Having a college degree is not as helpful as it once was. In today’s economy, graduates are struggling to get jobs after they finish school, and many employers will only hire people who have degrees in the field they need. However, many jobs do not require a specific degree. For example, plumbing, truck driving, and electrician jobs do not require higher education. People are asking, is a college degree necessary or worth it in today’s job market? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Annual average unemployment rate, of civilian labor force 16 years and over, has risen from 4% to 8.9% in the past 11 years.

Some people think a college degree is not necessary and not as important as networking and experience in today’s job market. Huge successes like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Richard Branson are all successful people who either dropped out of high school or did not finish college. Although stories like theirs are not very abundant in our economy,  there are other jobs that are unlikely to be outsourced that can be done without having a degree.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers, a forecaster of employers’ hiring plans and other employment issues, details what majors are in-demand, and how important a college degree is in this job market. Year after year, they inform the public that employers look to hire graduates in certain fields, such as business, engineering, and the computer sciences. While some industries hire by degree in order to have an educated employee, there are some skills that are not learned in the classroom.

The N-A-C-E research job outlook for 2012 says that there are other important qualities for students who make the GPA cutoff. Major is obviously important when hiring for specific skill sets, and employers are also highly influenced by a candidate’s leadership experience.”

Another important part of the no-degree side is opportunity cost. The Library of Economics and Liberty defines opportunity cost as “the value of the next-highest-valued alternative use of that resource.” If a student put money away in a mutual fund, the money could increase to more money than he or she would be making and spending while in school.

However, there is the pro-degree side. Some jobs require a certain degree in order to get a job in that industry. Majors with the lowest unemployment, according to “The college solution” blog, are medical technology technicians, nursing, and treatment therapy professions, which all require some type of degree specifically in those fields. Students who select more marketable college majors are going to increase their chances of landing a job.

It is important to note the difference between a liberal arts degree and a technical one. In an article from CNBC called “Is the Four-Year, Liberal-Arts Education Model Dead?” Richard K. Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity and professor of economics at Ohio University, says we graduate more people from college than we have jobs for and that a college diploma doesn’t really cut it anymore as a sure path to success. He says, “Nowadays, you need a masters degree or an MBA.”

Another factor of the pro-degree debate would be student loan reform. According to the Obama administration, in a speech made in Colorado, students may be less worried about paying for their degree because of lower interest rates.

With the rise in tuition, student loan debt, and increasing unemployment rates for recent graduates, pursuing a college degree may not be worth it. However, the type of degree one attains and the field they enter can make the investment and years of studying worth their while. So many graduates are finding themselves in trouble after college, and some are doing just fine. It all depends on what one wants to do, and how they prepare themselves for it.

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Portland, U.S.A. – Despite more than one-third of polled small business owners reporting that they are somewhat or significantly understaffed, most don’t plan to hire in the upcoming months, according to a new survey by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank.

Economic confidence affecting hiring

TD Bank’s survey – which polled more than 500 small business owners across the bank’s Maine to Florida footprint – found that although 35% of surveyed small businesses report being somewhat or significantly understaffed, only 21% plan to hire one or more employees in the upcoming months. A majority (70%) plan to maintain their current employee levels.

“Our survey results indicated that over half (51%) of polled small business owners are not optimistic about the U.S. economy,” said Fred Graziano, Head of Regional Commercial Banking, Government Banking and Small Business, TD Bank. “According to our partners at TD Economics, uncertainty about the future path of fiscal policy and the outlook for the global economy will keep businesses cautious about investing and hiring in the upcoming months. However, for businesses that are looking to grow for the long term, it’s a great time to take advantage of the low interest rate environment.”

Biggest challenges: finding qualified employees and declining sales

The survey asked small business owners to identify their biggest human resources challenges. According to the results, when small businesses are in a position to hire, they struggle to find qualified candidates to fill open positions.

The biggest challenges in employee management include:

• Finding new qualified candidates (42%)
• Training existing employees (23%)
• Offering competitive compensation (22%)
• Laying off inadequate employees (8%)
• Continuous employee turnover (5%)

TD Bank’s survey also asked small business owners to identify their biggest challenge in the next six months. Declining sales (29%) topped the list, followed closely by rising healthcare and insurance costs (27%) and cash flow concerns (23%). The other challenges were pressure from larger competitors (12%) and rising energy costs (10%).

“Identifying creative ways to boost sales revenue while keeping an eye on expense growth and cash flow is a good strategy to follow for managing a business in this current economy,” said Graziano. “That’s why it’s important to lead a strong and innovative team of employees that positively contribute to a business’ goals and objectives.”

Defining success as a small business owner

According to the survey, there are different opinions when it comes to best defining success as a small business owner. Doing something they enjoy (24%) and having a stable work/life balance (23%) were the top responses, followed by being one’s own boss and earning enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle (17% each). The remaining responses were continuous increases in business profitability (10%) and creating jobs in the local community (9%).

“Entrepreneurship helps people fulfill their dreams of turning a creative idea or passion into a successful business, regardless of how they best define it,” said Graziano. “Whether it’s applying for financing or opening one of our new small business checking accounts, TD Bank’s team of small business lenders and bankers are here to provide professional advice and legendary customer service.”

About TD Bank’s Survey

TD Bank polled more than 500 small business owners within its Maine to Florida footprint to understand their companies’ thoughts on the economy, employee levels and hiring plans, top challenges and how they best define success. The research was conducted in June 2012 by ORC International, and surveyed companies over the telephone with annual sales of no more than $5 million.

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Milwaukee, U.S.A. — Manpower Group, the a leader in workforce solutions, will serve as a trusted advisor on developing work-ready competencies in individuals through an official alliance with INJAZ al-Arab, a Junior Achievement Worldwide member which works with corporate and government authorities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in transforming youth into business leaders.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed at the recent World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia 2012, Manpower Group will advise INJAZ al-Arab on entrepreneurship training for Arab youth to be provided via an online portal and also help create a think tank that will identify policy and future training designed to up-skill youth as entrepreneurs.

E-learning that leverages Manpower Group’s expertise on skills development will give more youth access to the competencies training needed to secure work or create new businesses, which in part help create the jobs needed in this region. And as a social network, the online portal will connect youth with each other, mentors and potential sources of capital – to combat youth exclusion in the Arab world.

“Youth unemployment and underemployment are creating an underclass of unskilled, unprepared youth,” said David Arkless, Manpower Group President of Corporate and Government Affairs. “Entrepreneurial training does more than just mobilize future potential business owners. It builds leadership and networking skills that can be applied across the business world – enabling young people to more effectively launch and sustain careers.”

