The Ebb of Employment

Ebb - 1. noun, the reflux of the tide toward the sea 
          2. noun, a point or condition of decline

Since the start of the 2012 Presidential race, statistics of the country's unemployment have been carelessly thrown around like plastic red cups on Spring Break in Miami. The Democrats say that Mr. Obama has brought down unemployment more than anticipated and that there is much more progress to come. The Republicans blast back saying that the numbers of so-called improvement are menial and that it's not enough to get the country going again. So who's right?

It's a trick question. They both are.

U.S. Unemployment from 1960-2013

When President Barack Obama took office in January 2009, the country was at an uneasy 7.8% unemployment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So out of every 100 Americans in the workforce, 8 of them did not have jobs. That's not a great way to start off a presidency, especially one where economic growth and job creation were such hot button issues. Unemployment showed no signs of going down as new policies to encourage job growth were made. When President Obama's Jobs Plan went into effect in June of that year, unemployment was at a scarily high 10%.

Given that and in all fairness, Mr. Obama inherited the effects of the country in two wars, the two branches of the "War on Terror", and on a steady economic decline due to outrageous debt. Currently, the unemployment rate sits at 7.7% as of February 2013, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since the President's policies have been enacted in 2009, the country has a net loss of 2.3% unemployment. This is good. Sort of.

A sad scary reality for many college grads

The other side of the table is that the United States still has 7.7% unemployment and is 19th on the list of strong economies worldwide. And it's not solving itself. Newly graduated college students are finding it harder than ever to get work, especially in their field of study. The Center for College Affordability and Productivity concluded in a recent study that just about half of the country's college graduates are working jobs that don't even require a degree, at times even a high school degree. Why?

The nation is downsizing. Employers are figuring out ways to get just as much done without hiring more people, allowing them to keep their overhead costs down. Less employees, less cost to the employer. So now the problem is no longer "I need a college degree to make money!" Now it's "Hot damn, I have no way to pay back these student loans!" This only worsens the economic climate and the downward spiral continues, affecting jobs, education and the overall attitude of the country's citizens when it comes to having faith they'll find a job, that good ol' Uncle Sam will in fact provide for them as promised.

So here we all sit as a country, in this ebb that no one really knows where it will go. (Like how I threw in that word you just learned from up top?) This is one instance out of the many where the two political parties, Democrats and Republicans, should be coming together to address this poisonous issue and work on a real plan to improve it. Until these two parties stop with the sandbox fights and step into a realm where it's not about their side winning but the United States as a country winning, I'm afraid we're going to see unemployment at uncomfortable levels and more graduates with business degrees greeting you at your favorite retail clothing store.