Good news WE can all appreciate

[BoilerAnimal]

Yes, it's good news.
The problem comes when assigning blame or taking credit.
Personally I think the economy is so much bigger than the government that it's wrong for anybody to claim credit or take blame. The economy does what it wants to do. George W. Bush didn't cause the recession, ***** didn't fix it but he did leave things alone so it could fix itself, and Trump didn't cause the current boom although he hasn't hurt things, either. I don't think any of the three deserves the bad rap they get.

I pretty much agree, with some caveats, however.

The new tax cuts have helped those whom they were really designed to help, quite well. The rest, to a far lesser degree. The cuts also have the distinction of adding an immense amount to the national debt, which will have the effect of greatly limiting ability of the government to add any needed stimulus to the economy in an eventual economic downturn.

Still to be determined and/or felt is the result of tariffs and and the retaliation from other countries, any of which could lead to an all out trade war.

If any of these actions cause more than a ripple in the economy, the effects could be very severe for many workers in the U.S. and other countries.

Like it or not, the results of Trump's handling of the economy are far from certain.

 

[Joe T.]

View attachment 161934

That can't be TRUE!!! I didn't see it on CNN. So it ain't REAL!!!


:roflblack:


Joe T.

 

[Easy Rider]

We have more job vacancies than we have skilled labor to fill them.

I don't think a "vacancy" counts as a "job" until it is filled.
So if you add in the unfilled jobs, the recovery might be even better.

So both things can occur at a the same time......like it is now apparently.
The new jobs that are being filled quickest are the unskilled ones.
Hopefully the better ones will catch up.
I'm not sure that kind of job recovery from a recession/depression is unusual.

I've heard that there is a shortage of truck drivers too. Those jobs pay pretty good and don't require a 2 year degree even.

 

[Grandpot]

Semantics

I don't think a "vacancy" counts as a "job" until it is filled.
So if you add in the unfilled jobs, the recovery might be even better.

So both things can occur at a the same time......like it is now apparently.
The new jobs that are being filled quickest are the unskilled ones.
Hopefully the better ones will catch up.
I'm not sure that kind of job recovery from a recession/depression is unusual.

I've heard that there is a shortage of truck drivers too. Those jobs pay pretty good and don't require a 2 year degree even.

Now you are playing Semantics. Let me put this in plain English. Employers have more JOBS available for SKILLED workers than the current supply of skilled workers.

 

[johnsimion]

I pretty much agree, with some caveats, however.

The new tax cuts have helped those whom they were really designed to help, quite well. The rest, to a far lesser degree. The cuts also have the distinction of adding an immense amount to the national debt, which will have the effect of greatly limiting ability of the government to add any needed stimulus to the economy in an eventual economic downturn.

Still to be determined and/or felt is the result of tariffs and and the retaliation from other countries, any of which could lead to an all out trade war.

If any of these actions cause more than a ripple in the economy, the effects could be very severe for many workers in the U.S. and other countries.

Like it or not, the results of Trump's handling of the economy are far from certain.

Agreed about the lack of certainty about the future, although that's always the case. Also, the OP's point dealt with conditions right now, which certainly are very good. Also agreed about Trump's tax cut adding to the national debt, although you can also say that O bama added a lot to it ... as did Dubya and several other presidents. I do wish somebody would do something about the deficit and the debt, because I fear for our children and grandchildren, but thus far neither party actually cares about it and thankfully it hasn't yet hurt the economy under any of these guys. So, in the spirit of nonpartisanship, let's just cheer the statistics in the OP and leave it at that.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'll take the good news for what it is: good news!! :yes:hyea::yes:hyea::yes: :clap: :2thumbs:
If anybody wants to stand around and complain that "The Sky Is Falling": it's not falling yet!

 

[Holly]

Somebody will win the peace prize for this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :firstplace:

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

no comment

 

[Easy Rider]

Now you are playing Semantics. Let me put this in plain English. Employers have more JOBS available for SKILLED workers than the current supply of skilled workers.

Assume that statement is absolutely true.
Also assume that the original post was based on officially reported numbers.

The officially reported numbers of jobs does NOT include those that are going unfilled.

So it is not just semantics.

 

[Bob Denman]

Assume that statement is absolutely true.
Also assume that the original post was based on officially reported numbers.

The officially reported numbers of jobs does NOT include those that are going unfilled.

So it is not just semantics.

If you wish to pursue this debate: let's also include the prior Administration's practice of not counting people who have quit looking for jobs: as unemployed?

There's an old saying: "Figures don't lie; but liars sure can figure!"
Let's agree that everybody cooks the numbers to their own advantage, and let it go at that?