Not all youth exposed to the training will incubate companies. But all youth need to be work-ready to compete in today’s increasingly competitive Human Age economy. This training platform will also improve academic motivation and an understanding of how individuals drive business success.

“Aligning ourselves with a global leader like Manpower Group is a tremendous milestone in the quest to promote youth entrepreneurship in the Arab world,” said Soraya Salti, INJAZ al-Arab Regional Director and Junior Achievement Senior Vice President, MENA. “Our combined efforts will help empower a new generation of Arab youth to redefine the Arab world of today and shape the Arab world of tomorrow.”

According to the International Labour Organization, the youth unemployment rate in North Africa is 23.6 percent and in the Middle East it is 21.1 percent.

ManpowerGroup recently published the Insight paper: “Wanted: Energized, Career-Driven Youth” to detail how businesses can partner with educators and government authorities unleash the potential of today’s youth.

The paper, which draws on ManpowerGroup’s 60-years of experience of working with organizations committed to advancing the skills of youth, can be found here: http://www.manpowergroup.com/research/research.cfm

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The economic crisis has raised unemployment, universities have reduced their available spots, and tuition is becoming inaccessible to the poor and middle class. So, is a college education really worth it?

Students must be certain that they want to go to a college these days. Though motivations vary – pressure from home, aggressive marketing, or social tendencies in the political arena – a university education is considered a good investment because higher pay has traditionally followed a higher education. However, many students argue that their decision is not only about money and that they see the value of a college education as a way to expand their knowledge and learn independence.

Students have to learn the hard lesson that going to a university is not enough. You also have to study the right subjects, not just your preferences. This way, you will have business contacts for when you graduate. Many students try to avoid the toughest subjects, such as math and chemistry, and instead, they choose the “easy” or ” fun” ones. They waste their time by choosing fields in the humanities that give little prospect of landing a job.

For instance, some students receive futile degrees in media, photography, or fashion, so they can get interesting jobs. However, employers will take advantage of them because they have many candidates to choose from since the market is already over-saturated.

I am not saying that the humanities is the wrong way to go, but graduates in those subjects have lower wages and are less likely to find work in their fields compared to those who graduate with a degree in science. According to a study conducted by Andrew Sum, a labor economist at Northeastern University and leading expert on the youth labor market, more than half of all humanities graduates get jobs that do not require university degrees.

The tuition fees and certain majors are the two main reasons to discourage students from going to college. First, the idea that they will be spending their twenties and thirties paying off their university or college debts once they have graduated is a big negative, and second, their preferred major will not guarantee them a job in their field, or they will end up working menial jobs.

According to a report by myUface in 2009,  U.K. tuition is between $5,500 and $28,500 USD per year, whereas in the U.S., the tuition is between $5,000 and $30,000. On top of that, you must add $8,000 for living expenses, if the student moves away from his or her hometown.

I am not discouraging students from going to a university, but they have to take tuition fees and their chosen field of study into account before they make their final decision. Choosing a science degree is a safer investment than a humanities degree because there are more jobs and less competition. Nowadays, majoring in the humanities field is a gamble, but if students want to succeed in this competitive field, they must know that there will be blood, sweat, and tears all the way.

If students do not choose higher education, there are other interesting professions, such as becoming an electrician or plumber. You can make good money, and skip three or four years at a college or university and the financial struggle from student loan debts. Dear students, the decision is yours.

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Candido Mendez and Ignacio Fernandez, leaders of the Unions UGT (Union General Workers) and CCOO (workers’ committees) in Spain have fixed March 29 for a general strike in the country against labour reforms proposed by the government. The day after, it is expected that the Spanish government presents its economic budget for 2012.

The new labour reform attempts to give a dose of flexibility to its labour market in order to create more employment opportunities and avoid a black economy where employers pay their workers under the table. But this reform also means that employees will have their labour and social rights reduced. Mr Mendez said that “the strike is fair and necessary in order to start a dialogue with the government of Mariano Rajoy.”

At present, a regular permanent contract has a compensation payment of 45 days per year worked after being fired. By the reforms approved by Primer Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government on Febraury 11, maximum severance pay was cut to 33 days of salary for each day worked by fair dismissal, for a maximum worktime of 24 years.

Salaries can be lowered unilaterally, and companies can lay off employees at the cheapest level of severance pay by reporting nine straight months of declining revenue. In the case of public administration it would be nine straight months of lack of budgetary resources. In this case scenario the employers will be paid for 20 days per year worked.

Critics of the plan said labour reform could result in some companies firing experienced employees and hiring less experienced ones at a much lower wage by making it easier for companies to end workers’ contracts. Mr Fernandez said last Friday at the press conference: “It is the most regressive reform in the history of democracy in Spain.”

“Strikes are not the answer in very hard times for citizens,” Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said after a cabinet meeting. De Santamaria has already met the Unions 32 times with the purpose of getting to an agreement. Business organizations are worried about the negative impact that the strike can cause on economic activity.

Madrid has seen the protest of 500,000 people organized by the Unions in a rehearsal of the general strike. The motto of the protests was “No to the labour reform that is unfair to workers, inefficient for the economy and useless for jobs.” Mendez and Fernandez reminded the government during the demonstration that if they start negotiating, they can stop the general strike.

This will be the sixth general strike in the history of democracy in Spain and the second one against the PP (Popular Party). Jose Maria Aznar, former executive of the PP, suffered the first strike against his government in 2002 after CCOO and UGT protested the welfare reform and unemployment proposal.

The economic crisis had deepened in Spain, causing the highest unemployment rate in the EU at 23%. Around 5.3 million Spaniards are unemployed.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewayne/

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Anthony Delmedico, founder and CEO of Del Visionaries, gave a speech titled E2 at the White House during the recent Future of Entrepreneurship Education (FEE) Summit.  E2 =  Entrepreneurship Education as core curriculum in our K-12 schools.  Anthony is demanding that Congress, state governor boards, President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan mandate entrepreneurship education as part of core curriculum for all public schools.

Fueled by the speech he gave at the Future Entrepreneurship Education Summit, Delmedico says he is launching an online digital petition to create awareness to the plight of America’s future and garnish the support of millions to the importance of entrepreneurship to empower the next generation of America’s youth to become entrepreneurs that is job creators versus job seekers.

During Delmedico’s speech, he gave factual statistics to highlight on how the lack of an entrepreneurial education has a negative effect on America’s youth and the American economy. ”While the nation’s unemployment rate wavers close to 10%, for young adults 16 to 30, the unemployment is closer to 26 percent, and in some cities in our nation close to 40%,” said Delmedico.

“For those fortunate enough to earn a high school or college degree, very few are prepared for today’s new economy, and the job market of today.  Currently there are 2.4M college graduates whom cannot find jobs in their fields of study, that’s 80%.  They are in debt up to their eyeballs and they are disappointed,” says Delmedico.

