Mark Penn: We're Unprepared for Layoffs of Professionals

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Twenty five years ago the steelworks were told that the buggy whip manufacturers all lost their jobs as a result of progress, go back to school and learn a new skill. Nobody much cared, now the highly educated are experiencing the same fate, why don't they go back to school and learn a new skill?
I understand McDonalds is doing very well during these difficult economic times.

Blue Collar of IN 3:48PM March 04, 2009

Started 40 years ago for techs what with truly massive immigration levels combined with deindustrialization. Since science and engineering are perceived as hard and boring by most (especially by scientists and engineers), it is natural to assume that "there is a critical shortage of scientists and engineers." One sees this silly statement all the time, or its variation: "We need science and math education for the jobs of the future."

Luther of IL 10:28PM March 03, 2009

Lots of Engineers were laid off during the tech wreck. Those were good paying jobs that were lost then. This isn't exactly a new phenomenon. It's just more widespread now. A family wage white collar job lost probably has a much bigger impact on the surrounding economy than a low wage job that's lost. This is why the current unemployment numbers are a bit misleading.

Phil of OR 10:37PM March 02, 2009