- Chapter 3

Topic: Work in America

How things changed for Am. Workers (1900-2010)

1.The type of work

In agriculture

+ beginning 20th cent., 1900: 38% work force

+ end “ “ : 3% “

+ by 2010 : 1% “

In manufacturing industry

+ in 1900 : 30%“

+ in 2010 : 22%
1.In services 

Ex: edu, health care, trans., tourism, banking, ad &legal services. Cafés, restaurants& fast-
food outlets, service sector : retail sales jobs, driving taxis& pumping gas.
+ 1900, 31% & 2010, 77%

U.S. vs China

+ agri 10% ; Indus 47% & serv, 43%

2.Child labor 

- 1900, 1750K children(6% labor force) aged ……10-15…… worked

full time in labor force
- 1999, illegal < 16 worked full-time in 50 states

3.♀ labor 
 - 1900, 19% ♀ , 2010, 73% ♀ employed

How U.S. workers are doing today

20th cent. _  wages +  benefits (social security, health insurance) + better working
conditions:not so rosy

Today

- Wage  vs productivity 
- # unemployed  past years
Impact of stagnant wages & high unemployment..

+ after W.W.II child born in poverty w/ 50% chance in middle class as adult

+ 1980 “ “ “ w/ 40%. “ “ “ “

+ 2012 “ “ “ w/ 33% “ “ “ “

Some possible reasons for the current economic situation

- Agri. In US  mechanized, eff.  fewer needed 2 grow crops + ……raise animal

- Outsourcing ( US manufacturing, ser work) cheaper wages  export products
cheaper > U.S companies
- Advance technology (ex; robots, ATM machines)  eliminating lots of jobs
- outsourcing and advances tech ->weaker past decades
1.Lower wages &loss of job. fr. fact. workers to teachers

Possible causes for the economic problems

Govt. policies & legislation

+ tax cuts: govt. has < $ 2 provide programs 2 help ppl in diff or invest in edu&
research

+ lack of rel. financial institutions very risky investment  loss jobs, pensions, homes

1.Pull down eco.

Optimism + caution (cautious optimism) abt U.S eco.