3 Months of Job Growth Best in 3 Years

NY Times ^ | November 8, 2003 | DAVID LEONHARDT

[elfman2]

"Other questions would be "How many jobs went overseas last month, never to return?" and "how much of this increase is caused by the continuing war in Iraq?" "

Being that the increase is in service sector jobs, I’d guess at least 20, being that there’s a Berger King now at Baghdad International. Another good question might be how much our economy would benefit if there were 150,000 more people back here participating in our economy and $80 billion spent on our infrastructure. Sure, it’s better spent there for peace, but imagine the immediate consequences of the alternative.

[elfman2]

"As a substitute teacher, I constantly have to put up with complaining teachers who make $50,000+ a year after not too long on the job, summers off, showing up for work in jeans, school's out before 2PM complaining about a truly silly situation where they can't use the copier on their own."

I was remarking to my wife the other day that I’ve never seen a consistently stressed out overworked teacher, other than one managing a family as well. Have you?

[elfman2]

"Businesses can no longer get productivity out of technology."

This may seem like a synaptic distinction, but I think it’s worth mentioning. Technology, other than production automation, generally does not improve productivity. It enables organizational redesign and change that can either directly improve productivity or improve effectiveness (which may eventually indirectly improve productivity of the economy as a whole.)

[grania]

I was remarking to my wife the other day that I’ve never seen a consistently stressed out overworked teacher, other than one managing a family as well. Have you?

Actually, I have. It's very stressful to be always responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of a group of youngsters, where every decision has the potential to lead to disaster. The pressures of grades, curriculum requirements, some unreasonable parents, and being second guessed is tremendous. Just the standing, lecturing, and constantly moving around the room are difficult, in fact impossible for many people.

So, yes, there is a constant pressure and stress. But there's a trade-off. Teachers can live near where they work. The classroom time isn't that long of a day. The paycheck and benefits are assured. And, most students and parents do show a lot of respect for teachers.

[Willie Green]

Mr. Bush, speaking in Winston-Salem, N.C., said, "This administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America."

An increase in McJobs leads to greater prosperity???

I don't think so.

Consumer debt increases in Sept. by largest amount since January

The new jobs added last month mostly were in lower-paying industries such as retail and temporary employment firms. Average weekly earnings in those sectors are $366 and $318 respectively, said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, an employment research and recruiting firm. The national average is $521 per week." (Source)

Consumers can't afford very much debt on a WalMart wage.

There is no reason to believe that the debt-inflated service employment bubble is sustainable.
Especially with low-wage service sector jobs.

[Pharmboy]

Nicely deconstructed; I'm a bioscience guy and that was by me.