“According to a recent report by the McKinsley Global Institute, America will need to create a net 21M new jobs by 2020 in order to return to full employment.  Currently we have a job deficit in this country.  75% of all new jobs come from entrepreneurs, not large corporations.  So if we are serious about creating 21M new jobs in the next 8 years, we need to create an army of entrepreneurs. This Army is sitting in our K-12 school system today.

We must launch E2 (entrepreneurship education) as required core curriculum in our schools, starting in the 4th grade and advancing to the 12th grade.  And we must do this by 2013.  This will create an army of job creators versus job seekers and change the face of the American economy within 8 years,” says Delmedico.

In 2009, Delmedico authored an interactive workbook, Kids in business around the World, that teaches kids (8 to 14) how to start their own business.  Knowing that kids would need more than just a book or academic experience he also invented a mobile business stand branded the Little Green Money Machine.

Kids pick a kid business template from the book, design their own advertising banners, and sell products/services in their neighborhoods and communities. This revolutionary interactive learning system is now helping kids, tweens, and teens learn how to set goals, set-up their first business, and lays the foundation of financial literacy and social entrepreneurship.

“If Entrepreneurship is the engine of the American economy, why isn’t the same emphasis placed on it in our K-12 schools as Math, English, and Science?  If we are serious about creating jobs, and putting the American economy back on track, this is a no brainer.  We need to create an army of entrepreneurs!  We need to teach it in our schools!” Delmedico demands passionately during his speech to his DC audience.

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Generation Opportunity President Paul T. Conway, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor under Secretary Elaine L. Chao, responds to the January 2012 jobs numbers report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Young Americans, including young veterans who have honorably served their nation, are being told by President Obama and his administration to settle for a new economic status quo where the lack of jobs, high unemployment, a record high number of people dropping out of the labor force, and limited economic opportunity are considered normal.

Instead of being allowed to pursue their dreams and careers through meaningful work, regular paychecks, and new skills gained on the job, the ongoing poor economy is forcing young adults to delay their plans, delay their lives, and scramble to simply make ends meet.

“Despite thirty-six consecutive monthly jobs reports with unemployment over eight percent and a new CBO forecast of higher unemployment in the year to come, the message from the Obama administration to young Americans is to expect more of the same — higher taxes, more regulations, and more federal interference targeted at private sector job creators.

Young adults pay dearly for this administration’s disregard and diminishment of private employers. Their level of aloofness and lack of empathy for the daily concerns of young Americans is as astounding as it is unacceptable.”

January’s 8.3 percent overall jobless rate fails to reflect the significant and ongoing challenges faced by young Americans in the continually poor economy. Joblessness among Millennials ages 18-29 is already at historic levels since the end of World War II, and hidden behind January’s numbers is the fact that many Americans have either accepted short-term, seasonal work or simply given up looking for work and are, therefore, not factored into the unemployment rate.

Even worse, the long-term U.S. job growth picture remains grim based on an official report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). CBO’s January 31, 2012 report concluded “a large portion of the economic and human costs of the recession and slow recovery remains ahead.”

CBO is also forecasting that the U.S. unemployment rate could reach 8.9 percent by the end of 2012, and could potentially increase to 9.2 percent in the year 2013. Finally, the report forecasts that the unemployment rate could remain as high as seven percent through the end of 2015, and that economic activity may remain “below the economy’s potential until 2018.”

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According to an Institute for Women’s Policy Research analysis of the January employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women’s employment now appears to be rising, and the past three months saw equal job growth for men and women (206,000 for each). This is good news for women since their job growth has substantially lagged behind men’s for most of the recovery.

In December, women gained 89,000 jobs, while men gained 111,000. The revised numbers for October and November show 117,000 new jobs for women since September compared with 95,000 for men.

Overall, job growth in the United States was moderate in December with 200,000 jobs added to nonfarm payrolls. This is up from 100,000 new jobs in November, but down slightly from 210,000 added in September.

From December 2010 to December 2011, of the 1.6 million jobs added to payrolls, only 521,000, or 32 percent, were filled by women, whereas 1,119,000, or 68 percent, were filled by men. Despite progress in the last quarter, the gap between women’s and men’s employment in December remains at 1.5 million.

Men are recovering more quickly than women, but the jobs recovery is slow for both men and women. Women have regained about one out of four (23 percent) of the total jobs they lost in the recession while men have gained more than one out of three (34 percent). (IWPR calculates job loss in the recession from December 2007 to the trough for each gender. Men’s employment trough was in January 2010, while women’s was in September 2010.)

The unemployment rate remained steady from November to December for women aged 16 and older (8.3 percent), but fell for men (from 8.9 percent to 8.7 percent). Some of the apparent improvement is due to workers ending their job search and no longer being counted among the unemployed.

Overall, the civilian labor force (those employed or unemployed and actively seeking work) shrank by 50,000 between November and December. However, this figure represents the net change of a loss of 82,000 female labor force participants and a gain of 32,000 male labor force participants.

Fewer women left the labor force in December compared with November. For those unemployed, the average or mean duration of unemployment has been 40.8 weeks. Half of those unemployed have been so for a median average of 21.0 weeks or longer.

One reason why men are doing better than women at this point in the recession is that women are a disproportionate share of state and local government workers; those levels of government are still shedding jobs, though their job loss has slowed. In December, the private sector added 212,000 jobs, while government employment fell by 12,000 jobs. Job growth was strong in retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and healthcare and social assistance.

While private sector employment grew by 1.9 million workers from December 2010 to December 2011, 280,000 government jobs were lost. This difference in job growth across sectors disproportionately affects women who represent 57 percent of workers in the public sector compared with 48 percent in the private sector.

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Both the FTSE 100 and Dow were expected to make modest gains by the end of 2012, according to a survey of 100 senior representatives of investment firms. The Euro was expected to deteriorate further compared to sterling, while the US dollar would increase in value. However, the majority interviewed thought that President Obama’s government had not done enough to stimulate the economy in the US.

In respect of improving business and the economy in the UK, there were calls for tax cuts both for individuals and for businesses together with the elimination of stamp duty on share purchases. A number of respondents also demanded that the government did more to simplify rules for pensions, stopped changing pension rules and improved the level of understanding of investments, particularly those which were more tax efficient, e.g. ISAs.

Those interviewed were asked to predict the best FTSE companies for capital growth in 2012. Vodafone was the most popular choice in the FTSE 100, followed closely by Barclays and BT. Balfour Beatty and Centamin Egypt featured well from selections from the FTSE 250.

