Posted on 07/04/2007 5:34:34 AM PDT by ruination
You could lose your job to a foreign worker—not because he’s cheaper but because he has better workplace skills and discipline. That’s the message Labor Secretary Elaine Chao hears from U.S. executives who are worried about America’s competitive future. While losses are low thus far—one study estimates that only 280,000 jobs in the service industry out of 115 million are outsourced each year—that could change. Beyond the cheaper cost of labor, U.S. employers say that many workers abroad simply have a better attitude toward work. “American employees must be punctual, dress appropriately and have good personal hygiene,” says Chao. “They need anger-management and conflict-resolution skills, and they have to be able to accept direction. Too many young people bristle when a supervisor asks them to do something.”
As for our job future, Chao notes that most of the fastest-growing jobs today are in industries requiring advanced knowledge and skills and are “very high or high wage.” But critics say we’re not doing enough for those without a higher education. “Today, only 30% of the workforce has four years of college,” says Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute. “Instead of factory slots, there are slots for security guards and food-prep workers.”
Let's just say that it's the Americans I see brushing their teeth...
...Americans of every descent, I should point out. Many, first and second generation.
I've never heard the stat about only 30% of the workplace having a college degree - anyone else seen that statement before and have an idea if she was quoted accurately?
oops - is HE quoted correctly - I read Jared as Janet for a minute there. Gotta be the screen :)
“Instead of factory slots, there are slots for security guards and food-prep workers.”
What an ass. I visited with my buddy last weekend. Dropped out in 11th grade. Owns his own company at 38 and makes bank. My cousin has never seen a college and makes six figures working for an oil company. My wife never went to college and she works in IT.
It’s about an image of self-worth. If you think you are only worth X, X is all you will make.
hear, hear!
Do you really expect someone with the surname of “Chao” to be against outsourcing? And yes, she is Mrs. Mitch McConnell. Out of millions of qualified candidates for a cabinet post, W chose to appoint a senator’s wife to fill it for both his terms. It’s this kind of nepotism that weakens the structure of an administration because it limits the range of opinion available to the president.
Take this job and shove it!
“Too many young people today think the world owes them something...”
To me that sounds like young, college educated folks. I have seen that first-hand in the workplace.
On a positive note, I am filling my pool in my back yard and have some dirt piled up. Neighborhood teenagers have been on me like vultures to help move that dirt for some pocket money. It’s 95 degrees with about 70% humidity but they were out there in it shoveling and hauling dirt and not one complaint. Hopefully college won’t ruin them.
There is not a schred of evidence to show that this assertion is anywhere near accurate. It’s true that foreigners living in America have a lower standard of living and hence of health than Americans.
To the extent that is true it’s more proof that our culture is tanking.
Well SCREW her!...oh man, I gotta go take a bath...Later dudes.
A man who is willing to work, never starves.
Is there anyone in government not insulting Americans?
Right in time for the 4th of July too.
The wench needs to get bent.
If Mrs. Mitch McConnell hasn’t met enough hardworking American young people, I suggest she spend her 4th of July holiday with our troops in either Iraq or Afghanistan. There are plenty of young Amercans serving with valor and dedication there. Of course there are some duds and bad attitudes among the younger generation, as there are among all generations, but we have lots of young people in this country who would be a credit to any employer.
I’m getting real sick of the “Americans aren’t as good a foreigners” attitude coming out of this administration lately. That’s the kind of thing I expect from liberals, not a Republican administration.
I guess she’s been drinking the water from the drinking fountain in the Capital building.
Are they continuously trying to do in the middle class workers of this country so the ones that come to do the jobs we won’t can get a promotion?
I’m tired of it all really. Take a look at some fast food restaurant workers and for that matter Chinese restaurants are for the most part always on the health dept list of what one would consider filthy.
Maybe they need anger mgmt classes because our government leaders are not protecting them from having their jobs taken by those who will work for $5.00/hr or having their jobs sent overseas to India and other places.
I was a little surprised by that statistic also, but from searching through the Census Bureau's education webpages, it does seem to be true. The District of Columbia and the fifteen states of
have more than 30% of the 25-year-old and older population with a bachelor's degree or higher. The rest are lower; the lowest percentages are in Arkansas and West Virginia, both of which have less than 20% of the 25-year-old and older population with at least a bachelor's degree.
The Excel spreadsheet for the educational attainments of the 25-year-old and older population for 2006 is here. The education page for year 2006 is here.
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