Article

2009-07-02 Economy

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by lord garth 2009-07-02 11:33|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 There must be an enormous number of persons dropping from "unemployed" to uncounted "discouraged worker" status, otherwise an 0.1% rise in the unemployment rate on 467,000 new unemployed makes little sense following a month in which we lost just over 500,000 jobs and saw the unemployment rate spike by 0.5%.

Posted by AzCat 2009-07-02 16:13|| 2009-07-02 16:13|| Front Page Top

#2 But, as I mentioned before, Obama saved 5.4 Billion jobs.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-07-02 17:18|| 2009-07-02 17:18|| Front Page Top

#3 The White House is encouraged by the reports from the CBO that unemployment statistics for Americans born before 1909 continue to remain stable.

Posted by Robert Gibbs 2009-07-02 17:26|| 2009-07-02 17:26|| Front Page Top

#4 We got to the 40 hour standard work week in order to reduce unemployment by spreading the jobs out over more workers. Are we heading for a 35 hour work week? It's actually not the worst idea in the world. An alternative is more government-mandated positions - required featherbedding, if you will. I think I prefer the former.

Posted by Glenmore 2009-07-02 18:29|| 2009-07-02 18:29|| Front Page Top

#5 Unfortunately the spread the work around idea doesn't work as Europe shows. Where unemployment has jumped to a 10 year high.

Nor will we see increased government employment as governments everywhere will have to reduce payrolls because of reduced revenues (or spark hyperinflation).

Posted by phil_b 2009-07-02 19:24|| 2009-07-02 19:24|| Front Page Top

#6 my gubbamint employer's imposed a 52 hour unpaid furlough and I know CA state employees are taking a third unpaid furlough day/month off.

I have no problem with that except that the same amount (actually more with hiring freezes) of work has to get done. I know several good engineers who've been laid off this month in the private field. I'm happy to have a job right now

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2009-07-02 19:35|| 2009-07-02 19:35|| Front Page Top

#7 as Europe shows. Where unemployment has jumped to a 10 year high.
hil_b

phil_b.
U unemployment is at a 27 year high?

I'm happy to have a job right now

Me too. Nephew in serious jeopardy as second-to-last hired engineer, and the last guy just got laid off.
Concept is same amount of work has to get done, but with fewer hours per worker and more workers. Biggest problem is that it is non-linear: the top workers are more productive per hour and the bottom workers (the ones re-hired) are less, so on an hour-production basis the weighted average productivity goes down or the cost goes up.

Posted by Glenmore 2009-07-02 21:37|| 2009-07-02 21:37|| Front Page Top

#8 My 10th anniversary party was today at work (2 of us share the hiring month and shared the party). Nice cake, cheese & crackers, veggies & dip, sodas, and a nice plaque presented by each of our bosses with a "we're glad you're here" speech. (I'm pretty sure the bosses paid for everything out of their own pockets except for the plaque and the anniversary gee-gaw to be chosen by me later.) I honestly told them I'm grateful for the job, and even more grateful it's one I love.

No raises for anyone this year. Thanks, that's fine, I'm glad for the job. Fewer hours of work this year than last - again, thanks, that's fine - have to cut back on things, but at least I've got a job.

I'd be grateful for any job I had, but I'm particularly grateful for having one I love. I tell them so on a regular basis (and did even before the economy went in the dumper).

My motto is "I'm here to work" and I tell people so whenever I can. Fingers crossed....

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2009-07-02 22:43|| 2009-07-02 22:43|| Front Page Top

#9 Congratulations, Barbara dear. I have no doubt your employer is getting their money's worth, and then some.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2009-07-02 23:43|| 2009-07-02 23:43|| Front Page Top

23:59 trailing wife
23:52 trailing wife
23:43 trailing wife
23:40 Mullah Richard
23:39 Jumbo Slinerong5015
23:03 Old Patriot
22:59 Broadhead6
22:56 Old Patriot
22:53 Old Patriot
22:43 Barbara Skolaut
22:24 SteveS
22:16 ed
22:15 JohnQC
22:12 ed
22:11 Frank G
22:04 Barbara Skolaut
21:37 Glenmore
21:23 anymouse
21:13 CrazyFool
21:03 CrazyFool
20:42 no mo uro
20:36 no mo uro
20:35 Frank G
20:30 crosspatch