Worried about Jobs

bpence · Aug 29, 2001

Wondering what the employment mood is in other parts of the country these days. I happen to work for one of the auto companies that just announced it's going to trim the salaried workforce by about 5,000 jobs by year-end. And the guys at the German/American company up the road took a lot of employees off the books earlier this year. And Gateway announced today they're trimming 5,000 jobs. Even with separation packages or early retirements, losing your job is usually not a good thing. Here in MoTown, the overall mood is pretty glum towards much economic stability or growth. Lots of "battening down the hatches" going on.

What's the mood in other parts of the country?

Bob Pence

cowboydoc · Aug 29, 2001

This area is very heavily industrialized Bob and the mood is very grim around here. Many layoffs already and more are planned. It's not looking too good right now.

Harv · Aug 29, 2001

Out here in Californy, the computer/software industry is really slumping.

I've been working on private ventures for the last 5 or so years, but none have paid off as well as I had hoped, so I'm compelled to dust off the ol' resume and start looking again. Talk about bad timing. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

gordon · Aug 29, 2001

Harv if anyone could close a deal on a job it would be you!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Goodluck if you do go a huntin!

That is why I changed jobs when I did. Closing the hatches before any water could get in. Glad I did it. Like the new job much better and they never lay off !

Looks like it's going to get worse before it gets better around here. Hopfully I'm dead wrong on that opinion.

Gordon

DrDan · Aug 29, 2001

I think it is about time for "Old George" to start tightening up the tariffs on imports. Tax the hell out of foreign products and use the funds to bail out SS. I get so depressed when I pass through Gary, IN and Chicago. All these factories vacant so we can funnel our funds into foreign hands. Heck what have we got to lose. We grow the world food supply and give it to foreign countries and they in turn charge the heck out of us for oil, puter chips, etc. Do you know that most of our wood is going to Japan so if we want to buy any the prices are humongous? That's why it costs a fortune to build a house. My god I put $200 in materials for a stinking chicken house!

Like I say - tax them foreigners and make it once again the best deal to buy American!

Dr Dan

GlueGuy · Aug 30, 2001

I'm just around the "bottom of the bay" from Harv, and it's pretty much the same here. I "think" the layoff trend is leveling off, and the unemployment rate has leveled off (around 4.7% (which is historically low). However, no one seems to be hiring. Well, that's not 100% true, employers are being very very picky about who they will hire.

The GlueGuy

cowboydoc · Aug 30, 2001

I couldn't agree with you more Dr. Dan.

gws · Aug 30, 2001

Central Ohio is still running 3 percent unemployment so we have not seen some of issue other parts of the country is in. News paper had a big article about a couple of local new malls needing 5000 new people to work and cant find them. Most of these are full time, long term positions, some are seasonal. I know of several companys looking for skilled AIX unix admins, developers, programmers for some good paying jobs.
Heck, the local taco Bell is now paying $12/hr and cant find people to fill all shifts.

I know its out there, but we havnt seen it locally to much.

Gary.

Anonymous Poster · Aug 30, 2001

Industry is pretty low in the Midwest, locally Case/IH/Fiat/NH (whatever it is this week) has laid off to hire dates of 1974. Exide Battery closed their doors and Federal Mogel (Champian Sparkplugs) isn't looking very good. I work for a "major electronics manufacturer/retailer" and our orders are off about 60%.

I have to beleive it will get worse with Europe switching to the Euro Jan 1, 2002. I read this morning that Europlo is warning the EU that Russian, Italian and Bulkian mobsters are already couterfeiting the Euro and will flood the banks and economy with fake notes at the currency exchange. Anyone remember what happened to the "global economy" last time the world lost confidence in the European currency?

Good thing we're tractor owners, at least we can grow our own food.

PitbullMidwest

StoneHeartFarm · Aug 30, 2001

Dr Dan

A lot like the 70's. Foreign imports eating us up. Gas prices going higher. Unemployment climbing. Kids are wearing bell bottoms again and I've seen an awful lot of tie dye lately.

Scary, isn't it?

SHF