A wide selection of funds were also selected. These included iShares FTSE 100 and Liontrust UK for capital growth and the Artemis and MG Optimal for income.

Other predictions included:

Inflation                                 To fall to 4.25%

Base Rates                           To remain at 0.5%

Unemployment                     Increasing to 2.75 million

Price of Unleaded Petrol      GBP1.43 per litre by 31st December 2012

The survey was carried out by financial services management consultants, Goodacre UK and sponsored by TD Wealth Institutional.

Commenting on the responses, Stephen Pinner, Goodacre’s MD, said

“The survey responses suggest that markets will remain slightly ahead of where they are now. There was a high degree of confidence that levels of inflation would reduce throughout the year although further increases in unemployment were predicted. With base rates estimated to remain so low, most of those interviewed thought that the best investment returns would come from equities and funds”.

The survey was based on personal interviews of 100 selected representatives from UK based investment companies. The survey was conducted from November through to December 2011.

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The holidays are always a time of increased focus on giving and charitable activity, but, this Christmas, the Petya I. Edwards Foundation has truly given one deserving family a gift they will not soon forget—a much-needed new car.

The Texas-based charity is known for offering vital financial assistance to families in need, but what they do is far from merely giving handouts. On the contrary, the Petya I. Edwards Foundation chooses individuals and families who have been dealt difficult hands, such as unemployment or health expenses, but who are resolved to regain their footing.

The Foundation offers the family help and educational services and ultimately allows them to stabilize, which is precisely what is happening through their work with one Texas family. The family in question is made up of mom Sally*, her husband, and their three daughters. Sally lost her job in June, following which the family lost their apartment.

Sally has since found new work, but her husband is still diligently searching for employment. The family has been staying with friends, and remains in need of such essentials as clothing for the girls, a washing machine, and more. But, up until this holiday season, their greatest need was for an automobile. Sally’s new work requires her to make an hour-and-a-half commute, by bus, every morning.

However, as a gesture of Christmas charity and compassion to the family, the Petya I. Edwards Foundation gifted them with a new car over the holiday season, something that will surely prove to be a great and immediate blessing to Sally and her entire family.

While the new car is certainly a great asset to the family, their needs remain very numerous, and very urgent. Says Sally, “I am just trying to make it through the holidays without them seeing all their friends getting presents and knowing I cannot afford to get them much.” The girls, ages 5, 14, and 16, are in dire need of clothing and other life essentials. The Petya I. Edwards Foundation is asking for its patrons to become involved with the wellbeing of this highly deserving family.

All of the charitable actions of the Petya I. Edwards Foundation are made possible by the generous donations of caring supporters. Checks and cash donations can be sent directly to the charity, where they will be administered to families in need, such as Sally’s.

* Name changed to protect the privacy of the family.

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The American definition of globalization or “outsourcing” is the action of “obtaining of goods or services needed by a business or organization under contract with an outside supplier”. This definition seems pretty clear and concise but what it fails to include are the countless other factors that this fad has introduced into American lives.

Some see outsourcing as a way to help other countries build their own society and economic wealth but this action causes more harm than good to those countries. Not only is outsourcing non beneficial to our country because it gives away countless jobs that we desperately need during these hard economic times, but we are also limiting the rights of the people within these deprived countries.

By outsourcing, the United States and its companies are stripping not only ourselves of our own culture by not influencing the output of products that read the label “ Made in USA” but also other countries of their own individual culture. Globalization is just another way for big companies to manufacture their products with cheaper labor, goods and services.

Over decades American families have helped build our nation to what it is today, and now we don’t even have the resources to support these workers that have helped make our country the “super power” it is.  Why should people overseas reap the benefits from our economic hardships? Is it because the government wants to keep the rich richer?

Is it because the government wants to keep the rich richer and the poor poorer? Or is it because companies don’t want to take on the accountability that comes with having American citizens working in their factories?

On the surface, globalization seems like a good idea to spread knowledge and technology to less fortunate countries but what we may not realize is that people in these countries suffer under safety and health violation and the possibility of discrimination and illegal behavior, since developing countries do not have the same level of labor rights making it easy for them to be exploited.

Thus safety hazards and unsafe labor conditions are created. Not all labor laws in the U.S. exist in these countries and if they do they are certainly not enforced the way they are in the United States, with that in mind companies can contract and make their own labor laws to which they feel are ethical.

Since these countries aren’t as well developed as the U.S. children and women are able to work long stressful hours, in an unsanitary environment for very little pay to help support their family. Companies are also exempt from paying as much for their workers health benefits.

Along with the disadvantages of the people in these undeveloped countries are the people in the hometown of these big corporate companies. According to an American Union report by AFL-CIO “Goldman Sachs estimates 400,000–600,000 professional services and information sector jobs moved overseas in the past few years, accounting for about half of the total net job loss in the sector over the period.”

The report also states “Forrester Research Inc. predicts U.S. employers will move 3.4 million white-collar jobs and $136 billion in wages overseas by 2015.” Not only are Americans struggling with looking for work during this almost Depression-esc time the work that we do have were giving away billions of dollars to countries at a cheaper price and cheaper value.

By not circulating the money within our own country, companies are benefitting to the economic hardship by not hiring Americans to run their businesses and work in their factories. Companies are at fault by not providing a solution to the country that are assisting the problem.

In reference to the loss of jobs due to globalization, according to the CRS Report for Congress both physical and emotional factors have begin to come into play within our society people are scared that they may eventually lose their job and this creates “worker anxiety”, “The current, highly publicized wave of offshore outsourcing has caused considerable anxiety among both unemployed and employed workers….

Domestic outsourcing and offshore outsourcing result in job losses for those employees who no longer are required to produce the goods and services that their employers decided to purchase. Some displaced workers must seek jobs in other fields because the domestic firms that specialize in providing outsourced functions do so more efficiently than their former employers.

Others who lose their jobs to domestic outsourcing can continue to perform similar work — perhaps for lower wages and fewer benefits,” the CRS Report for Congress states on page 5. Americans are taking pay cuts and receiving less health benefits due to outsourcing and are made to believe that globalization is good for the country, our America.

The question is who’s America we’re speaking off and if we really want to live in ‘that’ America. Outsourcing could be detrimental to our country especially during these financial times where companies need to promote as much revenue as possible. We cannot successfully help others if we cannot help ourselves.

As it was so eloquently put in the textbook The New World Reader “The essence of globalization is a subordination of human rights, of labor rights, consumer rights, environmental rights, democracy rights, to the imperatives of global trade and investments.”

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After the local unions and celebrities such as Susan Sarandon and Kanye West have shown their support for the Occupy Wall Street Movement, Ben & Jerry’s, the world famous ice cream company, has become the first big company to join the cause as of last weekend.

