Posted on 02/17/2005 9:25:25 AM PST by qam1
LOL! Very economically productive talent, that.
you can't explain that basic concept to the free traders here - they just do not understand how globalism is depressing US wages, and toss in the chinese currency peg which we seem unwilling to fight to have them drop, and its just makes no sense for americans to even consider those professions any more. you can make far more money being a waiter at a busy restaurant.
those companies don't care - because the entire global labor pool is available to them for many of their positions. technology, accounting, customer service, engineering - they can get it all offshore for less. unless you are in the executive suite, legal, sales and marketing, or a job that requires a physical presence - you can be offshored.
Maybe because "free traders" do not accept the notion that our wages are falling on faith? What is it with you guys?
You know a guy, huh? Well that settles it.
I am constantly meeting several folks that fall into that category, are now self-employed making as good if not better money and would never dream of reentering the rat race usually led by the dumbest rat.
hear! hear! :)
Right on target! Let's see some respect for the Baby Boomers while we are at it. I am sick and tired of hearing that we were the spend generation for whom everyone of the gen X and Y has to work so hard to pay the bills. I worked myself practically into the grave at an early age. My work ethic was very strong. 14 hour days, 6 day weeks, replaced by 3 people when I burned out. I am not whining. I am just one of the people who was very good at my job, just didn't know how to say enough is enough and protect myself.There are many more like me who learned excellent work ethics from our parents and company loyalty. Too bad companies forgot the meaning of loyalty to employees. When the Boomers are gone, I hope the younger generation can step in and carry on.
" ...What all these idiots fail to account for the the very large labor pool in the 40+ year old age group who are unemployed or underemployed. Generally speaking, this age group is savvy, seasoned, with good skills learned in school and in 20 years of being in the workforce, yet they are cast aside or not called back for the second interview because of their grey hair... When I hear that most of my engineer, programmer and PhD friends can easily find jobs at a salary level that supports a family, then I'll say these companies have a problem... Until then, they're just another whining set of clueless bozos who are not looking at the entire talent pool in this country. They're only looking at the 20-30 yo set, and only plan to pay a salary that not even many single people can use to survive... "
Good points!
Case in point: The other day I bought a shirt at Old Navy that was 75% off $14.50. The young girl at the register rang it up as $4.99. When I pointed out that $4.99 wasn't 75% off of $14.50 she pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled some numbers. After staring at the numbers for what seemed like eternity I could see she was stumped. I'm sure everyone has had similar experiences with saleshelp under thirty who cannot do simple math.
In this case it didn't really matter what the salesgirl does because only the manager can make corrections and getting Osama Bin Ladin to show up at the register is more likely.
True.
I am an old guy who was engaged in scientific work for national defense. As I see it now, as the complexity of life increases, the demand for various jobs change.....sometimes up and sometimes down.
When I was a young man, a machinist was viewed as a very highly skilled, relatively highly paid job in much demand from tool making to crafting complex shapes. Many of the machinists started as an apprentice and as their skills improved, so did their stature....But! Enter robots..enter skilled and low paying offshore labor for the same needs...and exit many areas of demand for the machinist (e.g. remember what happened to the blacksmith making horseshoes).
Many people of long ago were self trained or lightly trained in a variety of occupations without any advanced education. Abe Lincoln never saw third grade and learned how to read on his own, taught himself the law and became a renowned lawyer and then president......try that today!!!Too many bureaucratic hurdles.
Have a great day and I wish you well.
True.
I am an old guy who was engaged in scientific work for national defense. As I see it now, as the complexity of life increases, the demand for various jobs change.....sometimes up and sometimes down.
When I was a young man, a machinist was viewed as a very highly skilled, relatively highly paid job in much demand from tool making to crafting complex shapes. Many of the machinists started as an apprentice and as their skills improved, so did their stature....But! Enter robots..enter skilled and low paying offshore labor for the same needs...and exit many areas of demand for the machinist (e.g. remember what happened to the blacksmith making horseshoes).
Many people of long ago were self trained or lightly trained in a variety of occupations without any advanced education. Abe Lincoln never saw third grade and learned how to read on his own, taught himself the law and became a renowned lawyer and then president......try that today!!!Too many bureaucratic hurdles.
Have a great day and I wish you well.
Quote: You know a guy, huh? Well that settles it.
yes smart aleck he helps out at the school as a part time assistant instructor where I am taking machinist classes.
Machinist trades have taken a hit salary wise over the last 10 years because with cnc machines alot of the work(production) is now done cheaper overseas.
I'm getting sick of the people that say you need to update your job skills/go back to school etc. That is exactly what I'm doing. But I'm faced with making $8 an hour to start(which is way less than I'm making now) and most only pay $12-13.00 with experience. Even the jobs with companies like Boeing etc are drying up or people are being layed off.
Buisiness say go back to school to get more traing. That is what many millions of americans are doing and the job they went back to get technical training for is outsourced.
It's damned if you do damned if you don't.
The report is just cover for more outsourcing, H1-B visas, and tacit encouragement of unlimited immigration, legal or otherwise.
Please add me to the Xer Ping list, thanks.
,,, Holland was quick to start calling workers out of retirement about five years to cover shortages of skilled labour. Other countries will follow suit, for certain.
US corporate management has bought into the idea that ANY job that a person can do by sitting in front of a computer all day, can be done offshore. Large companies are systematically mining through these types of organizations to structure them to be offshored. customer support, software development, accounting, back office and administrative support jobs, etc.
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