Eng115

Submitted by: Submitted by

Views: 10

Words: 963

Pages: 4

Category: English Composition

Date Submitted: 02/28/2016 06:07 PM

Report This Essay

There is a multitude of causes for unemployment in America that have extreme effects on individuals and their families: structural employment, outsourcing, and downsizing to name a few. It is imperative that we assist individuals with job training and placement, to strengthen families, improve their quality of life and reduce the psychological and economic effects that unemployment has on the community at large.

One of the leading causes of unemployment is a result of advanced technology, such as computers or robots, which replace workers tasks with machines. If the workers are not re-trained, they may not have the skills needed to get a new job. (Amadeo, 2015)

For example, due to technological change, coal miners may lose their jobs. However, due to occupational and geographical immobility’s, they may be unable to take new jobs in the service sector. (e.g. a miner may not have skills to work in computers; he may find it hard to relocate). (Pettinger, 2013)

In this case, technological change can cause a temporary increase in unemployment – which will last until the coal miners develop greater skills and ability to move. Training or re-training staff can be costly while it is much cheaper to hire someone that is familiar with the technology. The rapid advancement of technology that allows companies to be efficient has been reducing the cost of manpower since the assembly line was invented in 1913. Efficiency and cost savings make using advanced technology appealing to companies while putting hard working individuals out of a job. they are no longer required for the process or don’t have the skills necessary to keep up with the pace.

With the signing of the N.A.F.T.A trade agreement in 1994 between the U.S, Canada and Mexico outsourcing has also become a major cause of unemployment. Jobs in fields such as manufacturing, call centers and even drive-thru employees for fast food restaurants have left many individuals either unemployed in the United States,...