"It was the worst of times,and it was the worst of times."
Or something like that. But maybe I need to re-read A Tale of Two Cities.
The Wall Street Journal thinks that things are bad;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124753066246235811.html
Maybe the downturn in the economy will add incentive for those who are under-qualified to become qualified.Maybe McDonald's can fire all those ignorant ass little kids and hire employees who understand service.
Maybe Home Depot or Lowe's can get rid of all those people who seem to just wander the store in uniform and hire people who actually know about a product and where that product is located.
Maybe the job market will be so tight as to inspire more kids to stay in school past the tenth grade.
But really - the market for jobs is there, just not for the jobs most people desire.
These less desirable jobs are so prevalent that some companies are sinking to the depths of smuggling employees from Central and South America;
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6514945.html
the link didn't work so I can't read the article, but I couldn't agree more about the lack of service and the need for people willing to actually assist and do their damn job in places like Lowes and Home Depot.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time customer service came back!
They smuggle other people in because anyone who came from something realize a con when they see it. I don't know about you guys but my McD's is full of Mexican women as I don't see any teenagers anymore at least here in LA.
ReplyDelete@ RunningMom - Sorry about that - I wasn't finished with the post yet.
ReplyDelete@ FreeMan - Not just the McDonald's, but the whole city.
Our McDees is filled with kids. So is Checkers, Taco Bell, etc. etc. Can't tell you how many times I've picked up my order while some kid was on a cell phone or just staring off into space like I don't exist.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that jobs exist.
So do I take a job at Lowe's just to keep working? Then how do I later explain why I went from corperate sales to minimum wage? And no the answer is not to raise the minimum wage so that McDees can feed my family, as that job's tasks are only worth minimum wage.
If someone from Mexico isnt college educated and wiling to work hard here in the USA, I say we make it legal.
The jobs at the low end are there, whats hapening is those of us who went to school are being shoved down into them.
@ brohammas - Working at min. wage will only be temparary.
ReplyDeleteOr you may find yourself in an occupation that works for you.
In time - those with the skills will keep their jobs or move up - those without the skills will be forced to do and be better.
The major problem was (is) that we had too many people trained to do the same jobs.
And the problem is a consumer based economy. When our only manufacturing is in consumer goods and when the big ones fall and the consumerism slows down... more companies go down.
ReplyDeleteConsumer based economy is a house of cards. natural resources, technology, and food should be the base... O wait, that was before the dot coms.
@ brohammas - Yeah... but it will all come tumbling down soon enough.
ReplyDeleteThe Fed can't print enough money to keep this rouse going.
Maybe opening a survivalist store would be a good investment.
Funny you say that.
ReplyDeleteDid I ever mention how I grew up living in a tipi?
no seriously, my Dad wrote a how-to book back in the 80's all about "mountain man" skills.
@ brohammas - Too bad he didn't have a show on cable.
ReplyDelete