Low Unemployment? Shortage of Qualified Workers? No Way!!!

The economy has been growing at a slow and steady pace for years. Official unemployment figures have dropped dramatically. Unemployment in many states are in the range of 5% and some economists are stating we are at full employment. Some employers are complaining that they can't find qualified applicants.

1. Ok, ok hold on a minute. If all the above is true why has the labor force participation dropped so dramatically? In 2016 the labor participation rate was the lowest seen in the last decade at 62.8%. The number of workers in their prime working years who are not working and are not actively seeking work has not been this high since the 1970's. Many of these people have given up looking. Many would like to be working and they don't count as being unemployed. We are talking about millions of possible job candidates who don't show up in our unemployment statistics.


2. What about the millions who are working part-time and would like to be working full-time? There are an estimated 6 million part-time workers who work for little to no benefits and are paid low wages who have not been able to make the jump to full time.  They don't count as unemployed either.


3. How about older workers? Every year thousands and thousands of older workers are pushed out of jobs in favor of younger workers. Many of these employees in their 50's and 60's did nothing wrong and contributed daily to business operations. Some trained the people who replaced them and are experts with technology even though not being up to date is often an excuse used for their dismissal. Their departure starts with work being reassigned to new and younger staff and eventually the employer makes them so miserable they quit or retire if they can. Again, we are talking about millions who would like to be working, but are also not counted in those low unemployment statistics. The most dedicated and hard workers end up as part of a low labor participation rate statistic. Thanks for your decades of service. Sadly these same ex-workers apply, apply, and apply for positions and the only response they receive are form letters saying they don't meet the employers current needs or qualifications. Thanks for applying, but we see from your experience that you are not in your 20's or 30's so we won't be pursuing your application. 

News stories claiming full employment based on the unemployment rate are missing the bigger story that millions have given up and have been pushed to the sidelines. Human resource staff and recruiters suggesting they can't find qualified workers are leaving out the bigger story that they don't train new hires anymore. HR is baffled by the concept of a senior engineer training a new college engineering graduate. Apprenticeship programs? Oh my goodness, we don't do that!

Statistics can read anyway you would like them to read. It's not fake news or a fake story. One statistic paints part of the picture. It's really too bad for millions who would like to work that HR professionals, corporations and recruiters don't see the picture at all.

SF Giants-Kelby Tomlinson Fights for Utility Position

Many NCAA fans including myself are enjoying the tournament despite our brackets having lots of checkmarks next to missed selections.

It won't be long and the tournament will have a winner and it will be time to move on to the regular MLB season. I am a SF Giants fan and I am looking forward to seeing games at AT&T Park in April.

The Giants have several infielders competing for utility positions. One of these players is Kelby Tomlinson. I appreciate his effort and attitude as he tries to stay on the roster for opening day. Regardless of the opening day roster, Kelby will be staying with the Giants franchise for now. If one of the more veteran players is selected for the utility position he will end up with the farm club, maybe  in Sacramento Triple A. Tomlinson has improved over the last couple seasons, especially with his defense. He has come through with some timely hits over the past two years also. I am rooting for him and hope he is on the opening day roster. If not it's good to know he could be called up at any given time to help the club. Tomlinson is picking the brains of veterans and this should serve his career well. With such a great attitude, I hope that career continues to be with the San Francisco Giants.

The SF Giants web site highlights Tomlinson's efforts to be on the roster opening day. You can read the story and watch some short video clips on the Giants site by clicking HERE.

Go Tomlinson! Go Giants!!!

Protecting Jobs Americans Don't Want and Outsourcing Jobs Americans DO Want?

What interesting times we live in. In 2017 serious debate takes place about a wall stretching literally more than a thousand miles along the U.S. and Mexico. The main reasons expressed by proponents of the wall is to keep America safe from illegal immigrants. These reasons entail protecting American jobs and protecting the U.S. against terrorism.

This wall will cost billions of dollars to  build and billions of dollars to maintain. I have some comments for proponents:

1. I live in California. For at least several years more people are leaving California (not unique to State) to return to Mexico than coming into California from Mexico. Most people in this state don't see a big threat from illegal immigration and many people believe if there is a problem as suggested more agents along the border would be more effective than any wall. Ask China how their great wall is doing. Part of it is great for tourists, but the rest of it crumbles.


2. It's all about jobs, jobs, jobs is another reason proponents want a wall. Why are proponents so concerned about immigrants taking jobs most Americans won't take on? I don't see these proponents getting in an uproar over good paying jobs that have been outsourced in the technology area. These are actually jobs Americans want. So we don't want immigrants to steal service industry or agricultural jobs, but it's ok for high paying jobs in technology and other sectors to go overseas? This makes no economic sense.  What if this wall is built and it keeps immigrants in the U.S. instead of keeping them out? Many workers from agriculture go back and forth from the U.S. and Mexico. A wall and the threat of not being able to return to the U.S. may discourage workers from going home after their agricultural jobs end.


3. The San Francisco Bay area ranks last in the U.S. for the condition of roads, bridges and highways. After heavy rains our infrastructure including dams and levies are in serious need of repairing and upgrading. Many of us would rather see funds spent on these projects and in plain language to hell with a wall. Projects to maintain and build infrastructure will do more for our economy in the short and long run than any stupid wall. I suspect infrastructure is not perfect in other states and most states would love to have billions of dollars that would be spent on this wall to build and maintain the infrastructure needed to keep their economies humming.


4. My message to leaders in both parties is to lead us by building projects that will move us forward. Please, please, please no more distractions about phones being tapped and other silly things that are more fantasy than reality. The real threat to America is crumbling infrastructure not illegal immigration. Focus on the real issues instead of the distractions. The wall is clearly more a distraction than an actual need.