“To those who Occupy: We Stand with you” is the slogan chosen by the ice cream maker to show its sympathy and “deepest admiration” to all the people “who have initiated the non-violent Occupy Wall Street Movement and to those around the country who have joined in solidarity”, as is stated on the Ben & Jerry’s website.

In the solidarity statement written by the company Board of Directors, they make it clear that according to the company’s values “the issues raised are of fundamental importance to all of us”, and for that reason they decided to “support this call to action and are honoured to join you in this call to take back our nation and democracy”.

These “issues” are no other than inequity, unemployment, education and political corruption. In their press release, the Board cited the following ground for their support:

The inequity that exists between classes in our country is simply immoral.

We are in an unemployment crisis. Almost 14 million people are unemployed. Nearly 20% of African American men are unemployed. Over 25% of our nation’s youth are unemployed. Many workers who have jobs have to work 2 or 3 of them just to scrape by.

Higher education is almost impossible to obtain without going deeply in debt.

Corporations are permitted to spend unlimited resources to influence elections while stockpiling a trillion dollars rather than hiring people.

They also took this opportunity to remind the American society about their compromises towards the environment, human rights and fair trade, among others: “We have provided support to citizens’ efforts to reincorporate money in politics, we pay a liveable wage to our employees, we directly support family farms and we are working to source fairly traded ingredients for all our products.”

The Occupy Wall Street movement that started nearly a month ago has quietly but steadily grown a following that has inspired similar demonstrations in over 70 other cities, including some in Canada, Great Britain, Greece and Australia.

For the full statement visit their website.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/matmcdermott/

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Social network sites can do more than entertain us, they can actually help people find employment. And even those who have good jobs can benefit from being apart of a social network site; they can grow their contact list and create content related to one’s training.

The following popular social networking sites can be very helpful tools when trying to advance one’s career:

LinkedIn: the largest professional social network. Creating a profile on LinkedIn allows the user to display their resume, interests, and career objectives. Past employers are able to “recommend” someone who worked for them in the past.

Recruiters and human resource professionals are able to view users’ skills sets; there is a chance they will reach out to LinkedIn members if there is a job opportunity that fits their specific abilities. This is also a helpful place to follow news on one’s favorite businesses and industries. Additionally, LinkedIn posts job openings for members to look at.

Xing: it is similar to LinkedIn. Xing has been very successful in Germany, although it is being used in other countries as well. With more than 11 million users, Xing is giving Linkedin some competition. It allows professionals to connect and engage with each other.

Twitter: a social networking sites with a limitation: 140 characters. Twitter is unique in its use of fewer words. It is a great tool to share and follow interesting content. It is easy for users to “follow” companies, organizations, and individual people that they like. “Retweeting” comments by people can be a great way to show interest in the topic or company they represent.

Also, sometimes companies or individuals will post job openings on Twitter.

Facebook: It is possible to use this popular social media site, with its more than 500 million users, in a professional way. It is important that the user is careful with their privacy settings.

Users shouldn’t display too many personal photos or comments; However it is possible to use Facebook for both personal and professional use if the user is mindful.

Google +: This new social networking site consolidates social networks with other platforms. Google + combines the content sharing and viral quality of Twitters with Facebook’s communication format; with more characters and “like” buttons and commenting options. Also, creating “circles” on Google + is a simple way to organize your content and control who sees your information.

One of the most important things to remember when using any of these sites to advance oneself professionally, is to display a conservative and appropriate photo. It’s also important to not be a pest. Sending too many private messages to someone could scare them away instead of making them interested in you as a potential employee.

Users should try to adapt to the different types of social sites they are using. While each has its specific rules and etiquette, the strategy of engaging with companies and presenting oneself professionally applies to each site when searching for a job.

With today’s weak economy, it’s necessary to be patient when searching for a job. Being resourceful is also key. Getting a presence on all the different platforms can be helpful; maximizing one’s presence and connections to others.

There are other ways to use the web to advance professionally that doesn’t involve social network sites. Creating and updating a blog can be a great way to present yourself, your skills, and your interests. Blogger and WordPress are popular blog platforms.

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President Obama unveiled his eagerly awaited jobs plan recently, which might bring fresh hope and confidence to the economy and to the lives of people in America. The plan is mix of deliberate adjustment of expenditure and taxation, with a purpose to assist the ailing U.S. out of the recovery bed.

The President revealed what many have seen as a second stimulus package to lift the economy from recession. He proposed mild ramifications with fiscal tools, deductions in payroll taxes and extending the spendings on infrastructure and other alternatives to get the economy running again.

In order to increase activity, a mix of tax cuts and spendings on schools and roads, aid to teachers and assistance to the unemployed was announced. The total cost of the plan is $447 billion of which $253 billion will go to tax-cuts and $194 to new spendings. A select part of the bill could become law and provide a measure of support for the economy.

The best component to win the congress’ approval is the payroll tax cuts. Reduction in tax rates will give more purchasing power to the consumer, which eventually should push demands upwards. Currently employees normally pay 6 percent if their income in tax, but in the future, they may become liable to pay only 4.2 percent. A reduction of 2 percent.

Fundamentally, the Obama administration wants to put more people to work and increase spending so that a weakened demand may get strengthened and help bring back certainty in economic activity.

The $447 billion cost program is nearly half of the stimulus package announced by the President in 2009, and reflects the severity of the economic crisis. When the economy is weak, governments will often launch ambitious analysis to find out the root cause of the problem, and upon successfully finding it, they design policy to curb or mitigate its impact on the economy.

As in this case, Obama proposed a National Infrastructure bank which would cost $10 billion to establish, but which would pay for new public construction projects like local roads, bridges and mass transit systems.

Furthermore, the president outlined new spending program for school modernization (at least 35,000 public schools) with total spending of $25 billion. In an effort to provide benefits to jobless people, the plan sets aside $62 billion for unemployment insurance to continue supporting the jobless.

Many economists say that the American government must put billions of dollars into the economy to keep it from sinking into recession, but no proposal is ever be without criticism. Nigel Gault, Chief Economist with HIS Global Insight said “If you give somebody a tax cut and they just save it, then there no jobs created”.
Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com

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According to the bureau of Labor statistics, the American economy added a shocking “zero” number of jobs in the month of August. This makes it the worst monthly job report this year, fueling doubts about economic recovery and increasing the pressure on President Obama.

Despite a big effort by the Obama administration to design a simulative fiscal policy in the recent past, the overall picture is still very negative. The greatest impact of this may be the Democrats’ ability to contest elections in 2012; in effect, the presidential approval index fell to the lowest of its time in office.