 

[DJFaninTN]

i recall the term Shovel Ready ... which we all know was the biggest bunch of BS ever

 

[johnsimion]

i recall the term Shovel Ready ... which we all know was the biggest bunch of BS ever

What you said is FALSE; see https://www.npr.org/2017/04/05/522629542/fact-check-trumps-claim-2009-stimulus-measure-built-nothing

Not only that, but I speak from PERSONAL experience. I worked for the Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, reviewing government contracts at the time. Our projects were, in fact, shovel ready. The Corps ALWAYS has hundreds of projects designed and ready to be built, just waiting for funding. Why? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CORPS DOES! I personally worked on a whole bunch of new barracks and new training ranges at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. A coworker was the contract reviewer for the multi-billion dollar hospital at Fort Riley, KS, and that was so big that it became practically her full-time job. I also worked on military housing "for the generals" at Whiteman AFB, MO. All those jobs took off the minute the stimulus passed, and those are just the ones that come to mind at 7:26 a.m. OMG, we were soooooo busy at the time. At one point the contractors had to bring in workers from outside the local area at Fort Leonard Wood because there was more construction than there were available workers.

Part of the reason that rumor spread was that so many of the projects were on military installations where the public isn't invited. How many people typically hang out at Fort Leonard Wood? Not many. If you want to see where your stimulus dollars went, try visiting some military installations.

Now ... do I think it was a good idea? No, I didn't say that. It was silly to try to spend money to jumpstart the economy and I have my doubts about the need for such projects anyway; after all, Fort Riley already had a hospital so why did we build a brand new one for over a billion? Fort Leonard Wood already had a bunch of barracks and training ranges, too. The generals at Whiteman AFB didn't really need new houses. But the plans did exist and were only waiting for funding. And THAT is the truth.

 

[C. Lee]

I don't really know what to say about this particular debate but with regard to jobs, wages and such, I can relate as I own a mid sized plumbing company. In my field I have a difficult time finding qualified plumbers who have a clean driving record with no DUI, can pass a drug test and doesn't have a criminal record. The last things are more of a problem than finding the workers but that's another conversation. We are experiencing a rise in wages which is creating a condition where employees are changing jobs for more money so there is wage pressure that will make wages rise in order to keep your people. One side of the political spectrum only seemed to care about jobs in tech, health care & service (walmart, home depot & restaurants) and never mentioned heavy manufacturing. One person commenting on this thread mentioned the kind of jobs being created as to say that they were not very good jobs or jobs that people didn't want and no one has mentioned the steel plants reopening. Here in Ohio there have been at least 2 steel plants opening blast furnaces again calling back thousands of workers and I have heard the same about plants across the country. I don't know what the long term effects of the tariffs will be but right now, things in our country are going very well. Chris

 

[Easy Rider]

If you wish to pursue this debate: let's also include the prior Administration's practice of not counting people who have quit looking for jobs: as unemployed?

That practice started WAY before the "prior Administration" and now is accepted as standard practice.
I have long said that number gives a distorted picture.

 

[Grandpot]

Assume that statement is absolutely true.
Also assume that the original post was based on officially reported numbers.

The officially reported numbers of jobs does NOT include those that are going unfilled.

So it is not just semantics.

Numbers can be made to look like anything the presenter wants. However, I live in a very technical world and know that we are lacking skilled technicians, regardless of what a spreadsheet says.

Do you realize that 86% of statistics are fictitious?

 

[UtahPete]

Numbers can be made to look like anything the presenter wants. However, I live in a very technical world and know that we are lacking skilled technicians, regardless of what a spreadsheet says. Do you realize that 86% of statistics are fictitious?

Which is why the integrity and track record of the source is important. Are we really at the point where we are questioning the integrity of our own government? Not individuals in the government, but the nonpartisan agencies that compile and publish statistics?

I think that's a slippery slope and we should be careful of casually stepping foot on it.

What I will acknowledge is that special interests will use selected statistics out of context to support their position on an issue. That is the political reality we should be aware of and the reason we should be prepared to question statistics quoted by special interests, including candidates for office.

 

[Grandpot]

Which is why the integrity and track record of the source is important. Are we really at the point where we are questioning the integrity of our own government? Not individuals in the government, but the nonpartisan agencies that compile and publish statistics?

I think that's a slippery slope and we should be careful of casually stepping foot on it.

What I will acknowledge is that special interests will use selected statistics out of context to support their position on an issue. That is the political reality we should be aware of and the reason we should be prepared to question statistics quoted by special interests, including candidates for office.

Pete:

I absolutely agree with your statement. It's like playing against a stacked deck if you take all statistics literally.

By the way, when I said 86% of statistics were fictitious; I made that up.hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

By the way, when I said 86% of statistics were fictitious; I made that up.hyea:

With skills like yours: you are destined for a Government job... :roflblack: :clap: :2thumbs:

 

[UtahPete]

Pete:

I absolutely agree with your statement. It's like playing against a stacked deck if you take all statistics literally.

By the way, when I said 86% of statistics were fictitious; I made that up.hyea:

Yeah, I got that humor. Forgot to acknowledge it...:clap:

 

[ARtraveler]

Another page--no solution.

Take the money and run folks. :roflblack: