The amount of individuals across our nation searching for
employment is astounding. The employment situation in America is a daily news
discussion which has lots of people on edge. The current job market is the
result of a lot of people being unemployed. The job market has changed and a
number of people are not prepared for these transformations which leaves them
out in the cold and without a job. Knowing what is in the job market will help
people understand what they need to do to increase their chance of landing a
job when they need it.
New college graduates
cannot find jobs
Newly graduated college students unable to find jobs have astounded
the public. When individuals graduate from college with a degree and are unable
to find work we need to wonder what the issue really is. In all actuality
before our current recession people with a college degree rarely worked in the field
for which they were educated. Up to 65% of people worked in a different field than
their college training prepared them for. Though, the job market was a lot
different than it is today. A number of jobs didn’t require a college degree or
training to get your foot in the door. A college degree was certainly an added
plus, but not necessary.
Depending on your major it can be difficult to find
employment. Imagine what sort of job you could actually receive if you
graduated with a degree in Political Science and wanted to work in the field. Unless
you were actually going to become part of the government or service to
elections and related fields, you would find yourself in other positions
totally unrelated. What about the person with a major in Art History? What sort
of job would you actually be able to apply this degree to? This is why a lot of
graduates cannot find work. They don’t have the necessary degree or training
for the current job market.
Jobs are changing
Technology has affected the current job market. Jobs that
were offered in the 70s and 80s have changed. The 90s were preparing us
somewhat for the change that was bound to occur, but a lot of individuals
disregarded what was on the horizon. With the software revolution jobs that
required manual labor were decreased and technology jobs increased.
Software engineers and web designer jobs are rampant while
pipe fitters and machinists are not. A lot of jobs that historically were
manually done can now be done with technology. Workers that are unable to adapt
to the new jobs or new way of performing a job are out of luck. Additionally,
with the implementation of technology where 3 people were needed to perform a
job only one is needed now. This is how the phrase “downsizing” initially
began.
Competing globally
for jobs
Along with the revolution in technology workers now compete
for jobs globally. Instead of competition with the United States millions of
workers, we compete with everyone around the world for the same position. Unfortunately,
some of these jobs are lost because of the financial status of other countries.
When an employer can pay less and offer fewer benefits, other countries win out
over American workers.
Supply and demand for
jobs
Supply and demand affects the job market. Business is the
demand piece of the puzzle while workers are the supply. Not enough qualified
workers affect the current job market. Companies have open positions for new
jobs, but workers are not qualified to fill them.
Without enough workers to fill the demand that businesses have
for jobs, several things will happen. One of these is wonderful. Companies will
increase the amount of pay for open positions in order to entice workers to
fill them. Along with more money benefits will also be better.
On the down side of the equation the supply of workers that
are not qualified to fill the positions will mean a great number of people are
out of work. There are actually jobs in the marketplace, but not enough
qualified workers to fill the open jobs.
In conclusion
Know the current job market to understand how you can get
the position you want and deserve. Job hunting can be difficult, but there are some things that can ease the pain. If the openings are for software engineers
and web designers, focus your college education for where the market will be
when you graduate. Following your passions and dreams of becoming a marine
biologist is terrific, but will you be able to pay the bills after you
graduate. A better course of action would be to invest in technology,
engineering and related fields of study.
If you currently are out of work, consider retraining or
education that can move you into the technology and jobs that are in our current
job market. Researching business magazines like Forbes or Wallstreet will
reveal what the market is offering and the direction of businesses that are
hiring.
Job hiring sites or hiring job boards like Monster.com or
Career.com also display what open jobs are hot. The web is a wonderful place to
query what jobs are in demand. Do your research and get a job that can fulfill
you financially and personally. The current job market has changed the way we
do things for landing a job and we need to change with it.
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