A recent report from the International Labor Organization (ILO) confirmed that U.S. workers spend more time on the job and are more productive than any other workers in the world. These two trends have provided firms based in the U.S. with a competitive edge over those in other nations in the global economy.

While the U.S. advantage in production has helped to fuel almost a decade of prosperity, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia cautions that: "The number of hours worked is one important indicator of a country’s overall productivity and quality of life. However, while the benefits of hard work are clear, it is not at all clear that working more is the same thing as working better." Furthermore, he points out that an honest evaluation of the state of a nation’s workforce requires consideration of additional factors, such as compensation, unemployment, levels of technology, social benefits, job security, and even cultural attitudes toward work and leisure.

Certainly, in terms of unemployment and level of technology, the U.S. economy excels. The 1990s boom, which has been carried into the New Millenium, has reduced unemployment rates to record peacetime lows. At the same time, expanding profits and a bear stock market have provided the funds necessary for widespread adoption of the latest technological advances, especially those based upon rapid gains in computer and communications products. As a result, U.S. workers have access to unprecedented job opportunities and the latest equipment to boost performance.

However, the status of employee compensation, job security, social benefits and cultural impact may constitute areas of concern. While recent statistics seem to indicate that wages overall are beginning to rise in response to a shortage of skilled labor, since the beginning of our current expansion, wages adjusted for inflation have failed to record significant gains. In spite of the availability of widespread job openings, firms seeking more productive alternatives through mergers or foreign production threaten job security. Finally, one must wonder if the shrill of cell phones and the constantly expanding hours worked per week are not acting to reshape our culture and society in unintended ways. Average annual hours worked per person have increased 12.3 percent over the past 20 years, while over the past 30 years parent time with children is down 14 percent.

A recent survey discovered that men, as well as women, now are seeking more time with their families. Having experienced first hand, as children, the intrusion of work on family life, many are pledging that they will not tolerate the same situation. Obtaining the desired balance of work and family priorities has rarely been easy. But today’s highly competitive environment and the infringement of high tech communications equipment have raised this challenge to a new level of difficulty.

When selecting a career, industry, or employer, fully consider the personal demands likely to be placed on your family life. If a more even balance is sought, find insulation from competitive forces through telecommuting or flexible work schedules, or take advantage of employment opportunities offered by government agencies, universities, and employers who target small geographic areas or limited product/service markets.

Article 1  /  Article 2  /  Article 3   /  Article 4  /  Article 5
 

© 2000-2001 by Prentice-Hall, Inc.
A Pearson Company
Distance Learning at Prentice Hall
Legal Notice /font>