In August people who strongly approved of Obama’s performance fell 3 percent from 24 percent to 21 percent. On the other hand the number of people who strongly disapprove of the President’s performance rose to 42 percent from 38 percent.

Variations in this index show to what degree voters are satisfied with the performance of the President; if there is a rise in approval rating it shows that people’s concerns are being taken care of, or they feel happy. Likewise, if there is a fall in this index then voters are unhappy with the President.

The essential idea is that the President is in the midst of an uncertain economy and the political crisis will have major bearing on his hopes for a return to the White House in 2012. Everything depends on what the President has in store this time, but it will be far less ambitious than the $825 billion stimulus package of 2009.

Economists in the U.S. who advocated for government intervention call for a package of at least $300 billion to avoid backsliding of the economy. Overall unemployment rates are steady at 9.1 percent; anything less than 100,000 jobs a month would be catastrophic for the democratic campaign in 2012.

Economists estimated that the economy needs 150,000 jobs per month in order to keep pace with the growth rate of the population. But to reduce unemployment to below 8 percent, the economy needs to create more than 275,000 jobs in one month.

Initially President Obama had agreed to deliver the speech on his new job proposal on September 7, but incidentally (or intentionally) the Republican Party chose the same date to hold a televised debate. Just like with the debt deal, this incident became a platform for conflict between democrats and republicans, but the White House said it was just a matter of coincidence.

The Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, asked Obama to rescheduled his speech on September 8 and the White House agreed. This shows the basic idea that even in dire economic condition and undeniable uncertainty over the future of U.S economy, Republicans are enjoying their play in politics.

But all in all, the campaigning for 2012 is firing up. From the President to the presidential candidates — everyone is preparing to roll out thier agendas in order to cement their chances. They are very much concerned with what voters are concerned with, and of utmost importantly: Jobs, jobs, and jobs.

The political environment in the U.S. is driven by the unemployment agenda because ultimately it will determine the destiny of the front-runners for 2012. Everything depends on how well they sail the American citizens out of this mess.

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The latest numbers emerged from the federal government. Although the recession technically ended, someone should tell the rest of America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage report for 2010, poverty increased to 15.1 percent in 2010.

A total of 46.2 million people are in poverty, the highest number since the government started tracking poverty in the 1950s. “Income down, poverty up, health insurance coverage down or flat,” said Ron Haskins, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, in a statement.

“The news on economic well-being in the U.S. is not good. Worse, children’s poverty increased for the fourth year in a row and at 22 percent is the highest since 1993. Child poverty has been higher than the 2010 level in only three years since the mid-1960s.” Poverty is defined by family size and income.

The federal government considers a family of four with annual earnings of less than $22,314 to be poor. In 2010, 9.2 million families lived in poverty, up from 8.8 million in 2009. Poverty increased among every racial and ethnic group except Asian Americans.  The share of white Americans living in poverty grew to 13 percent, up from 12.3 percent in 2009.

African Americans and Latinos saw similar increases in poverty and remained significantly more likely to be poor than whites. In 2010, black poverty climbed to 27.4 percent from 25.8 percent in 2009, and Latino poverty reached 26.6 percent, up from 25.3 percent in 2009.

The uninsured continues to rise as well. The share of Americans covered by private health insurance continued its decade-long fall. Nearly 50 million Americans lacked health insurance in 2010, an increase of 900,000 from the previous year. The number of Americans who participate in a government health insurance program, however, continued its four-year climb.

Alice O’Connor, a historian at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of “Poverty Knowledge: Social Science, Social Policy and the Poor in Twentieth Century U.S. History,” said explanations for rising poverty often focus on the work ethic and personal choices of the poor.

But since the Great Recession, she said, a growing number of Americans have come to understand that the availability of living-wage jobs plays a large role in determining a family’s economic state. Despite that recognition, O’Connor said many still fail to understand the role social policies — such as those that make collective bargaining difficult or tax income from work and investments differently — contribute to increased poverty.

She noted that public health insurance programs for poor children and adults and cash welfare assistance, among other social safety net measures, have seen significant cuts in many cash-strapped states. And many workers — particularly men — are effectively earning less than they did three decades ago, while also lacking access to health insurance and other benefits. ”

What we are looking at today is really the result of decades of eroded protections for workers and just a declining number of good jobs,” said O’Connor.

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President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress and the nation on Thursday night, asking for $447 billion to focus on jobs creation. The proposal, titled the “American Jobs Act,” includes more than $250 billion in tax incentives for small businesses and employers.

The administration would spend the rest of the money on infrastructure spending, state aid, unemployment insurance and neighborhood rehabilitation. According to the President, the proposal will be paid for by spending cuts found by the super committee. Senior administration officials said that the White House plans to introduce the president’s proposal next week as a single piece of legislation.

“I am sending this Congress a plan that you should pass right away,” Obama said in his evening speech. “There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans — including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything.”

President Obama, clearly on the offensive, stated he would push this bill outside of D.C. as well. “I intend to take that message to every corner of this country,” Obama said. “I also ask every American who agrees to lift your voice and tell the people who are gathered here tonight that you want action now.

Tell Washington that doing nothing is not an option.” In all, Obama said the phrase “pass this jobs bill” eight times in his speech. In the end of his speech, Obama called for Congress to close special interest tax loopholes as one way to cover the cost of the jobs bill. “This isn’t political grandstanding,” he said. “This isn’t class warfare. This is simple math. These are real choices that we have to make.”

The president’s suggested spending totals are much smaller than the economy’s actual needs. The country faces a $2 trillion infrastructure deficit, according to Obama’s top advisers. There is an estimated $270 billion to $500 billion in backlogged school maintenance costs. The government has cut over 200,000 jobs, many of them teachers and emergency first responders.

The outlines were still heralded by Democrats as an important start, as well as a much-needed shift in a political conversation that has been dominated by budget cuts.

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Unemployed Americans are completing for jobs with those who are already employed. According to the Huffington Post, the job market is even worse than the 9.1 percent unemployment rate suggests. The 14 million unemployed Americans are also competing with 8.8 million people who have part-time jobs but are in search of full-time work.

Those with part-time jobs are more likely to gain full-time positions before the unemployed. Economists suspect that when companies are able to add more work hours, they will tack on more hours to part-timers’ workdays before making new hires.  

The New York Times reported that August brought no increase in the number of jobs in the United States. Patrick J. O’Keefe, the director of economic research at J.H. Cohn, an accounting firm, said the economy has about the same number of jobs as it did in January 2000. “We expected a weak report, and what we got was even weaker,” said O’Keefe.  

The monthly report showed a 17,000-job gain among private employers but no growth over all. The Congressional Budget Office said it’s expected for the rate of unemployment to exceed 8 percent until 2014. Republicans pointed to recent job reports as evident that the stimulus tactics of Obama are not working.

