.
US job growth
practically ceased in July according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics payroll job survey released August 6.
The US economy was able to eke out only 32,000 new
jobs–more than 200,000 fewer jobs than expected and
terrible news for June graduates and the millions of
unemployed.
More bad news came from downward revisions in the two
prior months` job gains.
As has been the case throughout this “recovery,”
job growth in July was concentrated in
nontradable domestic services, with the largest
components being
“ambulatory health care services” and
“employment services.” Gains in these sectors
were offset by losses in financial services, retail
trade, and transportation equipment manufacture.
Since the recovery began 32 months ago in November 2001,
globalism has worked to move US labor away from high
value-added jobs in tradable goods and services,
reallocating American workers into domestic services.
The BLS report, “Occupational Outlook Quarterly”
(updated 6-29-04), forecasts a continuation of the
reorientation of the US workforce toward domestic
services. The list of “High-paying Occupations With Many
Openings, Projected 2002-2012″ (available online), names
20 “high-paying” occupations where the BLS expects the
US economy to create jobs ranging in annual pay from
$29,370 (general maintenance and repair workers) to
$68,210 (general and operations managers).
The list consists of
registered and practical nurses, school teachers,
managers, sales representatives, truck drivers,
executive secretaries, accountants and auditors,
electricians, carpenters, mechanics, police officers,
management analysts, and computer system analysts. Only
the last occupation has any relation to a high-tech
economy, and there is no guarantee that the
computer jobs will not be
outsourced or filled by foreigners working
on H1-B or L-1 visas.
The BLS Career Guide to Manufacturing 2002-2012 projects
a continuing wipeout of US manufacturing employment.
Over the decade employment is expected to decline by 18%
in aerospace manufacturing, by 12% in computer and
electronic products, by 17% in chemical manufacturing,
by 20% in the steel industry, by 31% in textile mills
and products and by 69% in apparel manufacturing.
We continually hear that “America doesn`t graduate
enough engineers.” However, where is the need for
increased enrollments in aerospace, computer,
electrical, chemical, and textile engineering when the
industries that employ engineers are shrinking rapidly?
Among America`s manufacturing industries, the BLS
expects employment growth only in pharmaceutical and
medicine manufacturing (23% by 2012) and printing and
support activities (3.3% by 2012).
The BLS employment projections for the automobile
industry are poor, with employment in motor vehicle
manufacturing expected to decline. Slight employment
growth is projected in vehicle parts (3% over the
decade).
Despite the overwhelming empirical evidence, economists
and other spokespersons for global interests continue to
maintain that globalism benefits the US work force.
Arithmetic-challenged economists explain away vanishing
manufacturing employment in terms of productivity
increases that allow more output from fewer workers.
If this is true, why is America`s trade deficit in
manufacturing goods rising, including advanced
technology products? The US, allegedly a superpower is
now dependent on advanced technology products from
China, allegedly a third world country.
Those giving assurances that America is benefiting from
globalism are missing the big picture. Globalism is
reshaping the US labor force, giving the work force
a third world profile. Thirty-two months of economic
recovery has seen job growth only in domestic services,
many of which are poorly paid. Overall, the economy has
lost 1.8 million jobs since President Bush`s
inauguration.
Economists are absurd to pretend that the absence of US
job growth in tradable goods and services is unrelated
to offshore production and outsourcing.
If the US economy can no longer generate jobs in
tradable goods and services, we will find out whether
Americans can survive by taking in one another`s
laundry–and if Americans can pay for imports with
domestic nontradable services.
COPYRIGHT CREATORS
SYNDICATE, INC.
Paul Craig Roberts is the author with Lawrence M.
Stratton of
The Tyranny of Good Intentions : How Prosecutors and
Bureaucrats Are Trampling the Constitution in the Name
of Justice
