Sunday, March 27, 2016

Labor Contractions

I have three jobs, technically, and now I have been offered a fourth. Of course, to take the fourth job, I will have to take a vacation from two and quit one. So I will go from three jobs to three. That is still more than anyone really needs.

A lot of people are unemployed. I keep reading about how the economy is getting better, but I don't see that when I talk to people who are looking for work. Statistically, things might be better than they were in 2009, but if you don't have a job, how does it help you if unemployment is at 6% instead of 10%? People love to talk about percentages, especially during an election year. But when you are out of work, unemployment for you is steady at 100%.

Americans complain that all of their jobs have been outsourced to Asia. There is probably some truth in that. But it's not like there are a lot of jobs floating around Asia. Unemployment rates in East Asia are usually pretty low, but those government figures only include citizens. The unemployment rate for foreigners has to be at least 50%, from what I have seen. Japan makes foreigners jump through all kinds of hoops, China wants people who speak Chinese, and Thailand and Indonesia bend over backwards to make it difficult for foreigners to find jobs. There is a Thailand government website with a list of jobs that are not eligible for visas. It's a long list.

Lily can always find work here, but it is not steady and it does not provide a visa to stay in the country. She needs one of those stable jobs that are so hard to find these days. I can't just give her one of my jobs. The only one she is qualified for is the one she left. Things are pretty bad when you think about it. She has found work for me in the past, but there is nothing I can do for her.

2 comments:

  1. Unemployment rate for foreigners at 50%?! What are they all doing in Hong Kong?

    Hope it works out for your friend.

    I hope to find one of those stable jobs in Hong Kong myself one day...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good luck. Foreigners have been flooding in for years. It's finally reached the point where the demand far outweighs the supply.

    ReplyDelete

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