The Death of U.S. Jobs

NewsMax.com ^ | 6/7/06 | Paul Craig Roberts

[ProCivitas]

The May payroll jobs report released June 2 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms the jobs pattern for the 21st century U.S. economy: Employment growth is limited to domestic services.

In May, the economy created only 67,000 private sector jobs. Job estimates for the previous two months were reduced by 37,000.

The new jobs are as follows: Professional and business services, 27,000; education and health services, 41,000; waitresses and bartenders, 10,000.

Manufacturing lost 14,000 jobs.

Total hours worked in the private sector declined in May. Manufacturing hours worked are 6.6 percent less than when the recovery began four-and-one-half years ago.

American economists and policymakers are in denial about the effect of jobs offshoring on U.S. employment. Corporate lobbyists have purchased fraudulent studies from economists that claim offshoring results in more U.S. employment, rather than less.

The same lobbyists have spread disinformation that the United States does not graduate enough engineers and that they must import foreigners on work visas. Lobbyists are currently pushing, as part of the immigration bill, an expansion in annual H-1B work visas from 65,000 to 115,000.

The H-1B is a nonimmigrant classification used by an alien who will be employed temporarily in a specialty occupation.

A specialty occupation requires specialized knowledge, along with at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. Such occupations include architecture or engineering.

The alleged "shortage" of U.S. engineering graduates is inconsistent with reports from Duke University that 30 percent to 40 percent of students in its masters of engineering management program accept jobs outside the profession.

About one-third of engineering graduates from MIT go into careers outside their field.

[Sam's Army]

You don't have to, but leading consulting firms such as Booz-Allen, McKinsey, and others recruit right from those fertile grounds.

[You Dirty Rats]

Democrats know where the money is and they will get it to buy votes from the unemployed. That's why the Republicans will lose power.

I wasn't aware that the unemployed were such a numerous and influential voting block. I must have missed the report that said unemployment levels are worse than when Hoover was defeated by FDR.

[pissant]

I have a friend who runs a carpet cleaning business, and does very well, btw.

[raybbr]

So, they are hiring them as consultants but scut-work engineers? My niece scored a really good job with Caterpillar right out school. She's doing basic work on maintenance manuals and procedures.

[You Dirty Rats]

The loss of Manufacturing jobs is a world wide phenomenon due to increased efficiency.

The loss of manufacturing jobs proves that we don't make anything anymore, just as the loss of farming jobs has all of us on the verge of starvation. That's why Americans have such small houses, no consumer goods and are so thin. We're actually the poorest people on Earth.

[pissant]

No, but grads from school get hired and trained by these companies just like they have been since they invented engineering degrees.

[hedgetrimmer]

When the Democrats retake the House and Senate, they will fix this by socking it to businesses that out-source

Thats hard to believe because a democrat in the white house set up all the programs that enabled, and sometimes forced, outsourcing by American companies(clinton). Until you have tossed out the incumbent democrats who've been corrupt by globalism and transnational corporate money, you won't see anything different.

[1rudeboy]

That's the spirit that conquered the American West!

[raybbr]

No, but grads from school get hired and trained by these companies just like they have been since they invented engineering degrees.

I agree. But, that does not make them consultants.

[pissant]

True, they are kinda worthless for at least a year or so, but great for getting my boring tasks and research done. ;o)

[Vote 4 Nixon]

Corporate America has long since turned its back on the very people who got them where they are, the American workforce. NAFTA and a host of other trade agreements have effectively destroyed the American Textile industry. I worked in Seneca South Carolina briefly a few few years ago and I was amazed coming form Georgia where all of our textile mills were falling like so many domino's to S.C. where the textile industry was still flourishing and putting up a good fight. There were plants everywhere making everything from carpet backing to outdoor furnishings. I wondered about this for a long time and I finally discovered the reason why. The mans name was Strom Thurmond, the longest serving senator in U.S. history a frail relic of a bygone day, degraded as a racist by some but good or bad character traits aside a Senator who knew how to take care of his constituents. Now that hes gone an awful lot of those big textile plants have gone overseas and we as consumers are forced to buy products that are shoddily made copies of our own. Shoddily made I say by shoddy little brown people who are glad to earn pennies to the dollar that the American Gringos make in a day. The white man has become to expensive to employ. He demands safe working conditions and a fair wage. Lets not forget medical and dental insurance for our kids. The end result of this cycle will be that this country will one day be just another third world pothole. Big corporations and the American politician are responsible for this. The American dream is dead. At least for Americans.

[FreeReign]

Funny, we can't even find engineers to hire. Everyone with any talent is already working 60 hours a week and getting big raises to stay with their firms.

Same here. We can't find enough good talent.

[Sam's Army]

Well as you know, there are lots of different kinds of engineers. Some types will be in higher demand than others for the firms I mentioned. Being from MIT is a huge plus in their eyes.

[Vote 4 Nixon]

better now? didn't want to offend anyone.

[Energy Alley]

A major factor is that jobs for new engineers tend to suck and pay very poorly.

We have a guy on our help desk who graduated at the top of his class in Aero Eng. and he is making more with us sitting around waiting for people to get viruses than he was offered by either Bombardier or Boeing.

[DustyMoment]

This is the dumbest article I have seen in a long time. The economy is super-hot, unemployment is reaching record lows and this jerk wants to do his Chicken Little impersonation!!!!

I'd type more about him, but I'm just laughing too hard!!!!!!

[Trust but Verify]

Yep, a story in the Milwqukee newspaper yesterday saying that local businesses are expanding elsewhere due to a lack of skilled and professional workers, including engineers.

[pissant]

Hey, but at least they still brew Pabst there, don't they?

[driftdiver]

" Big corporations and the American politician are responsible for this. The American dream is dead. At least for Americans."

Big corporations only think about this quarter and will pay in the end. I'm not overly pessimistic because we still have the biggest economy by far. China is a huge threat but the lack of environmental regulations is catching up quick.

We are over regulated though. It needs to be easier to run a company.