Intelligence Report By Lyric Wallwork Winik Parade magazine, July 1, 2007
How Safe Is Your Job? You could lose your job to a foreign worker -- not because he's cheaper but because he has better workplace skills and discipline. That's the message Labor Secretary Elaine Chao hears from U.S. executives who are worried about America's competitive future. While losses are low thus far -- one study estimates that only 280,000 jobs in the service industry out of 115 million are outsourced each year -- that could change. Beyond the cheaper cost of labor, U.S. employers say that many workers abroad simply have a better attitude toward work. "American employees must be punctual, dress appropriately and have good personal hygiene," says Chao. "They need anger-management and conflict-resolution skills, and they have to be able to accept direction. Too many young people bristle when a supervisor asks them to do something." As for our job future, Chao notes that most of the fastest-growing jobs today are in industries requiring advanced knowledge and skills and are "very high or high wage." But critics say we're not doing enough for those without a higher education. "Today, only 30% of the workforce has four years of college," says Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute. "Instead of factory slots, there are slots for security guards and food-prep workers." http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_07-01-2007/Intelligence_Report ___ Her remarks are usefully blunt. Lou Dobbs reported the story, with indignation. I didn't see it in other big media. Charles Andrews
