When Are The Jobs Coming Back?

It seems we lost over 50 million jobs in the past three years and they either were phased out completely or hijacked overseas to where cheaper labor is available. The small one person businesses felt the squeeze by having to downsize further, if that is possible or going out of business all together.  When I try to analyze why all this happened, I figured it was just the “coming storm” from the mortgage debacle combined with the banks and traders going south because of plain old greed.

Well the way I see it, it was not only the combination of all the above, but the world in which we are now connected into that bought our whole country down. We are a country of consumers. We consume more than we put away for a rainy day. It is the nature of the beast in the USA. That is how we managed to flourish in our way of life. We could see no end to the paradise that we had built for ourselves. But the total combination of all that went wrong with the banks, the credit card companies, lax government regulations,  the stock market and our spending habits contributed to where we are now. It is not only in the USA, we have fallen from our economic mountain because of our situation along with the world countries that were tipping over with their own financial problems too.

But with all this mess, when are the jobs coming back? It’s no secret that we need housing values to come back and jobs to come back. When both of these American institutions return in full force, our economy will blossom again. Well, the more that times go by with no change in our housing and jobs market, the longer it will take to recover. Some experts are telling us we should be back to where were in the year 2015.

If the government doesn’t continue to meddle with our economy, I would think we could make full recovery by 2013. It would take one more year until the jobs are going to loosen up from the companies who, right now can afford to hire, but are playing “caution in the wind” right now.

I know, no one really can’t predict the economic recovery, and probably not. This is not science, this is an art of bringing various things into play so that we have the perfect condition for a real recovery. Time will tell. I do have optimism that we should see some light shine through in 2013.

What’s your opinion? Make comments here please!

How To Handle Working in 2011

There seems  to be no end to the news that we are in a recession, we ended the recession, now – we are about to enter a “double dip” second recession. How do we handle our work with all this confusion? It seems that even world governments and world economic experts don’t know what the answer is.

Well, I mentioned it in a very old blog post here…..live in your own “bubble.” That’s right. Don’t fool with what you cannot control in your life, only focus on the things you can change and have control over. Focus like crazy on the goals you have in life. Do you want to get rich? Do you want to raise a family? Get a Phd? Then truly focus on what is important to you.

We know the news can depress us. We can only stand so much of negative news of our cities, our state, our country, the world. I read business books, how to books, and reference books. I get great satisfaction out of reading these types of books. I also surf the internet for profiles of successful business people. I get inspiration from other people who are working so hard to achieve their goals no matter what the economy and world crisis we are in.

Let’s get it together folks. Focus like crazy on the work that can achieve your goals!

Getting Inspired To Work

Sometimes working can be a drag. Research has shown that working the same exact way, with the same tools can even depress us. In order to work productively, we need to take scheduled breaks throughout the day and also change the routine in how we work. In other words, we need to put variety in our work days to alleviate the boredom or the “same o’, same o’” feeling we get from the job at hand.

People who work out in the field claim to be more productive than workers who work inside a cubicle doing the same routine day in and day out. The cubicle “nation” should schedule themselves an exercise break, with several breaks in the morning and afternoon away from their desk. Especially if you work at a computer, make sure you close your eyes for short durations in the day as well.

There are “chair” exercise instruction being offered online. You just have to make a search for those terms and be surprised at how many websites share that topic.

Anyway, get inspired to work. Change your routine and make sure there is variety to your duties. You can’t go wrong!

My Friend Got a Job!

It seems that the job market is getting a little better. After 4 long years of looking, my good friend got a managerial job that starts at $40K per year. Not bad considering this is still the recession. I am so glad that government and other sources are not putting out the “fake” story that we are past the recession. As far as I can tell out in the street, we are still very entrenched in the recession. Unemployment is still over 14% but the government will still not admit that. We are still behind millions of jobs that need to be created so we can truly recover. Housing still has a long way to go because we have to get rid of the short sales and foreclosure sales to be in the “black.” Overall consumer attitude needs to be less in a panic and more optimistic in order for the economy to improve also. And the traders!! The traders are the main source for spoiling our “party” in the USA.

I think the downside of the high technology age we live in is that the traders (stock traders, banks, and other money people) have to slow down on computerized trading. It used to be when the economy went south, we were able to see a slow change in the stock market because of the reaction time it took for stockbrokers to tell their customers what was going on and consult with them on selling or buying. Now, with computers, the slightest panic or natural disaster or just consumer confidence or lack of it, can trigger immediate loss of millions, if not billions of dollars in trading and that is bad for the status quo. It definitely wrecks havoc on the middle class people for sure!

