There are multiple employment issues confronting the administration: long-term unemployment; continued job cutting; shorter workweeks, thanks to slashed worker hours; discouraged workers dropping out of the labor market; and mismatches between worker skill sets and employer needs. To get the long-term unemployed back to work—a tougher job than getting others back to work because of skills lost during unemployment as well as employers' preferences—Harvard economist Lawrence Katz says that a government tax credit to companies who hire such workers might be an option.
The basic solution to all of the employment issues is an employer base that is sufficiently confident in the economy to begin hiring again, but with so many people out of work and without money to spend, it could be a while before anyone can claim confidence.
John Henry of CA @ Jan 03, 2010 21:41:34 PM
Peter B. of ME @ Oct 22, 2009 14:08:11 PM
John Plate of CO @ Oct 18, 2009 14:30:44 PM