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U.S. Job loss? A look in the mirror
While watching the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, I, and the entire world, was in awe of how well the Chinese handled both shows: their precision in execution, the teamwork and coordination of all the people involved in the displays of elegance and entertainment as well as those operating the equipment, lighting and audio in the background.
What struck me was that I was looking into the future, the future center of economic power. The paradigm shift to where tomorrow's major global decisions could be made if we in the United States do not learn some hard lessons and correct our current course. We could be handing over ‘the game' to the Chinese.
Meanwhile, as I watch and listen to both major presidential candidates speak, I find a very common thread which is, oh, poor us...the loss of U.S. jobs to outsourcing, the big bad corporations not taking care of us - the people. But, neither candidate is discussing how the situation arose in the first place.
One question we need an answer to is outsourcing. Is outsourcing the real culprit of the loss of U.S. jobs? If you look at the history of the industrial revolutions in the U.S. and even England, one can see that, for both nations, outsourcing has been at the center of the revolution.
Our U.S. economy, businesses and social communities have grown and flourished because, as companies expanded to meet demand and cut costs, they have been able to outsource to smaller companies, and to locations where there has been a pool of talent willing to do the job better and cheaper. We used to call this free enterprise at work.
Now, if this truly was free enterprise, why is it that when outsourcing goes to other parts of the globe; be it India or China or Vietnam or Thailand, it is no longer free enterprise but, rather, American jobs being outsourced?
As hard as I try, I fail to see any U.S. seal on these jobs that indicates they are ‘jobs reserved only for Americans.' The reason these jobs are going to India or China is the same reason companies such as Ford and GM held the jobs here, which is to say, it is because someone not only can do the same work more cost-effectively, but they are also able to provide the same quality of service.
Case in point; I was at a T.I.E. (The Indus Entrepreneurs) meeting where the former Indian government Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dayanidhi Maran, was a guest speaker. Someone asked for his view on China entering the call center market. Minister Maran remarked, "Good. Let them have it. It's a mature market from which we would like to move on." His point being, companies (and countries) that recognize which markets and market segments have matured, and decide to move on to new areas, are the ones that survive. And thrive.
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It is refreshing to read a
It is refreshing to read a forward looking article focusing on positive solutions to the outsourcing of American jobs, rather than simply dwelling on the problem. The outsourcing of jobs is becoming a big issue because the US economy isn't creating enough high quality jobs to replace the ones leaving. I agree we need a great deal of focus at the national level to kick off initiatives that harness the innovation America has always provided in growing the global pie and marching into new horizons. The national discussion about expanding renewable energy is a positive step towards identifying sectors that could create quality manufacturing and R&D future jobs for America. But as we look for solutions, we will find that a big underlying problem exists in regards to our increasingly weak education system. This will need to be fixed in order to ensure the American economy will have the skills and talent the future economy will demand.
Change is indeed coming to America, but it is a change that transcends both political parties. The change is being carried by the process of globalization. In order to manage the change successfully, we must as a nation pay attention and understand both the economic and political implications of globalization. Our future depends on it!
This is an excellent article
This is an excellent article that is very eye-opening. I agree we need to innovate and be ready for competition, rather than sit back and let our competition over take us. Coca Cola was the biggest beverage company for decades, but they knew they could not sit back and hope the success would continue without innovating and serving the needs of the current population. When people started becoming health conscious about sugar and calories, they developed diet coke, and later bottled water. In order to continue being successful, you have to continuously improve and change your business to meet the current needs, because needs change over time.
This article hit the nail
This article hit the nail right on the head regarding innovation. In the last 100 years or so almost every major innovation has been invented in the U.S. and we need to keep that going if we want to prosper in the future.
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Exactly!!! This country was
Exactly!!! This country was built on hard work and innovation along with a die hard attitude. Outsourcing was what the global market called for at one point in time and now that ship has sailed. We have to move on to the next market and make sure that we are one step ahead of the rest of the players to maintain what we have built in such a short history. You hit the nail on the head.