Well just be lucky to hear that my friend got a job! It still means that hope is on the horizon! Will wonders never cease.

Workaholic Is Not Easy!

It’s been awhile since my last post because I have been busy! (ha ha) Well, I have to get back on track folks. I still enjoy working and being a workaholic. Mind you, I am not emotionally distressed or feel that I have to work for work’s sake. It is a joy for me to work and not have a care in the world other than supporting my mother. I don’t need a “shrink,” thank you!

Life has been good overall. We all know in the past three years the whole world has been affected by the economic fallout. I feel it started with the good old USA (right here), but I also feel that the USA will start the rebirth of our world economy.

Current news is showing us a slight uptick in jobs coming back, although we have a very long way to go in replacing the number of jobs lost with new ones. Many companies are still holding out hiring employees. Do your want to know why? Since dramatic downsizing of these companies they are getting accustomed to a smaller staff doing more. The consequence of that is overworked people working for less.

What I have been mentioning for the past years of my blog here is that we should continue to work productively and enjoy the small and large achievements we make from our work. Mind you, the work I am talking about is work that has a purpose and continually keeps you going forward. I am not talking about working in a “dead end job” or working in a job you don’t like.

My definition of a workaholic is someone who loves what they do and don’t sacrifice their personal life and family and friends for the sake of working. This could mostly define a self employed person. Working with a goal in mind, a desire to help others, and get rich at the same time is the best!

However, being a workaholic is not easy. It comes with experience, trial and error, and constantly changing the way you work to get to your goals. Keep on keeping on and you will surprise yourself!

Signs Of Our Economy Improving?

I came upon an article from Yahoo Finance that supposedly reveals unorthodox insights that our economy is improving. Although Wall Street is claiming a banner year so far claiming 100% over the past two years, people’s actions are being noticed as additional “proof” that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I had to laugh, but there may be some truth in some of these gems!

Men’s underwear - In tough economic times, sales of men’s underwear slide. Now, it appears that sales are “stabilizing,” whatever that means! I guess in good times, we guys buy more underwear. (where did they get this?)

Desserts – It seems, according to the National Restaurant Assoication, people are splurging more on ordering desserts after their meals. They say it is a sign that the economy is on the uptick because of this current trend.

Internet searches for “unemployment benefits” – The total number of internet searches for “unemployment benefits” or “unemployment” has been trending downward, supposedly showing less claims for unemployment therefore more people being employed.

Car sales are up – You are starting to see more automobile commercials on TV now and also event sponsorships from this industry. A sign of the recovering automobile sales means more money being spent on this category. It helps that these car companies are offering next to zero percent financing.

Golf tee off times - There is an uptrend of more people registering for foursomes at the local golf course. During recession times, far less people are paying healthy green fees for a round of golf. This sport is coming back strong.

Casinos – Casinos are reporting a 6% increase of gambling play in the last 8 months…a sign that there is money to spend there.

There are some signs out there that the economy is recovering but I still am very cautious about how much and how fast.

Careers That Are Declining in 2011

Forbes Magazine put out an article about declining or even “dead” career paths regarding the current employment landscape.

Here they are:

1. computer operators
2. stage performers
3. postal service mail sorters
4. holistic healers
5. office administrative workers
6. door to door salesmen/telemarketers
7. photo processors
8. seamstresses
9. radio operator
10. carpenters

It seems that all are affected by the changing ways we do business, how we have evolved from high technology, development of new laws or just plain change in our lifestyles.

Computer operators have declined over 40% since 2004 up to 2009. It is because executives and  other high level workers have access to computers directly and software has gotten to a point where it is automated with ease.

Stage performers have suffered because of the new distractions that have taken over the attention of that audience in the form of movies, video games, and other outlets.  This category which includes magicians, jugglers, clowns and dancers, have declined 60% over the past four years.

The decline of postal mail sorters is obvious. With the explosion of email, and especially social media sites, the impact on “snail mail” has been devastating for this industry.

Holistic healers has been hit hard losing over 26,000 jobs in the past four years because insurance companies are not covering expenses for these services. Acupuncturists, homeopathic doctors and hypnotherapists are in this category.

Office administrative workers are the first to go in hard economic times. If a worker is not doing a specific or high skilled job they are eliminated. This category is similar to the computer operator position.

Door to door salesmen and telemarketers obviously is a dying career. With the do not call legislation for telemarketers and how inefficient time is spent on door to door, not to mention how dangerous it can be to go into “new” neighborhoods, it is almost impossible to succeed here.

