Vocational Experts 7 Proposals to Solve the Unemployment Problem

The subject is constantly in the news and may decide the next national elections - the infamous jobless recovery. More than 8 million Americans are out of work with another 4 million underemployed or no longer looking for work. Good manufacturing, technical and services jobs are being shipped to India, Asia, and other developing countries. The mood of the middle and working class becomes more pessimistic, the outlook for their immediate future more grim.

Politicians debate solutions: abrogating current trade treaties, providing protection for various industries, investment in retraining programs, wishful thinking that lower taxes will turn everything around, the promise of a labor shortage within 15 years.

Meanwhile, the population grows, demanding the creation of 150,000 new jobs per month just to stay even. Where are the more than 2 million 2004 jobs promised by the Council of Economic Advisers?

They will come when the government truly invests in the social and financial welfare of the working public. Historically, the U.S. has looked at employment only in times of crisis - recession or alarming unemployment figures. Rather than "quick fixes," we need a national long- range policy on employment which addresses the issue, in good times and bad, with sustained interest, analysis, and support.

Here are seven proposals:

1. Create a National Office of Employment to develop long term strategies and oversight of the U.S. labor market in order to track trends, analyze data, research emerging problems, and prepare early interventions.

2. Identify growing and potential industries and the skills they will need in future staff.

3. Design a plan which allows for the rapid retargeting of training courses as Community Colleges and vocational schools are traditionally 5 to 15 years behind current needs.

4. Provide substantial tax incentives for businesses to hire in the U.S. rather than shipping their jobs to low income countries.

5. Devise "red-tape-less" programs to reward employers with significant tax credits for hiring the long-term employed and new trainees.

6. Overhaul the processes of State Unemployment Offices by implementing coordinated support programs in which workers participate as part of receiving unemployment benefits and employers participate as a means of meeting their future needs for staff.

7. Provide incentives for employers to hire more part-time workers. Simultaneously, America must reframe its social policy to promote a new work ethic of reduced work hours, along with increased leisure and volunteer activities, to allow more workers to be employed, albeit for fewer hours. Due to the negative emotional effects of living without work, our society needs to stress high employment rather than high productivity which often translates into fewer workers, working harder and longer.

Dr. Bola operated a rehabilitation company, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, for 20 years. A licensed clinical psychologist, she directed vocational programs for the mentally ill, served as a Vocational Expert in administrative and civil court, and pioneered vocational testimony in Workers' Compensation. Author of The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, she can be found at: http://www.virginiabola.com

---

Everyone Should Have a RED BALL in the Job Search

May I explain what about what a red ball means... Read More

Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love

Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More

The Importance of Background Verification

Today's society has created an environment that requires business owners... Read More

Job Search -- One of the Secrets of a Trade Show

A trade show is a great place to network, look... Read More

Bringing Our Family to Work

Let's face it, most of us consider professional success and... Read More

Are You Taking Your Inner Brat to Work?

Is your inner brat taking over your job? Everyone has... Read More

Giving Notice: 6 Things to Do To Prepare to Leave

After days, weeks, months or longer of interviewing, you have... Read More

Your Resume Format - What Is The First Thing You Need To Do?

The first thing you need to do before you write... Read More

Overcoming Inertia in Job Change

If you can hold on to an optimistic belief in... Read More

Reading the Want Ads--Not for Jobs--For Information

What? Want ads are where job announcements are, not information!Wait!... Read More

Do You Work to Live or Live to Work?

Let's be realistic here - hands up all of you... Read More

Career Change - Is Your Career A Good Fit Or Is It Causing Pain?

Do you leap out of bed in the morning looking... Read More

Job Interviews & the Magic of Music

Can music help you with your next job interview? It... Read More

A Day in the Life of a Freelance Copywriter

Ever wanted a job where you could spend all day,... Read More

Learn How To Succeed At Career Fairs

This career article will give you some great tips on... Read More

Your Job Search Is A Marketing Campaign (Part 2)

Here's a continuation of my article from a few months... Read More

Speak Up: Your Job Is At Stake!

How good are you at standing up for yourself?Do you... Read More

Focus On White-Collar Crime: Accounting Fraud and Computer Crimes Creates Need; Qualified Investing

An epidemic of white-collar financial crime has resulted in the... Read More

The Top 10 Mistakes Job Seekers Should Avoid In Contacting An Employer

There are numerous tools and resources available to guide job... Read More

The 5 Ps Of A Job Search

Step One - Plan:Most people spend more time planning a... Read More

Get In The Game With a Stellar Resume

During the job hunter's market of the 1990's, employers were... Read More

Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews

During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you... Read More

Get In Career Shape

Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10... Read More

Dont Be Defeated - Be Empowered

Taking a job out of fear and desperation will never... Read More

In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More

Tales From the Corporate Frontlines: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

This article relates to the Job Security competency, commonly evaluated... Read More

10 Warning Signs That You?re Ready for a Career Transition

1. You dread getting out of bed and going to... Read More

Rethink Your Career Transition

Are you going nowhere in your career? If you've decided... Read More

Is a Career Change on Your Horizon?

Making a career change is nothing new in today's job... Read More

Assess Your Transferable Skills

One of the most important parts of a job... Read More

Everyday Is Saturday: Help for the Suddenly Unemployed

I recently was "unhired" by my former employer. Unhired is... Read More

How to Know if You Are in the Right Career

Ever wonder if you are in the right career? If... Read More

Genes and Work Ethic

If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they... Read More