Ok, I don't want to say that it isn't an issue because any amount of unemployment is an issue to someone, somewhere ... but do we really have a grasp on the reality of unemployment? I hear plenty about how it is this huge issue, bigger than ever, and how the numbers are so high right now, and yes, they are high these past couple of years up to near 10% where it had been below 5% on average the previous 12 years. However this isn't the first time that it has jumped and in fact was at nearly 8% on average for a dozen years around a 12 year time frame in the early 80s with a couple of years in there near 10% as well.
The economy isn't as good as it was leading to some job loss. Everyone knows that. Over all though given the rate of population increase along with the improvements in technology being able to do certain jobs one could argue that it is a wonder that the jobless rate isn't higher.
Look at it this way, this past year the US population is said to be around 308,400,408 people. 30 years prior it was only 227,224,681 ... 80 MILLION people less. Now consider that the average jobless rate close to the same as it was back then so yes, there are another 4 million or so jobless (ok, that number isn't completely accurate as it doesn't figure in children ... but for now lets ignore that) but there are also another 76 million jobs.
If at this point you're wondering what the child factor might be and wanting to discredit what I just said, I'll admit I can't tell you the part of that population that is children or retired people as I don't know what portion of that 80 million is just that, but lets assume 1/4 of that number is children or retirees. That still makes 3 million more jobless compared to 57 million new jobs. The unemployment rate is a percentage and not a flat number and thus will still come out with the same ratio of jobless to new jobs. And yes, my figures are on a 5% rate but even at a 10% rate 9 new jobs for every one person that can't find a job is still a lot of new jobs.
That is a ton of jobs in that time, and yes a lot of more jobless, but a lot, lot more new jobs. Now consider the advances in technology. Factory workers can be seen replaced in a number of places where robots or computers can do their job. The same can be said in a number of areas where one person with the aid of a computer can take the place of several people that used to do that very job. When you figure that into the equation it can be said that it is incredible that we continue to have so many employed when computers and robots can take the jobs of so many.
Yes, unemployment is an issue and always will be because a family unable to provide for their everyday needs because they can't get a job is a major issue. However given where we are now compared to decades ago is it any larger a problem now than it has been in the past? I don't think so myself. In fact, I would say that sending jobs overseas to factories in other countries is a bigger problem and factor in unemployment than job loss. Keep the jobs in the US and I think you attack a few birds with one stone ... unemployment, national debt, and economic problems stemming from lack of US products being made and sold.
No comments:
Post a Comment