This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
------ =_NextPart_000_01BD6D28.9D8C93C0
charset="iso-8859-1"
BLS DAILY REPORT, MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1998
RELEASED TODAY: Median weekly earnings of the nation's 93.2 million
full-time wage and salary workers were $521 in the first quarter of
1998. This was 3.4 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a
gain of 1.5 percent in the CPI-U over the same period. Data on usual
earnings are collected as part of the Current Population Survey, a
nationwide sample survey of households in which respondents are asked,
among other things, how much each wage and salary worker usually earns
.....
Regional and state unemployment rates were stable in March, as 40 states
and the District of Columbia recorded shifts of 0.3 percentage point or
less, BLS reports ....(Daily Labor Report, page D-8).
After two straight monthly declines, industrial production picked up 0.2
percent in March, bolstered by a weather-related surge in utility
output, the Federal Reserve reports ....(Daily Labor Report, page D-16;
New York Times, April 18, page B3; Wall Street Journal, page A2).
In the "Washington Business" section of the Post, an article (page 36)
says that tech workers appear to be doing comparatively well. Computer
scientists and analysts in the Washington area earned average hourly
wages of $25.68, compared with $19.33 for all white-collar workers and
$16.53 for all occupations, according to a Labor Department survey in
February 1997 ....But labor economists point out that tech wages weren't
going up very fast in the first half of the 1990s, discouraging new
entrants in the field ....Even with some exaggeration, the demand for
tech workers seems certain to keep growing, as expansion of the Internet
continues and technology entrenches itself more deeply into nearly every
occupation. The Labor Department estimates that 130,000 tech jobs will
be created every year for the next decade ....A chart shows employment
and median weekly earnings for computer scientists and computer
programmers and is credited to BLS
The Commerce Department says the inability of U.S. businesses to sell
their products in Asian markets helped widen the trade deficit in goods
and services by 4.2 percent in February from January. The monthly
deficit was the largest since Commerce began using its current system
for calculating it in 1992 ....Analysts say that, while the U.S. is not
being flooded with inexpensively made goods imported from Asia as a
result of the area's economic crisis, U.S. businesses are having
difficulty selling their products to Asia, particularly to Japan
.....(Daily Labor Report, page D-1; New York Times, April 18, page A1;
Wall Street Journal, page A2)_____The February imbalance prompted many
economists to conclude that economic problems in Asia are beginning to
pinch growth in the rest of the world ....(Washington Post, April 18,
page D1).
For retail employers, hiring is hard sell. The booming economy and
historically low unemployment rates have created recruitment woes for
all kinds of businesses, but the hiring headache is especially acute for
the retail industry, which the void can be painfully visual to customers
.....Not only does the retail industry have huge staffing requirements,
it's near the bottom of the worker food chain, offering some of the most
mundane and lowest-paying jobs. The result is that retailing is losing
many potential employees to technology companies and other businesses,
which are experiencing their own employee shortages and can lure workers
with more money, better benefits, and more interesting work ....The push
for workers -- any workers -- is highlighted by the declining
unemployment rate for the least-educated segment of the population, a
group that typically has been available to retailers. Nationwide,
unemployment dipped to 4.7 percent in March from 5.2 percent a year
earlier, yet, among those 25 and older with no high school diploma, the
rate declined even more steeply, to 8.2 percent from 9.5 percent
.....(Washington Post, April 18, page 1).
The progeny of poorly educated parents make up just 2 percent of our
professional class, says Richard Harwood on the op. ed. page of the
Washington Post in discussing the federal government's annual report,
"The Condition of Education" ....About 70 percent of us stay stuck in
the socioeconomic class into which we are born. Each new generation
ordinarily has a somewhat higher standard of living than the last
generation because productivity gains and per capita incomes outpace
population growth. But that has no automatic effect on our social
mobility or lack of it, says Harwood. Five components go into the
government definition of "socioeconomic status": father's education,
mother's education, family income, father's occupation, and household
items. If a child's parents are high school dropouts, they are likely
to have low-paying jobs, minimum incomes, and minimal possessions
.....Many of the children of such parents have trouble finding jobs.
More than half the dropouts between the ages of 16 and 19 were
unemployed in 1995. For dropouts over the age of 25, only 40 percent
were employed or looking for a job. Some will return to school later,
get degrees, and wind up in big jobs ....But most will find careers in
the service industries, as skilled and unskilled craftsmen, laborers,
farmers, watermen, and foresters. Many of these jobs provide
satisfaction and good pay ....But the median income from earnings of men
over 25 with less than a 9th grade education was $11,000 in 1994 and for
women, $6,200 ....
------ =_NextPart_000_01BD6D28.9D8C93C0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------ =_NextPart_000_01BD6D28.9D8C93C0--
