So, here we go again. The economy seems to be looking better- maybe. The government reported that overall hiring is increasing in the US.
But, then, the very the next (business) day, the Washington Post reports that there are way too many jobs (STEM- science, technology, engineering, math) that are being left unfilled in the DC Metro area. What you may not know is that the Metropolitan DC region is heavily dependent upon the Federal sector. Hiring in this region is lagging the rest of the US recovery, because there were only 6000 new jobs added to the rolls in DC. (Of course, when you report that, you must take into account, that the DC area was not as hard hit as the rest of the US during the Great Recession, where the local unemployment rate hovered around 5% – when the rest of the US was about twice that level.)
And, those 6000 new jobs don’t really tell the whole story either. Because while there was an increase- it was at the expense of higher paid workers, and the new jobs are the barely-living wage type ones. That’s right- 5000 professional (STEM) positions were terminated, and the better benefit (but not necessarily paying) federal jobs shed 10,500 from their census. The replacement positions were in the hospitality sector (+7500) and retail establishments (+5100). Of course, this exchange of high paying jobs for lower paid positions will greatly exacerbate the income inequality that permeates the DC (just like in NY) region.
Oh, and those STEM jobs that the Washington Post said have been unfilled in the DC area? It looks like it’s the old story- fire the higher paid workers and hope to replace them with inexperienced, lower paid workers. Another method to increase profits at the expense of their workers- even if the performance provided is less productive and informed then when the higher paid workers were manning those positions.
This cycle needs to stop.
I was seeing a lot of STEM educational, internship and hiring focus that included some sizable grant awards (sometimes effective, mostly not so much) in the city I just left. At least in the case of this area, there is a shortage of qualified workers for fair paying jobs (brain drain heading south). One State community college (shocking this is the standout in this college town) has been extremely smart about helping to stem this. Among other things, they created an optics Associates Degree in collaboration with area businesses. They’re placing 100% of the graduating class (many of these students are older adults).
I can’t speak for DC (don’t live there, nor have time nor interest to do the research on that market), but do see some some great things happening to help companies starving for qualified workers fill well paying jobs. These are small businesses hungry to fill staffing STEM needs due to growth, not layoffs for cheaper replacements.In the fast moving entrepreneurial world, I’ve found primary research to be more telling the secondary. Maybe academia will get this some day :-).
Nanette recently posted..Why are you calling me?
Being a STEM guy my whole life, I’ve watched the compensation scales for decades. Long ago, a STEM graduate was afforded a meritorious salary. Now, they still make more than liberal arts, but the compensation has not truly kept up with the inflation.
I have had a headhunter call me telling me they were having a hard time filling a position- one where they wanted the employee to have a masters in biochem e- and they wanted to pay about the same amount offered to my peers 40 years ago- who had bachelors.
I don’t think that employer has the right to claim they can’t fill the position and should be afforded the right to hire an alien (special work visa). Yet, that is exactly what they try to do.
I hope that is a sufficient response, Nanette.
Thanks for the clarification, Roy. Obviously, I don’t have your history. I’m not sure stagnant (or reduced) pay is limited to STEM.
Nanette recently posted..Why are you calling me?
Nanette- I’m with you 100%. But, it’s the STEM jobs that companies are claiming that they can’t fill and deserve to bring in (illegal-unless they do it this way) immigrants. So, they develop low pay scales, say they can’t find the folks, and then bring in overseas people who will work for low wages.