Change in the marketplace

[Deja Q]

In 1910, 85% of jobs were in agriculture (3% in 2002)

In 1950, 73% of jobs were in production (15% in 2002)

In 2002, 44% of workers are in data service jobs

In 2002, 46% of Fortune 500 companies in 1980 no longer exist

By 2005, 50% of the workforce (or less) will be in full time jobs, with the remainder in contract, job share, and consulting relationships.

Now if prices compensated to allow people to LIVE with a part time job, no problem. But the truth is quite the opposite.

[On the Road]

1. Agriculture and Manufacturing Could Decline

without the country falling into high unemployment because the slack was taken up by other jobs. Some of that decline was due to automation (eg, agriculture); others was due to a decision to import rather than produce (eg, shoes).

There's not necessarily anything bad about this if it's done correctly. Eventually IT jobs and other positions which are being outsourced may be replaced with good jobs that don't exist now.

The biggest problem is the speed at which it's happening. Many of the old mechanisms for government intervention, such as labor laws or punitive tariffs, are a shadow of what they were. Others, like immigration limits, exist but are not used.

Bush just shrugs off the problem and leaves it to the market. That's the effect of a free-market, free-trade mentality. But it's fundamentally irresponsible. I hope people are waking up to that.

There are still a thousand possible levers for a government to pull that affect employment and salary levels. Kerry hasn't really seized on any powerful ones yet -- his outsourcing plan won't have a very powerful effect. But it shows he's grappling with the issue.

I hope for good things from Kerry once he gets into office and sets good jobs as a priority. Hope we're all not disappointed.

[shockingelk]

2. F500

"In 2002, 46% of Fortune 500 companies in 1980 no longer exist"

Does that not count mergers?

[porphyrian]

3. Don't forget...

Part time jobs most often lack all of the benefits included in full time work in addition to offering less pay. The cost of insuring yourself independantly is usually much more expensive than insurance given as a full time benefit. Also, the contract of part time employment is generally far less secure than the contract of full time employment (for example, the "temporary" OPS positions of Florida).

Five years ago, a person with computer knowledge could get a decent IT job with only a high school diploma. Today, IT people with Masters degrees are fighting for the same few entry level jobs available because most of their former positions have been eliminated and/or outsourced.

Good thing bush gave out them tax cuts...

[ArkDem]

4. What is your source?