Photo processors died a slow death with the advent of online services that do the same thing in less time and less money spent. Case closed.

Seamstresses are a thing of the past too. More clothes that need customizing are reserved for the very rich. The mainstream and middle class buy ready to wear at the shopping mall and either wear it until it wears out or resells it to reseller stores.

Radio operators are gone, like “yesterday.” This service was used for truck drivers, services with dispatch operators, and small airliners. Cell phones have predominantly replaced these services.

Carpenters have been replaced by prefabricated home manufacturers. Master planned communities can be built in a very short time frame and with lower costs when utilizing the prefab process.

Overall, it is not bad news, rather, a reflection of a changing way of the world and our economy.

Workers today need to be adaptable to the new trends of employment.

Self Employed Worker

The sign of the times these days is “no vacancy” in corporate America. With one fell swoop, back in 2008, millions of jobs disintegrated before our very eyes and now, there is no clear view of seeing any of these jobs return anytime soon. As a matter of fact, we’ve been told that many of these jobs have gone out of existence because of the changing tide of business. Many of the factory jobs, know for many years have gone overseas. Service jobs, which was for the most part to stay in the USA, also went through a monumental change….a lot of them vanished and will never come back. Where did these jobs go?

Answer, the world economy shrank. That means less jobs to fill overseas and here in the USA. Within one year (2008) we went through an economic bust that affected a majority of the manufacturing and service jobs around the world. Now, a lot of the highly skilled jobs still hung tight in India, Germany, Brazil and some other European countries. Unskilled labor is about all that is left after the world shake out of employment.

We now look to the future and beyond and the answer is very clear now. We are entering the phase of the self employed worker. With this phase comes opportunities that will explode way into the future. All that is needed is a new way of thinking of yourself as a “company of one.”

You will be responsible for your own welfare. The government has proven they really don’t care for your welfare as both mainstream political parties are fighting each other for power over each other and also power over the people of our great country. The same goes for large corporations that feed off of the profit making motive. When the economy goes down, there is not a second thought of laying off large numbers of employees for the sake of the company’s self preservation.

In order to survive and thrive in the coming years, you will have to think of ways to be self employed. Think now of what your plan is or what can be. Self sustaining lifestyle will reign for all who grabs for it.

To do this, you have to have confidence in your own talents, experiences, education, and desires to be the best at something and sell it to the world.

Working Your Plan

There is a way to work your plan when working. It usually involves first, with what you want to achieve. Quite often we are working without a plan and then it becomes less meaningful to ourselves and the company we are working for.

If you concentrate on making a solid plan first, what do you want to achieve, then everything will fall into place.

For example, if you plan that you want to work with a particular company for a year because you simply want to get experience at that type of job, then move on to a job of higher responsibility later, then that is your plan. You now have a plan to work on, knowing the end result.

Working is not working in a job where you have no direction. If so, you are going to be bored down the road and probably be a “complainer” in the workplace. If you have the future in mind, of what you want to achieve, then you are being productive and it is also good for your soul!

Is The Recession Over Yet?

I am reading more and more articles pointing to a recovery from the recession of last year. My opinion is that we are far from it.

Unemployment claims is down they say, but that can only mean many people have given up finding jobs because of the shrinking market.

Profits are up, as reported from various corporations around our nation. That is only a result of these companies afraid of hiring in the first place because of their fear of spending too much on employees and the benefits they come with.

Retail business state sales are up. Well, yeah? That’s because ANY sales this year is an uptick of sales from last year.

Reality: Housing is still stale because of the limited mortgage loan opportunities since the mortgage industry has refused to do anything. They are in a holding pattern while hoarding all their bail out money.

Our gross national product (United States) is at an all time low because there is no “new” thing out there for our country to produce that could really boost sales in every sector of our economy. Remember 10 years ago when our high tech industries were rolling in the dough? We were living high off of the many products and services that were dependent on computers and software. Currently, we don’t have anything or emerging industry that comes close to exploding our current economy.

Solution: If we can bring back more of the jobs we exported overseas and can have more access to cash that allows people to get into homes and/or refinance, then we have a good chance of coming back with a vengence.

Good news is that the naysayers, telling people that it may take 10 more years to recover is not really true. We can recover as early as within another two years. I feel that large corporations are going to hunker down  only a few more months until they find out that, through attrition, they are going to lose many valuable workers through retirement or job changers. If business doesn’t grow, they die. All large corporations know this. They will be forced to innovate with new products or services and some of these will be a big hit and then these businesses will ramp up their hiring and spending.

Correct me if I’m wrong? Give me some feedback by clicking on the comment button here.