The U.S. Jobless Recovery Is Jobless No More: Caroline Baum

Bloomberg ^ | 05/07/04 | Bloomberg

[SavoyyTruffle]

"All the factories in my county closed down last year. All four of them."

Maybe you should consider changing counties.

Used to be, people who wanted work would move to where the jobs are.

[snopercod]

Used to be, people who wanted work would move to where the jobs are.

Well, I'd be glad to if there were any jobs out there in my profession. There aren't. (I used to build nuclear power plants.)

I did check with GE Power Systems. They had an opening for a turbine engineer - BSEE with 5+ years of experience (both of which I have) and willing to travel. Starting pay: $10 per hour.

How many times do you think I should retrain, anyway? Let's see, after I got my BSEE I went into electronics. After the Japanese killed off that industry, I went into nuclear power. After the environmentalists killed off that industry, I got my building contractor's license in California. After the no-growthers and state bureaucracy made it impossible to make any money doing that, I got into aerospace. Now that's gone too. So I learned AutoCAD and occasionally get some work designing houses.

Maybe I should buy a monkey and an organ-grinder?

I have no doubt that there are new jobs being created, but they're all in the service industry. Why is it so hard for people to understand that a minimum-wage job at McD's or a telemarketing job is not equal to a job building powerplants, designing skyscrapers, or launching space shuttles?

Most people on this forum wouldn't drive 120 miles each day for a minimum wage job, but maybe you expect me to do that?

[Willie Green]

Maybe the manufacturers are gearing up for anticipated growth in demand and don't want to be left flatfooted when the orders start rolling in.

No. Employment is a lagging indicator of sales and occurs only after employers have utilized overtime options to satisfy existing demand.

Given that there has been no structural change in the factors that fuel a domestic economic environment that is hostile to manufacturing, I suspect this is just a temporary blip due to the decreased industrial capacity created by previous outsourcing. With no domestic regulatory reform on the horizon, I expect this blip will be followed by another downturn in future months.

[FastCoyote]

I know the feeling, I did some Yucca Mtn. Nuclear, some IT, lots of other stuff. Retraining for a moving target is not much fun.

[Paul_B]

> Jobless Recovery Is Jobless No More

No problem. Served its purpose. Bush's enemies have another pony to ride now.

[boxsmith13]

In fact it hasnt been jobless since january when 159K jobs were added. Were on track for 3 million jobs this year, assumign Feb's 83k is an outlier.

[boxsmith13]

You sound like Mike Dukakis in 1988 who won 111EVs insisting that the 1980s economic boom was based on hamburger flipping jobs. Anecdotal evidence isnt evidence

[Choose Ye This Day]

I don't know where you are, but there seem to be plenty of manufacturing and engineering jobs available in North Carolina. If they're not in your county, well, sometimes you have to go TO the job, and not wait for the job to come to you.

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Date Job Title Company Location

