Labor

Rotten to the (Job) Corps - Summer 2009 - Vol. 21, No. 2 - available PDF file

This federally funded, educational and career training program costs taxpayers $1.5 billion annually to provide training for disadvantaged 16-24 year olds in higher skilled jobs --a segment of the U.S. job market currently experiencing a talent shortage.  This article examines the pitfalls the Job Corps has faced since its inception in 1964 and why the return on taxpayers’ investment for this program has been negligible.

"U6" Unemployment Stats Might Make "U Sick" - Summer 2009 - Vol. 21, No. 2 - available PDF file

The U.S. Department of Labor ranks unemployment stats in six categories, with U3 as the official rate and the media headline grabber.  But the U6 stats dig deeper into the nation’s unemployment situation and paints a more realistic, albeit bleaker, picture of the U.S. job market.

Motivation, Like Bathing, Doesn't Last - Spring 2009 - Vol. 21, No. 1 - available PDF file

When you read the torturous tactics one company implemented to motivate its employees, you will ask yourself: What were they thinking?

Oh Labor, Where Art Thou? - Some counties are frozen in amber. - Fall 2007-Vol.19, No.2 - available PDF file

Labor availability can be a site-selection deal breaker for corporations seeking locations for new industrial facilities. This article identifies U.S. counties that had chronically high and low unemployment rates during an 84-month study period (2000-2006), and showcases some interesting demographic differences between the two groups.

A recent ruling by the California Supreme Court could broaden the definition of sexual harassment to include “sexual favoritism” thanks to the sexual escapades of Warden Lewis Kuykendall of the Valley State Prison for Women.

According to the first ever time-of-injury data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfatal lost workday occupational injuries and illnesses are more likely to occur on Monday than any other day of the week. This detailed analysis breaks down what time of day nonfatal lost workday injuries and illnesses are likely to occur and how long a worker has been at work before the injury or illness occurred.

Worried that the world is becoming overpopulated? Think Again. U.S. birthrates have been declining since 1957 – from 3.7 births per woman to just under 2.1 births, the rate required to maintain a level population. This article explores the reasons behind declining U.S. birth rates and what effect “depopulation” will have on the economy.

Worried that your white-collar job might be exported overseas? Some say it’s the cause of our sluggish economy. However, these statistics are misleading. This article explores the benefits of offshore outsourcing for America.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 75 percent of women, ages 25 - 34, were part of the workforce in 2000, compared to 50 percent in 1975. Not only are more women working, but they also are catching men in terms of pay.

The 2002 Liberty Mutual Safety Index ranks the leading causes or workplace injuries based on the direct cost associated with each injury type. Comparing this data with the results from the 2001 Liberty Mutual Executive Survey of Workplace Safety helps highlight an interesting phenomenon. Executive perception of the main causes of injury in the workplace differs significantly from reality.

An examination of the distribution of deaths across working age population, including the leading causes of death for each sex, and statistics on the most dangerous occupations. The ray of sunshine in these morbid stats is that the rate of fatal injuries is on the decline.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that average U.S. worker earnings for calendar year 2000 were up 5.9 percent. However, the period from 3rd quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2001 did not exhibit the same robust growth.

By using a labor commute analysis (completed with the WISERsm site selection optimization model) site selectors can profile their potential work force in any user-defined labor market.

According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) the U.S. export of higher education is booming. Foreign students, particularly Asians, contribute over $7.5 billion dollars to the U.S. economy in tuition and living expenses.

Teachers may feel they are overworked, but a new study shows that low pay is not necessarily a problem relative to other workers. Actually the average worker earns less and works more than teachers.

Although the percentage of women managers in the U.S. has increased, they still receive less pay than their male counterparts in the same jobs. But women in the U.S. obtain access to more appealing jobs and administrative positions than women in other countries.

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute workers have been changing jobs more frequently in recent years; however, women maintain a steady pace in median job tenure. Although job tenure for males is higher, the trend suggests that in the near future females could easily take over their male counterparts.

With 300,000 illegal immigrants entering the United States each year, the government has placed the responsibility for weeding out illegal immigrants into the hands of the employer. However, employers face the problem of crossing that fine line between extreme selectivity and discrimination.

Companies are slowly beginning to adopt the cafeteria-style plan that includes pre-paid legal aid to employees. This plan covers wills, house closings, divorce proceedings, debt collection problems, and the like.

A higher percentage of immigrants to the US rely on welfare assistance than US born residents. However, the data are somewhat skewed by the fact immigrants from US- favored war torn countries are eligible for immediate assistance.

The low fertility rate in Japan has resulted in a labor shortage. The reduction in fertility is due to a significant increase in the number of women delaying marriage to pursue careers, and the higher quality of life these career-oriented women enjoy versus their married counterparts.

The difficulty in finding a job results from the number of college graduates exceeding demand. Otherwise known as job shortage, this economic situation provides a problem for the fresh college degree.

The job displacement US manufacturing workers experienced with the growth of off-shore manufacturing may impact white collar workers as well, as the skills of foreign workers increase and begin to populate the ranks of white collar employees.

The real income of younger workers has fallen over the years despite higher levels of educational attainment, the only age group to experience a decline. This article explores the reasons for this phenomenon.

An examination of alternative work schedules and their benefits relative to flexibility and production efficiency.

The use of variable pay or incentive programs has increased as a means to improve productivity and profitability.