By Edward E. Gordon
What are the myths and realities related to current systemic changes in U.S. jobs and employment? In a recent New York Times column, Paul Krugman correctly muses that neither political party wants to talk about reducing unemployment. But he then states, “Bear in mind that the unemployed aren’t jobless because…they lack the necessary skills.” His prescription for unemployment: “We could have W.P.A. type programs putting the unemployed to work doing useful things like repairing roads.”
Unfortunately, we are not living in the 1930s. Major road building construction has been automated and mostly requires skilled trade workers who have completed technical training programs. Jobs for common laborers are disappearing.
Krugman is correct when he says, “There is nothing wrong with our workers—remember just four years ago the unemployment rate was below 5 percent.” It is true that most Americans are hard working people, but Krugman wrongly attributes the past situation to a highly skilled workforce.
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