In an email to reporters, the Republican National Committee took note of the worst jobs report in nearly a year, saying that there has been “two and a half years of Obamanomics and nothing to show for it.” Michele Bachmann commented on job climate during her visit in Iowa on Friday. 

“The American people don’t need speeches, they need jobs,”  Bachmann said. While campaigning in Florida, Mitt Romney called the job report “unacceptable.” The new job report had a negative effect on the stock market. The

Dow Jones industrial average fell 253.31 points, 2.2 percent, Friday, closing at 11,240.26. “As long as payrolls are weak, you will continue to hear cries of not just recession risk but cries that the United States is in a recession and we just don’t know it,” said Ellen Zentner, the senior United States economist for Nomura Securities.

Overall, unemployment is lower than it was a year ago, but those gains have been among whites, Hispanics and Asians. For blacks, unemployment has increased, to 16.7 percent from 16.2 percent.

Obama is expected to renew the payroll tax cut and extend unemployment benefits, both benefits that are about to expire. Obama is also scheduled to give a speech on improving unemployment rates on Thursday night.

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Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has launched his own jobs plan ahead of the president’s address to the nation on Thursday. On Tuesday, Romney detailed his 59 specific proposals to improve the nation’s economy and create jobs.

“At best, government can provide a framework in which economic growth can occur. All too often, however, government gets in the way,” Romney wrote in an opinion piece in USA Today that previewed his 160-page plan. “The past three years of unparalleled government expansion have retaught that lesson all too well.”

Romney’s plan, no surprise, includes lowering the tax rate for corporations to encourage more corporations to keep profits in the U.S. This comes just weeks after Romney stated that “corporations are people.” Romney also proposes to eliminate tax on interests, capital gains and dividends. Romney’s campaign stated that these proposals specifically target middle class Americans, however few middle class Americans pay those types of taxes.

Romney criticized Obama for expanding federal regulations. He announced a proposal to ensure that new regulations at government agencies do not cost money. If a new set of rules raises costs for businesses, Romney would require that a different set of regulations be eliminated.

“I have spent most of my career in the private sector starting new businesses and turning around ailing ones. Unlike career politicians who’ve never met a payroll, I know why jobs come and go,” Romney wrote in USA Today, again a jab at Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has held public office since he was elected as a Texas state representative in 1985.

Democrats criticized Romney’s plan, even before he rolled it out. Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic Party, said: “Mitt Romney has promised an economic plan that is bold and sweeping. But if the past months have shown anything, what Americans are really likely to get is more of the same tired rhetoric and worn out ideas which have failed America in the past.”

Although there is nothing new or different in this plan (lower taxes, reduce regulations), at least Romney is proposing something. The Republican Party in general has not offered any real solutions to the economy. The Republicans are known as the “Party of No” for a reason.

They are quick to criticize the president, congress and everyone else without suggesting any alternatives. Of course, the hocus pocus magic of lowering taxes and reducing regulations does not help the economy (see: George W. Bush’s 8 years) but  Mittens is trying to set himself apart in the crowded GOP field.

Frontpage / Shutterstock.com

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Politics remains staunchly divided in Wisconsin and the local Labor Day parade is just another example of the divide. After the vote earlier in the year in Wisconsin led by Republicans to limit collective bargaining rights, a Wisconsin union has voted to ban Republican politicians from a local Labor Day parade. The Marathon County Central Labor Council, which sponsors the parade, includes some 30 local unions.

Council President Randy Radtke said in a statement on the group’s website that politicians are only welcome at the festivities if they have demonstrated support for workers’ rights.

“It should come as no surprise that organizers choose not to invite elected officials who have openly attacked worker’s rights or stood idly by while their political party fought to strip public workers of their right to collectively bargain,” Radtke said.

“It is a time for working families to come together to celebrate their hard work and a time where we recognize the labor movement for all they have given us — the weekend, the 40 hour work week, child labor protection, a safe work environment.”

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), a federal congressman representing Wausau released a statement decrying the vote. “Having walked in this parade in past years, Congressman Duffy was hoping that for a moment, we could set our differences aside and simply have some fun in a family-friendly event,” a Duffy spokesperson said.

“[The congressman] walks in a lot of parades, and staff called to register a spot last week and was informed in colorful language that no Republicans were being allowed to participate this year,” added Duffy Chief of Staff Brandon Moody in an email to The Huffington Post.

In February, 14 Democratic state senators fled the state in order to prevent a vote on the controversial collective bargaining bill. Thousands of protesters flocked to the state capital in Wisconsin to protest the legislation. Through a last-minute budgetary and possible illegal move, Republicans were able to pass the measure without any Democrats present. All but one GOP state senator voted for it.

Radtke said the reaction to his decision has been mixed, with “some negative comments but mostly it has been overwhelmingly positive.” Other politicians who won’t be welcome at the parade include state Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) and state Rep. Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon).

Image Courtesy of  Shaun Greiner

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By now, London is in a state of collective hangover, but the recent week’s mayhem could just as well have swept through Athens, Madrid or Rome. The year 2011 will be remembered as the year of youth revolt; where the youth of Europe realized generations before them did not leave much for their future.

But lawmakers around Europe can’t really say that the protests, which most recent turned into arson and looting, were all that surprising. Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten reported that the generation that took to the streets in European capitals are the first in decades who cannot expect to reach a higher living standard than their parents. The rioting in Britain underlines this with socio-economic irony; the underbelly of society has been ignored for years while leaders scrambled to save the economy under the global financial crisis. A breakdown was unavoidable.

The initial problem has played out in several countries. In Spain, a staggering 40 percent youth unemployment led to mass protests in Madrid in May. Demonstrators, despite a ban, gathered to express their anger at the unbearable unemployment rate, the recent austerity measures and political corruption. In Athens, demonstrations and strikes led to violent clashes between police and protesters and last weekend saw a protest in Tottenham, UK, against the shooting of Mark Duggan turn into a weeklong street riot that destroyed so much more than materials.

The English anarchy was a display of societal meltdown — the media and politicians were quick to point their finger at fault but the explanation is straightforward. What it comes down to is a generation, raised in the economic boom of the 90s with all its optimism, but held back as they were about to enter society themselves as workers. A strained labor market and an increasingly nervous financial climate prevents many from looking to the future. No wonder those with the least hope, financially or socially, will break first and most furiously. It may be a terrible and upsetting situation, but it shouldn’t be a surprising one.

According to Chris Roycroft-Davis, a British political commentator, Prime Minister David Cameron’s harsh words in the wake of the recent riots will achieve nothing without direct, unrestrained consequences.

