Rural America is facing a severe decline in employment rates and population. As more families move to the city, these outlying areas are also experiencing an uptick in the traditionally urban problems of opioid addiction and crime. Eduardo Porter for the New York Times explores solutions to this growing issue in his article, The Hard Truths of Trying to ‘Save’ the Rural Economy. Policy makers have a host of ideas to solve this growing crisis but many fail to consider important variables such as extreme housing costs in prosperous cities.
Tag: jobs
When I Grow Up…
Have you ever reached a crossroads and wondered what you should be doing with your life? Tim Herrera for the New York Times offers these five tips to help you along the path.
–Start by looking backward
–Decide what ‘meaningful’ means to you
–Build a personal “board of directors,” a financial cushion, and take time to reflect
–Find a sponsor, not just a mentor
–Collect experience and be generous
In the article, 5 Tips to Help You Figure Out What to Do With Your Life, Tim delves deeper into each of these categories, defining the roles of a sponsor verses mentor and gives insight into ways to construct your own group of trusted confidants. A recommended read for anyone currently pondering their future.
Pink Collar?
As more and more traditionally male, “blue-collar” jobs disappear, a new trend of “pink-collar” work is on the rise. This is causing an interesting divide in the workplace where unemployed men are not willing to move into these jobs such as health aide. One that takes soothing and calm, a “woman’s touch,” one man quipped in the article, Why Men Don’t Want the Jobs Done Mostly by Women. Even as factories continue to close or automate, men are not seeking these types of middle-skill jobs. Although lack of training and need for extra schooling play a part, researchers and sociologists are finding that the biggest reason is how the jobs are viewed. At this point, many employers are turning to rebranding to encourage more men to apply. One such ad in a hospital compared the excitement of being a surgery nurse to the rush of mountain climbing.
Hope For The Urban Worker
But small manufacturers like Marlin are vital if the United States is to narrow the nation’s class divide and build a society that offers greater opportunities for everyone — rich and poor, black and white, high school graduates and Ph.D.s.
Factories such as Marlin Steel who make very specific products, are still providing jobs in the urban setting where there is a great need for employment. As more and more jobs are lost to automation and outsourcing, these smaller companies are making a difference and creating hope in cities across the U.S.
Read more about this current development here: Small Factories Emerge as a Weapon in the Fight Against Poverty. Maybe there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel for those seeking skilled work in urban settings and for the crisis of unemployment in our country.
Who Has The Higher Unemployment Rate?
This month, many high school graduates walked the stage and are now preparing for the next step in their education. Will the college training they seek really help them get a better job and make more money? According to the current unemployment statistics, the answer to that question is, Yes. Quoctrung Bui for the New York Times highlights this point in the article, The One Question Most Americans Get Wrong About College Graduates. Even when the economy is down and college grads have difficulty finding work, those with degrees have a better chance of acquiring sustainable jobs that ultimately make more money than their non-degreed counterparts.