We all know American income levels are slipping of late (as prices rise) but there’s another statistic to consider as we mull how much harder it’s become to rub two nickels together.
According to December 2013 data from the The Conference Board, the average manufacturing work week stood at approximately 42 hours – which is the longest it’s been in more than sixty years.
“Americans have much longer workweeks to look forward to and not to mention, flat or declining wages to go along with it: after all in the New Normal, corporations – especially those who directly and indirectly control the Fed – have all the leverage,” the website Zero Hedge notes.
Of course it could be worse … you could be one of the record 92 million working age Americans who are not in the labor force.
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“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you will make a living. If you work hard on yourself you will make a fortune.” This quote is from Jim Rohn and if a person understands and applies this, there is no reason they won’t be successful. It amazes me how many people bitch and moan about their job situation yet don’t take the time to look in the mirror and realize that he or she is where their problem lies – and if someone works in manufacturing, they want to learn additional skills because we know the future of those jobs.
Yeah, right…manufacturing? You might have to learn Chinese first…
I’ve recently been looking for a new job. I’ll eventually find one, but I’ll take a 30-40% pay cut by taking a job somewhere else doing the exact same thing.
Good luck Americuh.
Not being snarky but maybe you need to look in a different
direction. For some people they top out in one field of endeavor and when they
more to another field they soar yet again. Look at this as an opportunity, find
something you want to learn and go that way. If you are already going to take
such a large pay cut go somewhere you can learn new stuff, stuff you can excel at.
Good luck.
I’m in IT..what’s left? Isn’t that America’s growing industry?
Web site development, programming, provide IT services for
small companies that can’t afford full time IT? Maybe you could develop data acquisition
networks for manufacturing (don’t believe naysayers there’s oodles of
manufacturing just around Cola.) or remote surveillance (PTZ cameras) of properties
(farmers that live away from their equipment buildings and livestock) or
possibly a system to monitor ground moisture to regulate irrigation mechanisms
for optimal use. Deer management properties might be interested in a wireless
network to monitor food plots or observe for poachers or property access. I knew
a guy that was a top manger in a welding program at a shipyard he taught
himself blacksmithing and ended up quitting the shipyard, too much stress. Good
luck.
Programming and webdev are the ditch digging of it..and the salaries are plummeting. Not just in that, but in all areas. Its not what I’m doing that’s the problem here, theres bigger issues at hand.
Well, now.. maybe Obamacare will have another unintended consequence – people will no longer work 42 hours a week, but 30.. or less..
I think the take away is that those with jobs will have to work harder, those without them won’t be able to find one that is more than 29 hours a week.
I’m already seeing this happen to the general population, it’s sad.
http://th08.deviantart.net/fs6/PRE/i/2005/115/c/5/Auschwitz___Arbeit_Macht_Frei_by_blackFelicia.jpg
Like the deviant art site.
But look at the bright side. We have a new age messiah sitting on the throne. And he, and his followers, are euphoric….
You must be a racist if you’re complaining…
Sounds like you’re complaining…
From your delusional, America-Hating, @$$-backward, Obam-ite view of reality…anybody who does not have his head up their @$$, like you, is a racist…
AH, VooDoo economics from none other than Ronald McReagan! As he said, ” A new top down, or trickle down economic system, that will stimulate the rich to create more well paying jobs for Americans “! Somehow, Tango, I don’t feel good about it, but I know you do. ” Without the big tax burden of the rich, we will all benefit ” LOL!
And, knowing that econ isn’t rocket science, though oft reported as such, the simple fact that hikes in minimum wage (and union contracts that invoke hikes based on the minimum wage) are inflationary tot eh point that the dollar is becoming worth less and less and less until it becomes worthless…
Finish the cup of joe there, buddy…that sentence hurt my head.
Please don’t pretend that it’s not Republican dogma that people should be grateful to work long hours for peanuts.