May 8 Production Supervisor
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Charlotte
May 8 Controls Engineer - Great Location Near Atlantic Ocean
Best Fit Recruiting US-NC-Eastern/Greenville
May 8 PROJECT ENGINEERS - Energy Solutions
Ameresco Inc. US-NC-Statewide
May 7 Manager - Environmental, Health, & Safety
General Dynamics ATP US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Environmental Engineer 2
CDM US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Water/Wastewater Engineer
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Western/Asheville
May 7 Regulatory/Compliance Engineer
Manpower Professional US-NC-Zebulon
May 7 Analog IC Design Engineer
General Employment US-NC-Raleigh
May 7 Industrial Engineer
Trim Systems US-NC-Statesville
May 7 Plant Engineer Manager
Trim Systems US-NC-Statesville
May 7 Acoustic Project Engineer - Automotive
Source One Solutions US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Inventory Control
TAC Worldwide Companies US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Design Engineer
Company Confidential US-NC-Arden
May 7 Production Supervisor Meat Poultry Dairy Food Beverage
Dunhill Staffing US-NC-Wilmington/Fayetteville
May 7 Buyer
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Statewide
May 7 Visual Studio .Net support
Volt Services US-NC-Clayton
May 7 Environmental Engineer
Belcan TechServices US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 7 Manufacturing Engineer
Manpower Professional US-NC-Smithfield
May 7 MANUFACTURING MANAGER - Home Prefabrication
Topsider Building Systems US-NC-Clemmons
May 7 Electrical Engineer - Digital Switches
Manpower Professional US-NC-Raleigh
May 7 Materials Expeditor / Planner
Spherion US-NC-Eastern/Greenville
May 7 Purchasing Manager
FPC US-NC-Durham
May 7 Supervisor
FPC US-NC-Charlotte
May 7
Lead Person
CHASE Staffing Services US-NC-High Point
May 7 PURCHASING / ESTIMATING MANAGER - Purchasing Agents! Come join a Fortune 1000 company!
Toll Brothers, Inc. US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Civil Engineering Opportunities
Kimley-Horn & Associates US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Maintenance Technician in Injection Molding Facility
US Leisure US-NC-Charlotte
May 7 Quality Assurance Manager
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 7 CNC Operator
Company Confidential US-NC-RTP
May 7 Test Engineer 4 (2 positions)
Tekelec US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 7 Machinist
Manpower US-NC-Carbonton
May 7
Manufacturing Sr. Supervisor
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals US-NC-Sanford
May 7 Engineer
Ingersoll-Rand US-NC-Mocksville
May 6 Lean Manufacturing Manager
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Gastonia
May 6 Medical/Safety Manager
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Gastonia
May 6 Buyer
Olsten Staffing US-NC-Western/Asheville
May 6 Materials Manager
Olsten Staffing US-NC-Western/Asheville
May 6 Buyer - Manufacturing
Company Confidential US-NC-Charlotte
May 6 Process Engineer
Timken US-NC-Iron Station
May 6 Black Belt Product Quality
GE Infrastructure US-NC-Charlotte
May 6 Cost Accountant with Casegoods Furniture Experience
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Western/Asheville
May 6 Warrant Asministrator
Hayward Industries, Inc. US-NC-Clemmons
May 6 Quality Manager
Lawson Family of Businesses US-NC-Charlotte
May 6 Maintenance Department Leader
Centro Inc. US-NC-Claremont
May 6 Maintenance Department Leader
Centro Inc. US-NC-Claremont
May 6 Truss Designer
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 6 Sr. Buyer
Teleflex Incorporated US-NC-RTP
May 6 CNC/Machine Operator
Snelling Personnel US-NC-Mebane
May 6 Design Engineer
Solectron Technology, Inc. US-NC-Research Triangle Park
May 6 Product Line Leader - Plant Controls
GE Energy US-NC-Wilmington/Fayetteville
May 6 Assistant Purchasing Manager (Automotive Manufacturing Experience)
Management Recruiters Intl US-NC-Charlotte
May 6 CAB Design Engineer
Volt Services US-NC-Raleigh
May 5 SMT Operator
Adecco Employment Services US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 5 MANUFACTURING ENGINEER with 0-2 yrs. exper
Dunhill Staffing US-NC-statewide
May 5 SR MANUFACTURING ENGINEER w/metal cutting exper Kaizens & Lean Mfg.
Dunhill Staffing US-NC-Charlotte
May 5 PLANT CONTROLLER
Company Confidential US-NC-Statewide
May 5 Software Engineer/Developer
Scott Health & Safety US-NC-Monroe
May 5 Molding Process Engineer
Manpower US-NC-Whitsett
May 5 R & D Project Manager
Sanford Rose Associates US-NC-Charlotte
May 5 Sr. Design Engineer
Solectron Technology, Inc. US-NC-Research Triangle Park
May 5 Engineering Intern
Electrolux Home Products US-NC-Kinston
May 5 Toolmaker
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Fayetteville
May 5 CIVIL ENGINEER / ENGINEER INTERN
Site Solutions US-NC-Charlotte
May 5 Packaging Equipment Engineer
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Statewide
May 5 Director, Quality Control
Union Corrugating Company US-NC-Wilmington/Fayetteville
May 5 Plant Manager
The Judge Group US-NC-Raleigh
May 5 Radiation Safety Officer/Health & Safety Engineer
Siemens Medical Solutions USA US-NC-Cary
May 5 Senior Strategic Program Engineer
DNA Group, Inc. US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 5 Field Engineers/Technician (Europe Assignment)
Orion International Consulting US-NC-STATEWIDE
May 5 Product Manager
Kaba Ilco Corp US-NC-Eastern/Greenville
May 5 Production Associate
Commercial equipment US-NC-Raleign
May 5 Maintenance Tech
A&R Staffing Resources US-NC-Greensboro
May 5 OSP Design Engineer
Verizon US-NC-Sylva
May 5 Structural Engineer
Woodard Engineering US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 4 Materials Management Analyst
BASF, The Chemical Company US-NC-Research Triangle Park
May 4 Senior Analog Design Engineer
Company Confidential US-NC-Morrisville
May 4 2ND SHIFT WORKING SUPERVISOR
Spherion US-NC-Old Fort
May 4 Radiation Safety Officer/Heath & Safety Engineer
Siemens Medical Solutions USA US-NC-Cary
May 4 Product Engineer
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Statewide
May 4 CNC Supervisor
ThyssenKrupp Precision Forge US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 4 Injection Molding Supervisor
Hayward Industries, Inc. US-NC-Clemmons
May 4 Reliability Technician
Hayward Industries, Inc. US-NC-Clemmons
May 4 Reliability Technician
Hayward Industries, Inc. US-NC-Clemmons
May 4
>> STAY AT HOME! Use your computer, sales, administration skills, etc and end the Rat Race!<<
Online Sales Systems US-NC-Greensboro
May 4 INVENTORY ANALYST
Trim Systems US-NC-Statesville
May 4 SHIPPING SUPERVISOR
Trim Systems US-NC-Statesville
May 4 Director of Operations-Manufacturing-Medical Devices
Bock & Associates US-NC-statewide
May 4 Heat Pump Technical Rep
Hayward Industries, Inc. US-NC-Clemmons
May 4 Sr Project/Product Development Engineer--Medical Device
Bock & Associates US-NC-statewide
May 4 Meat Industry Maintenance Supervisor
The Harlan Group, Inc. US-NC-Western/Asheville
May 4 Senior Technical Sales Engineer – Microprocessors and Storage/Server Technology
Dunhill Staffing US-NC-Raleigh/RTP
May 4 Supply Chain Manager
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Charlotte
May 4 Mechanical Design Engineer
Elster Electricity, LLC US-NC-208 S. Rogers Lane
May 4 Senior Electro-Optical Engineer
Management Recruiters Intntl US-NC-Statewide
May 4 Research Engineer
Celgard Inc. US-NC-Charlotte
May 4 Asphalt Technician I & II
Adecco Employment Services US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 3 ALLEGRO EXPERT WITH PCB DESIGN EXP NEEDED ASAP
OAO Technology Solutions US-NC-Durham
May 3 Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance Technician
Cree, Inc US-NC-Raleigh/Durham-RTP
May 3 contact Qualirty Engineer
Spherion US-NC-Charlotte
May 3 Machine Operator C
Carolina Forge/Nucor Bearing US-NC-Wilson

