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New Job Market Isn't Pretty
By Matthew Wood
Business Editor
nwitimes.com
2-24-4



This year, the nation will create jobs like they were going out of style. At least, that's the word from the federal government.
 
All this talk of a "jobless recovery" will finally pan out into actual employment for some of the millions who are without a paycheck this year.
 
The Bush administration is touting a revamped economy that will add millions of jobs this year, although the president and his cohorts seem to be a bit fuzzy on just how many will be produced. The original projection was 2.6 million new jobs this year, but now the administration is backing off. Even if that number is reached, it will barely offset the 2.3 million jobs the country has lost since Bush took office.
 
And apparently, it's not enough to fill positions for the slew of unemployed people calling The Times about new openings at Ford's Torrence Avenue plant in Chicago's Hegewisch section. Those people apparently don't know where to go to get the new jobs.
 
It's also not enough for the more than 5,000 applicants who sent their resumes to Northern Indiana Public Service Co., hoping to snag one of 175 entry level positions the utility expects to fill in the near future. In fact, NIPSCO got so many applications, it had to send out a separate press release this week to say it's not taking any more.
 
I wonder how those people feel about the alleged millions of jobs that will be created. I'll bet news like that gets them excited about the future. I'll also a bet that, until that job search becomes an actual paycheck, many of them are having trouble paying their bills.
 
Talk of job losses and "job outsourcing" was a prevailing topic at last week's quarterly meeting of The Times Board of Economists. For those who don't know, the group is composed of business leaders who gather, to talk about their sector of the economy.
 
Of course, we all have jobs. We can pay our bills. It's much easier to speculate on the job market when you have a job..
 
We're not among the dozens of workers at Magnequench, the Valparaiso magnet maker that moved its operations to Singapore last year, in part to take advantage of cheaper labor. I'll bet those workers would love to talk about unemployment rates, but they've probably got better things to do -- like look for a job.
 
The reality is, the United States is losing jobs that won't be replaced. Indiana is losing jobs that won't be replaced.
 
We are entering a new era in the U.S., where increased productivity is expected; where the entire concept of "made in America" is passe and where employee relations are secondary.
 
The business of the future looks more to the bottom line, less to where the profitable work takes place. After all, employees in many far off nations will work for a fraction of the wage of American workers, they don't expect health care or vacations and will only work long hours to bring greater profit.
 
For American workers concerned about the loss of jobs, the only answer is often to take less in pay or their job will move abroad.
 
Welcome to the new reality.
 
- Matthew Wood's column solely represents the opinion of the writer and not necessarily that of The Times. Readers can reach him at mwood@nwitimes.com.
 
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2004/02/22/business/
business/43539d3ebf52547586256e400071833a.txt

 

 

 



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