A Closer Look

Spain / Only 22% of 16-24 year olds are unemployed writes Carmen González Enríquez, not 55%

A common notion circulating inside and outside Spain is that over half of young Spaniards (aged 16-24) are unemployed –a ‘fact’ which furthers the image of deep crisis in Spain. The world’s most prestigious media report on such youth unemployment with alarm, contributing to this new ‘Black Legend’ of Spanish failure. The truth, however, is … Continue reading →

Sweden / Tackling youth unemployment through jobs guarantees (video)

Greece / Photos of Growing Desperation

“Five euros only, just 5 euros,” whispered Maria, a young prostitute with sunken cheeks and bedraggled hair, as she pitched herself forward from the shadows of a graffiti-riddled alley in central Athens on a recent weeknight. As a chill wind swept paper and trash across a grimy sidewalk, Angelos Tzortzinis, a Greek photographer, caught sight … Continue reading →

US / The Unemployment Rate by Birthplace, 1994 to 2012

Since 1994, the unemployment rate for foreign-born workers has generally increased when the unemployment rate for native-born workers has increased and decreased when the rate for native-born workers has decreased. However, the unemployment rate for foreign-born workers has fluctuated more widely than the rate for native-born workers, and workers born in Mexico or Central America … Continue reading →

2050: With fewer people we can’t just get rid of people and hire news ones

Mara Swan shared a map showing the predicted distribution for the estimated world population in 2050. It shows that the population is moving east (which represents a big challenge for values and mind-sets – most of our companies are based on Western and Christian values, yet most of the workforce’s are based on Eastern and … Continue reading →

Spain’s Red Cross / 26% of those helped can’t afford protein three times a week

Unlike the Spanish growth trajectory, the rise in Spanish unemployment since 2008 has been incredibly consistent. Each new statistical release bears the terrible news that more Spaniards have joined the ranks of the unemployed.   The problem is compounded by the fact that Spanish businesses are closing their doors at a record pace. In the … Continue reading →

US / Employment for 20 to 34-year-olds fell more than than among all workers over age 35 combined

Demos investigated the Bureau of Labor Statistics data for young adults in 2012 in order to see how the experience of young people today affects their prospects for tomorrow. We found that last year passed with no significant gains for young people, who continue to endure a jobs crisis even as the economy recovers. The … Continue reading →

US / The number of self-employed at all-time low

The unemployment rate in the United States is at a four-year low, but another labor stat is shrinking in not such a favorable way: a decline in the number of self-employed Americans suggests the personal business will soon be a thing of the past. Since the Great Depression, the number of Americans who identify themselves … Continue reading →

Germany vs US / The Hartz reforms and Obama

The origins of Germany’s labor-market turnaround dates back to the mid-1990s, when its ruling class decided that things could not continue to go on this way.  A humiliated Germany, of “Wirtschaftswunder” fame, had joined the rest of Europe in recording double digit unemployment rates, peaking at 13 percent in early 2005.  The fabled German engineering … Continue reading →

Blatant age discrimination hurts employers, not just older workers

Is age discrimination a hushed secret or a blatant action by employers filling vacant jobs? Nick Corcodilos explains why the practice continues despite some companies’ worries that they are losing out on the institutional knowledge and experience that older workers can bring to the table. James — New York: Why aren’t you addressing blatant age discrimination? … Continue reading →

Spain / Beyond Doomed

Spain is in a great depression, and it is one of the most terrifying things ever seen. Five years after its housing boom turned to bust, Spanish unemployment hit a record high of 27.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013. It’s almost too horrible to comprehend, but 19.5 percent of the total workforce has not had … Continue reading →

The 21st Century Workforce and the STEM Dilemma (Infographics)

“The 21st Century Workforce: Skills Gap and the STEM Dilemma,” outlines the current lack of qualified workers and the pressing need to engage students with STEM education. Raytheon believes that in order to build the next pipeline of technologists and innovators to ensure a competitive U.S. workforce and future economic growth, students must be shown … Continue reading →

Recession and Gender / Women worry more about bills

Women are hit hardest by the financial squeeze and worry more than men about paying the bills. They spend almost 11 hours a month thinking about money problems while men ponder for only 9½ hours, says to a new study by consumer champions Which? Women also feel less optimistic about their finances and the wider … Continue reading →

US / The Top 20% Own 72%; The Bottom 20%, 3%

The growing disparity in wealth made the great recession worse and the recovery weaker than ever before. This nation’s wealth disparity widened more than ever before over the last five years because of the steep decline in the value of residential homes and stagnant wages for the lower and middle income groups in the U.S., … Continue reading →

Emerging Markets vs Advanced Economies Economic Growth

In recent years poor countries have enjoyed impressive improvements in GDP per person. But in the rich world they have hardly grown at all. Watch video @: via Global Economic Growth: Emerging Markets vs Advanced Economies | The Big Picture.