“Society is being destroyed because for decades we’ve gone soft on a underclass of lawbreaking, drug dealing layabouts who treat with contempt a world which they think owes them a living,” Roycroft-Davis said.

Though Roycroft-Davis’ words are hard, they voice the tension between the have’s and have-not’s which triggered the violence in London. One part is that young people have no jobs and no future to plan for – another is that some of the European welfare states have taken such good care of their people that they have forgotten society is a two-way agreement.

Some countries have nothing to give and the opportunity to give back is equally limited. The unemployment rate in Greece climbed to 14.2 percent by March and Spain was at a staggering 20.9 percent in the second quarter of 2011. In comparison, Germany only had 7 percent unemployment as of July.

But on the other hand, many western European countries continue their generous benefit systems despite numbers showing that only half of the population is employed. With the deduction of children, students and elderly, Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten found that there were still a large amount of people who simply lived off the state — a vicious circle that many of the newest generations on the labour market will drop into by default.

In comparison with other decades and areas, the youth of Western Europe was arguably spoiled rotten by optimistic and protective states. Whether they achieved academically or was raised on the streets, there was always some sort of security net that tried to catch them if they fall.

There comes a point where people stop being grateful and start expecting more: ‘we want jobs’ or ‘we’re entitled to benefits’. The point is when they truly believe the world owes them just because they were born into it. The people who had no problem destroying their fellow citizens’ livelihood in the last week should be considered the fruit of society’s unrelenting labor. Kids down to eight years of age were out smashing windows and grabbing all they could get because society kept telling them that they were “entitled”. On the other hand, students and graduates want governments to take responsibility for creating jobs for them, while blaming people at the top for everything without fully appreciating the complicity of their parents, the greater society — not to mention the world.

The lost generation of Europe is in the end a motley bunch. All layers of society, educated or not, face bleak prospects in the coming years. While the student camps in squares with eloquently written protest banners, the mobster throws stones and steals designer hoodies but none of this can really change the probability that economic order will not be stabilized before our most important years on the labour market have passed. Governments will ask for patience and restraint but the revolting youth will not be silenced with words and they may spend the rest of the year proving this.

Image Courtesy of Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64742792@N05/6026530372/

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Last week, the GOP-led state legislature in Michigan passed a bill reducing the length of unemployment for workers in the state.  The measure, which goes into effect in January 2012, is being hyped as fiscal responsibility in the face of Michigan’s $1.4 billion deficit.  Opponents point out that the bill is particularly unfair in a state where the unemployment rate has been one of the highest in the nation.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bill, which was originally intended to extend federal unemployment benefits through the end of the year. The added measure will reduce state-funded benefits from 26 weeks to 20 weeks, which should benefit Michigan employers by lowering the unemployment taxes they will pay next year.  Michigan is the first state in the country to cut benefits to 20 weeks, but others may follow suit – starting with Florida.

“Gov. Snyder’s decision to sign this reckless measure cutting the lifeline for Michigan’s unemployed will reverberate for years,” said Rep. Sander Levin (D) of Michigan in a statement. “Republicans … gave Michigan the dubious distinction of becoming the only state in the union with 20 weeks of state unemployment insurance,” he said, adding that the bill will “affect hundreds and hundreds of thousands” of future unemployed workers.

Michigan likely will not be the only state for long.  Earlier this month, the Florida House passed a bill that will similarly reduce the duration of unemployment benefits to 20 weeks. The bill is currently under consideration in the Republican-controlled Senate, and Republican Governor Rick Scott strongly supports it.

Michigan Democrats are now working on legislation to restore the six weeks of unemployment that were cut.  State Rep. Jim Ananich (D-Flint), and state Sen. Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit), have announced that they are working on legislation to restore the full 26 weeks of benefits.

“Getting people back to work right away must be our top priority,” Ananich said. “But while they are trying to find a job or being trained for new positions, we have to make sure they can still put food on their table. Restoring these resources will help families stay in Michigan and help our local businesses that depend on people to buy their goods and services.”

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Lampedusa is a small Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea with a population of roughly 4.000 people. Their local economy is mainly based on tourism and fishing industry and from a general European perspective, the island is just like any other peaceful holiday retreat. From the coast of North Africa however – it is the gateway to a better life. Jette Elbaek Maressa reported to the Danish newspaper Jyllands-posten about the surge in illegal immigration from political hotspots in the Middle East.

The road through Lampedusa has become one of the popular options for refugees to illegally enter Europe. On a daily basis, the Island’s inhabitants witness the motley fishing boats reach their port while heavily armed Italian police guards are waiting to greet the new arrivals. After severe protests on behalf of the Islanders, the Italian government has stepped up its effort to protect the vulnerable outpost who’s tourist industry has taken a hit since the refugee boats started to arrive.

Thousands of young Tunisians have already ventured the sea in their pursuit for jobs and prosperity. The dream takes little more than a boat and a gallon of gas and the chance that many more will follow has got the Italian government raising alarm in the EU. They believe the political unrest in the Middle East, combined with the high unemployment rate among the younger population, will inspire a mass immigration through the risky sea channel. And for the Island community on Lampedusa, it could cripple their livelihood.

The question is: Why is the youth of North Africa leaving? The scarcity of jobs is quoted as a major reason with youth-unemployment rates currently around 25% in Egypt and 30% in Tunisia. The recent populist revolt in some parts of the Middle East against decades of dictatorship was sparked by a young man who represented the situation for many in his country, 26-year-old Muhamed Bouazizi, when he set himself on fire. However, the change of government has not in the short term produces more job opportunities. It takes a lot of patience and time before either Tunisia, Egypt or any other Middle Eastern country is ready to create even half of the 5 million jobs needed for all people in the Arabic world to be employed, according to a youth advisor from the Arab League. He explains that the journey to Europe is not an attempt to cut ties with their home of origin – rather, these young people want to earn a living abroad and return more prosperous.

The irony from a European perspective is that they too are faced with an alarming situation in their national job markets. In comparison, the south of Italy is experiencing 30% youth-unemployment, Britain has 20% while young people in Spain are dealing with 40%. While Italy whines over the around 5.000 illegal immigrant from Lampedusa and asks the rest of the EU for help, Frontex informs that 90% of all illegal immigration is done at the borders of Turkey and Greece. Others use the route through Spain via the Canary Islands and Morocco. Sweden has even been vocal in this debate, explaining that they have 32.000 asylum cases every year – for a country of only 9 million people.

Back in Lampedusa, the coast guards continue to inspect the sea towards the African coast. They know what some of the young refugees don’t: That Europe is no paradise and that the only people who really benefit from the boat trips are the traffickers who organize the dangerous journey. It is just too late to tell them when they arrive.

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