Are you qualified?

Man, have you looked at the job market lately? It's the same old stupid story. You either have to damn near be a professional tradesman, have a college degree, or end up with the shit jobs, or no job. What ever happened to practical application? My personal opinion is that unless you are a nuclear physicist, a doctor or a lawyer, college degrees are just words on fancy paper. And many employers know this already. Yet a college degree is a prerequisite for many positions in the job market today. I have to laugh at that. I know a few college graduates that can't add 2+2, let alone hold a job. And what these employers want to pay college graduates is downright pitiful. I know car salesmen that make three times as much without breaking a sweat.

Before I go any further, let me say I do have a job. It's an office job and I have had it for eighteen years without a college degree. So I'm not bitchin' for myself, but rather all those of you who are struggling to find work. I just read a survey on line that suggests employers are only hiring 10 or 10+ rated prospects, but at the same time 44% of employers can't fill positions in their companies. That's kind of "counter-productive" don't you think? Seems to me that employers should test other waters instead if constantly casting into the same ol' fishin' hole. Not everyone with skills has a college degree. Not everyone can afford to go to college to get a sheepskin to back up their skill.

Back in the olden days, employers used to send talented employees with valued potential to training classes or sometimes would even foot the bill toward further education for employees that showed evidence of being assets to the company. This doesn't happen much anymore because people tend to change jobs out of greed as opposed to being loyal to one employer. I see this all the time. The company sends you to school to sharpen your skills or acquire new ones. Now with the new qualifications you apply to a different company because they offer more money or better benefits. I'm not saying your not entitled to improve your situation, but buy doing that you just screwed the guy who gave you the skill and education. Employers used to make people sign binding contracts in these situations, but found out the hard way that collecting on a breach of contract is more costly than just training other person. I'm sure contracts are still quite prevalent in white collar jobs, but for us blue collar types you have to be qualified from the git-go.

I think it is a real waste to let talented and skilled people go jobless. There is no excuse for it other than greed. Everybody wants more money, more benefits, and more something for nothing. Unions account for a lot of labor problems relating to cost. On the other hand, unions keep employers from becoming slave masters giving the least for the most. But this being a capitalist country, greed will be our constant companion. Those who have money do whatever it takes to keep it or get more of it. Those who struggle to survive are constantly trying to get more to make a better life for themselves. It's a proven fact that when the economy falters crime goes on the rise. Some people feel the only solution to their financial dilemma is to deprive others of their finances. When the economy gets better crime goes down.

Our economic situation now is based on two trains of thought; the former president screwed it up with an unnecessary and very costly war, and the current president is mishandling the situation and making it worse than it was. I watch the economists on CNN and Fox News every day. They argue and throw their opinions around, but no one has come up with a viable solution. I don't think there is one at this point. I wish I had the answer to unemployment. It would make for a much happier and more productive and profitable life for the country. But we have been through this before and made it. All we can do is wait and see. In the meantime, good luck with your job hunting. Later.