Our continuous increases in productivity should have a great deal to do with it. Manufacturing jobs have declined worldwide while manufacturing output rises.
ISM Manufacturing Output expands for 23rd Consecutive Month
Ten Myths About Jobs and Outsourcing
Let the lower-cost, lower-skilled work move to the countries who have the comparative advantage while we continue to develop the technologies and services that will maintain our position as the world's innovator.
If I remember correctly, our economy produces 5 service jobs for every manufacturing job. What do you think pays more, low-skilled manufacturing jobs or professional services?
is it a valid long term goal for the U.S. to be purely a consumer oriented services industry? there certainly must be cons to that.
We manufacture more goods now than at any other time in our history.
again, nothing to disagree with there.
i think people used to think that as long as they weren't a "low-skilled" factory worker their career choice was safe.
but as a professional in the IT industry i've found over the past 15 years how quickly things change. the global information age makes professional services just as transportable overseas as manufacturing jobs.
(and regarding the myths, i'm not trying to say that america is "losing jobs" overseas but even without elminiating my job, my hourly rate has been cut in half. again, not saying the market isn't working properly, it is, i'm moving out of that career into something else -- but there is just something nagging me about the big picture long term. CEOs and management could careless about anything but costs until stockholders figure out that companies themselves can be managed for a much lower cost overseas.)
i don't disagree with you but it is not limited to low-cost, low-skill work.