• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Chart Your Course International

We help businesses transform themselves into exceptional places to work that attract, retain and motivate people to their full potential.

“Creating Great Places to Work”

Call 770-860-9464

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Gregory P. Smith
    • What We Do
    • Photo Gallery
    • Press Center
    • Client List
    • Testimonials | Speaking
    • Client Testimonials | Training
  • Keynotes
    • Watch Videos
    • Topics
    • Client Testimonials
    • For Meeting Planners
    • Request Speaking Engagement
  • Solutions
    • Take a 5-Minute Organizational Health Check
    • Consulting Projects
    • Suggestion Campaign (BIC)
    • Employee Retention
    • Executive Retreats
    • Team Building Workshops
  • Training
    • Custom Training
    • Online Training
    • Leadership Courses
    • DISC Workshops
    • Customer Service Programs
    • Healthcare Customer Service
  • Assessments
    • Why We Are the Best
    • FREE DISC Report
    • Sample DISC Assessments
    • DISC Reports
    • Sales
    • Emotional Intelligence Report
    • Organizational Surveys
  • Certification
    • DISC Certification Virtual – Live
    • DISC Master Certification
    • One-on-One Web Certification
    • Self-Study DISC Certification
    • Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
    • Certified DISC Trainers
    • Live Driving Forces Program
    • Driving Forces Self-Study
    • Client Testimonials
    • Members Only
  • Resources
    • Free DISC Report
    • Navigator Newsletter
    • Evaluate Your Business – Free Health Check
    • Articles
    • Free DISC E-Book
    • Teambuilding Exercises
  • Shop
  • BLOG
  • Login
  • Contact

July 19, 2012 by Greg

If the Economy Is Getting Better, Where are the Jobs?

Productivity relates to the amount an employee produces for each hour of work — increased at an annual rate of 6.8 percent during the April-to-June quarter. This was “stronger” than the government’s first estimate of a 5.7 percent growth rate according to MSNBC news.

At the same time the labor department said new applications for jobless benefits rose by 15,000 to 413,000 for the week ending Aug. 30. Corporate profits are improving–layoffs are slowing. Economists appear pleased, but many of your friends are still looking for work. If the economy is improving, where are the jobs?

Much of the U.S. job growth in the past several months has come from lower paying, less skilled jobs such as food, office assistants, and other service sector jobs.

Going, going, gone. One reason jobs are harder to find is many of them have been outsourced and sent overseas. Forester Research estimates by 2015 over 3.36 million jobs will be exported. In the 1990’s, over 800,000 jobs went to China. (U.S. News and World Report) It goes without saying that along with the evaporation of these jobs so goes $136 billion dollars worth of annual wages. In June, the Conference Board sponsored the 2003 Strategic Outsourcing Conference. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, (June 27) over 125 executives attended this conference to learn how to export jobs to other countries such as to “India, Philippines, China, Malaysia, and elsewhere.”

A factory worker in China makes about $200 a month. On the other hand, U.S. autoworkers make that much in one day or less. This comes at no surprise that Hondas and Toyotas are outselling most American made automobiles. On the wave of cheap labor, GM is the first U.S. automaker to build a plant in China and expects to increase production by 50%. All-in-all this country is importing more than it exports creating a huge trade deficit.

Crisis or opportunity? We live in a global economy. When it comes to commerce, territorial borders disappear. China has the 6th largest economy in the world and is growing at 8% a year, while the U.S. is creeping along at 2-3%. More jobs overseas means more profits for U.S. multinational companies. Currently, Wal-Mart is China’s 8th largest trading partner according to U.S. News and World Report spending $12 billion last year on Chinese made products.

I don’t pretend to be an economist, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see a storm on the horizon. Most of us have felt the impact of this economy on our wallets. Sure, healthcare and the government sector jobs are growing by leaps and bounds. But, I am concerned that for most of us the future is still in question.

In the “old days” good skills and a good education meant you were guaranteed a good paying job. This is changing for many career fields and certainly is not true if your job is exported. There is going to be a long-term impact on your life style, not to mention your spending power.

Will this country become a nation of “haves and have-nots?” In order for this country to stay competitive we need to readjust our expectations, maybe even our wages. Every business must focus on innovation and new job growth. Take advantage of every productivity enhancement available. And for those who have lost their job, don’t be afraid to learn a new career.

Filed Under: Employee Retention, Talent Management

Primary Sidebar

Search This Site

DISC Certification & Training

View Training Calender

Have Questions? 800-821-2487 or 770-860-9464

Preview Management Training Courses | Free Previews

Free Online Course Preview

Team Building Exercises

img

Complete 100% Money Back Guarantee

Our Newest and Latest Version!

icebreakersrotary

Best Icebreakers and Teambuilding Exercises Digital E-Book Pdf

Automatic Download of the E-book within seconds after you click on the “Buy Now” button on our store.. You can read it on your computer in PDF format if you like, or print it out on your printer. No shipping charges.

More information 

Icebreakers and Teambuilding ExercisesIcebreakers & Team Building Exercises – E-Book Version

  • Co-Operation
  • Crash in Piranha Valley
  • Golf Ball in the Bag
  • Space Mission to the Moon
  • Torpedo Weapons Loading Exercise
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Terrorist Toxic Explosive Situation

 

More information

Bright Ideas Facilitator Kit

Order the Kit
Bright Ideas Employee Suggestion Campaign

Footer

IMPORTANT LINKS

  • Free Newsletter
  • Free Resources
  • DISC Certification Training
  • Executive Retreat Facilitators
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Management Training Programs
  • Privacy

RECENT POSTS

  • How To Retain Employees in an Unstable Job Market December 15, 2022
  • 3 Tips for Training Leaders to Work With Remote Teams October 25, 2022
  • Why Hiring is Irrelevant if You Can’t Solve Retention August 24, 2022
  • The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home August 10, 2022

LOCATION

Chart Your Course International
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

(770) 860-9464
CONTACT US

Free ebook

Online Training Courses

SPECIAL SAVINGS! GET 50% OFF ALL COURSES (770) 860-9464

©2002-2023 Chart Your Course International Inc