How Obamacare Could Unlock Job Opportunities

New York Times ^ | February 20, 2014 | By SHAILA DEWAN

[Oldeconomybuyer]

--SNIP-- In February, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Affordable Care Act would reduce employment by the equivalent of 2.5 million full-time jobs. Opponents seized on this as evidence that Obamacare is a job killer. But that’s not what the C.B.O. meant. “The estimated reduction stems almost entirely from a net decline in the amount of labor that workers choose to supply, rather than from a net drop in businesses’ demand for labor,” the report says. In other words, if people work less, it will be by choice.

It may seem counterintuitive, but from an economics perspective, this is a good thing, because it encourages the labor force to allocate itself more efficiently. Older workers will finally be able to retire, leaving openings for younger workers. People will switch to jobs that better suit their talents. Parents will be able to spend more time with their families. Such changes don’t always make people wealthier, but they make people happier.

[spawn44]

Hey Sailan. Right off the bat 16,000 RED SHIRTS will be hired by THE FOREIGNER to oversee the subjects. That’s democrat employment growth if I ever saw it.

[uncitizen]

Opponents seized on this as evidence that Obamacare is a job killer. But that’s not what the C.B.O. meant. “The estimated reduction stems almost entirely from a net decline in the amount of labor that workers choose to supply, rather than from a net drop in businesses’ demand for labor,”

LOLOLOL

[Organic Panic]

The grape flavoraid is strong in this one. Must taste yummy.

[minnesota_bound]

I hope when she loses her job she looks at it as an opportunity and I hope she has that opportunity very soon!

[Pining_4_TX]

No, but there are plenty of people overlooked by employers for all kinds of reasons and I doubt that would change based on health insurance.

I was thinking more of people with diabetes or other chronic illnesses, and I think employers steer clear of older workers, too. They think the employee may miss work often, the employer may fear running afoul of the ADA laws, or they may think the employee will leave soon due to illness or age.

Health insurance is a small part of how badly the government has screwed up the labor market, although the problems with healh insurance tied to employment are certainly a part of that.