from 8-5. After 5 pm, everybody has their chores and errands to run.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Originally Posted by DeathGreetsMeWarm
There are fewer Americans participating the labor force than ever before. At the same time the GDP is growing, businesses are profiting at a higher level than ever before. The fact is that unless you have some special skill or are extraordinarily productive, you're not any use to American business, unless it wants to be charitable by giving you a job it could've got cheaper by a machine, a telecommuting worker from another country or a worker from another country staying here on an H1B Visa.
Don't worry, though. The government knows that civil unrest would occur if it didn't take care of the massive unemployed class. You can count on Congress to keep your UI rolling in. The question is what effect this will have on society. It's plain horrible for a society when not many people are working. It leads to all kinds of social ills.
We have not gotten anywhere near the point where not many people are working. While we continue to hear complaints from those having trouble finding a job, and more people are giving up, the fact is that the great majority are still working. With a 7.3% unemployment rate and the people not in the labor force up to 154 million, that's still a lot of people with jobs. I still think the situation will improve when the boomers still working now in their 60s finally can afford to retire in large numbers. The question is whether the unemployed have the right skills, or if the companies can continue to get by with fewer people with more automation.
The question is whether the unemployed have the right skills, or if the companies can continue to get by with fewer people with more automation.
I almost think automation is something of a safeguard against a labor shortage. In many blue collar settings and occupations, boomers constitute the vast majority of workers, particularly in skilled roles. Once they are gone, they aren't coming back, unless offered exorbitant sums of money for temporary assignments. Some of those occupations require years of training before younger workers can begin to take the place of the boomers. Without some form of automation to lessen the requirement for labor, that work, and the jobs provided will simply go somewhere else, and not necessarily somewhere cheaper. It would be bad news for America and many of it's corps that depend on domestic output.
But I agree with your assessment regarding the number of people employed. The majority who wants to work, is working. Many of those aren't doing their dream job today, but it's likely an improvement from where they were 4-6 years ago. We are far removed from conditions that invite civil unrest. If Greece and Spain can continue to function with ubber depression level statistics regarding employment, than Americans have nothing to complain about.
We have not gotten anywhere near the point where not many people are working. While we continue to hear complaints from those having trouble finding a job, and more people are giving up, the fact is that the great majority are still working. With a 7.3% unemployment rate and the people not in the labor force up to 154 million, that's still a lot of people with jobs. I still think the situation will improve when the boomers still working now in their 60s finally can afford to retire in large numbers. The question is whether the unemployed have the right skills, or if the companies can continue to get by with fewer people with more automation.
Agreed, not to mention when you are out of the labor force you have no idea what the current labor force is all about. Many companies have cracked down really hard because competition is very high for a single position. Many workers today put a lot of effort into their jobs and go above and beyond what was considered the normal a few years before the collapse.
According to some posters on this thread, is that unemployment is through the roof, and will never recover.
There are 372 Metropolitan areas in the U.S. Three percent unemployment rate is 3% is considered full unemployment as 3% of people will be between jobs due to quitting their job, taking some time off because they want to, etc. at any one time and are not really in the employed count, by choice. There are 9 metro areas where the unemployment rate is 3% or under. They actually need people to fill jobs in some of those 9 and are desperate for help.
The best California metro area tied for 147th place is Napa, California. California also has several that are right down near the bottom for the whole country.
Overall, California has over 91% of the people employed, but are down near the bottom of the heap overall.
In parts of the country, the minimum wage is far below what they start people at even at McDonald's. I have seen signs for $22 an hour at McDonald's in the low unemployment area of the oil patch. We are a long ways from the oil patch, and are not effected by it. Our local McDonald's was paying my grandson 2 years ago $11 an hour, and recently had a help wanted sign at $15 an hour. We have a young woman that works for us a housekeeper 3 days a week, and we pay her $15 an hour.
I know a lot of people from California call most of the country Fly Over Country, but it is where employers put the jobs. Coupled with decent jobs, and low cost of living, the so called FOC, has people that are happy, not crying because there are no jobs.
When someone complains they have college degrees and have been out of work for 4 years, it sure does not make people in the FOC, feel sorry for you. Either you have worthless degrees, or are not willing to work at something you do not think is a dream job.
When you get an interview, but no job, it would bet on many of those interviews it was your attitude that keeps you unemployed. You are so hung up you have 2 degrees, and you are so perfect you want the employer to fawn over you, and offer you special incentives to take the job. On the other hand, the employer is looking for someone that shows them why the applicant would be a good match for the company and is there to make their case.
If you can't find a job in 4 years in California, move to where there is a need for employees, as there are a lot of the country where working people do not have trouble finding jobs, and are working.
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