[snopercod]

The 1980's economic boom was real. I was part of it. I made more money building power plants in 1983 than I have ever made since.

[snopercod]

Meat Industry Maintenance Supervisor. That's for me.

[COEXERJ145]

Now the Democrats will shift back to bashing Bush over Iraq. Using the economy as an issue isn't going to work much anymore so it is back to Plan A, Version 17 for a while.

[Coop]

I have no doubt that there are new jobs being created, but they're all in the service industry. Why is it so hard for people to understand that a minimum-wage job at McD's or a telemarketing job is not equal to a job building powerplants, designing skyscrapers, or launching space shuttles?

At last count nonsense like this had been shown to be false 643 times.

[Jorge]

Willie Green is deeply saddened.

Yes. After months of Willie posting that outsourcing is the death of America, we see now see nearly a million new jobs created in America since the beginning of the year alone.

In fact the US economy is growing faster and by far the strongest in the industrialized world.

Where is our prophet of doom and gloom now? I'm worried about him.
Perhaps we should form a FR prayer circle to help him through these depressing days of good economic news.

[snopercod]

Nonsense? Our local paper has ads for the following:

• Cooks
• Waitstaff
• Telemarketers
• Porta-potty cleaners ($7.50/hr.)

Your saying that the economy is great because you read it in the paper doesn't make it so everywhere. Maybe it is in Albuquerque or Amarillo, but not anywhere within 500 miles of where I live.

Having lots of time on my hands, I actually get out and talk to local business owners. Not ONE of them has anything good to say about this economy. Recent price increases are killing them.

[Types_with_Fist]

Meat Industry Maintenance Supervisor. That's for me.

I think with that fancy new title, according to the new rules, they can exempt you from overtime pay...:-)

[snopercod]

Love your screen name. My Indian name is "runs_with_chainsaw". My wife gave me that after observing me cutting down trees and having them always fall the wrong way.

[Toddsterpatriot]

If it weren't for the free tratin outsourcers, we'd have added 3 million jobs this year. Yeah that's the ticket!!

[Coop]

Your saying that the economy is great because you read it in the paper doesn't make it so everywhere.

Nor does your whining. But I have data to back up my position.

[junta]

Noted supply side economist Paul Craig Roberts analyzed the numbers and found them wanting. It seems very few of April's jobs required a college degree.

[snopercod]

Me: I have no doubt that there are new jobs being created, but they're all in the service industry.

You: At last count nonsense like this had been shown to be false 643 times

Sorry for the late reply, but I just got around to looking up the actual data. THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: APRIL 2004

In April, "Goods Producing" employment increased 42,000, and "Service Providing" employment increased by 246,000 jobs from the previous month.

So sorry, but you might want to re-evaluate your position.

Better yet, it is likely that 390,000 of the 288,000 "jobs" were "phantom jobs", added statistically via the "birth/death" (of businesses, not people) program.

When the BLS does their monthly survey of 400,000 businesses, they add anywhere from zero to 0.7% to account for some businesses dying, and others being born. The average fudge-factor is 0.3%, which in this case turns out to be 390,000 jobs.

You can read more on what they euphemistically call the "benchmark revision" [here].