American Idle

So, my 14-year old son comes to me about two months ago and says, "I want the new iPad."  I delivered the standard parent line, "You better get a job."  Well, at age 14, he cannot legally work in Pennsylvania.  Instead, he spent roughly 30 days cutting neighbors' grass, cleaning a teacher's garage, fixing friends' computers (he's kind of a computer wiz), and recycling aluminum cans.  He set up a stage for a local high school and cleaned his grandmother's windows.  In less than two months, he had almost $600 cash in hand, which he used to purchase his iPad.

Like most parents and teenagers, my son and I fight like cats and dogs.  And, many days I wonder what planet he came from.  But there are so many times when he makes me extremely proud.  This is certainly one of them.  Think about what he did.  He used a talent to earn some money...in this case his IT ability to fix computers and set up the stage.  For the rest, he simply worked hard!

This kid has worked one odd job or another since he was about 11 years old.  I like to think maybe it is a work ethic he has learned at home as his mother and father both work full-time, and I often take on a part-time job to earn extra cash.  But what about everybody else? 

This week I was helping a teacher research openings in a local school district.  We uncovered a handful of jobs...all in districts with a 12% or higher unemployment rate!  That is double our local average, folks.  The unemployment rate in the neighborhood where we run our employment center is close to 15%.  That's the reported number; it would be much higher if we counted everyone who is not working.  Why?  It's time to stop blaming this on the 'economy' or government...well, maybe not government. 

I drive just two miles to my office everyday and pass more than 20 'Now Hiring' or 'Help Wanted' signs.  Every business in town has them hanging in the window!  We hosted a job fair in October for some 20 employers.  Our state representative sent out 5500 mailers to local residents.  In addition, our staff made hunders of calls to let local job seekers know about the event.  Less than 70 people showed up for the job fair.  Our employment center recently hosted a recruitment for UPMC, the region's largest employer.  Despite hundreds of calls, email blasts, Facebook postings and various other announcements, only about ten people showed up for the recruitment.

Job seekers tell me, "I cannot find a job doing what I like to do," or, "If I accept this full-time job, I might have to work a part-time job to make ends meet."  Does anyone think my 14-year-old son enjoyed cleaning a garage in 95 degree heat?  I certainly do not enjoy sending in my loan payments for a teaching degree that I have never used in the job market.  John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."  I think it is time for that 12-15% to accept the changes in our market and do what needs to be done in order to get an idle America back to work.

How Education Cuts Impact a Local Economy

Pennsylvania, for the second year in a row, signed its budget on time.  Should residents celebrate the timeliness or mourn the fact that little deliberation occurred?  Last year, $1 BILLION was slashed from public education.  This year's budget fails to restore any of the $1 billion.  So, let us examine what that means for Pennsylvania residents.

Here are recent headlines from local newspapers...

July 2, 2012:

Somerset Daily American, "Berlin School Board raises taxes"
Harrisburg Patriot-News, "Central Dauphin School District officials expect more tax hikes in coming years"
Reading Eagle, "In Berks County, all but three Berks County school districts are raising taxes"

June 29, 2012:

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "North Allegheny School Board approves tax hike"
Scranton Times Tribune, "Riverside School District cuts eight teachers"
Scranton Times Tribune, "Laurel Highlands School Board OKs tax hike, layoffs"
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, "Wilkes-Barre Area School District passes final fiscal plan with tax hike"
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Greensburg Salem school board raises tax increase to most allowed by law"
Beaver County Times, "Moon Area School District approves 52 support staff layoffs"
June 28, 2012:

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Despite tearful pleas, Armstrong School Board votes to close schools"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "West Mifflin Area school board continues debate on furloughs, school closing proposed in $43.7 million spending plan"
Allentown Morning Call, "Easton Area School Board announces teacher layoff list"

Shall I go on? 

These cuts have already cost the State of Pennsylvania more than 11,000 jobs!  More taxes and higher unemployment....not to mention a new generation of American workers missing out on quality education.  That's what cuts to a state's education budget will do to a local economy.

Learn more on this month's Career Talk on KQV when we discuss the matter with PA State Representative Dan Deasy.  Also, follow it all on Facebook...just like 'Career Talk on KQV.'