| There has been a lot of talk recently about | | | | and computer software everywhere. With all |
| American jobs moving overseas...offshoring is the | | | | these events and situations, it only makes sense |
| buzzword for it. During difficult economic times it | | | | that American companies would turn to foreign |
| is often easy to find a scapegoat to blame for a | | | | labor. |
| downturn in jobs. While government reports and | | | | Besides, the economic impact of the world's |
| politicians try to downplay the impact, offshoring | | | | political shift, the American economy has |
| is something to take seriously. This article will | | | | transformed itself. The rise of the computer has |
| discuss the permanent effect offshoring will have | | | | shifted the United States economy from an |
| on U.S. jobs and what you can do to make sure it | | | | industrial nation to a nation of information and |
| doesn't happen to you. | | | | service. This means there will be less jobs in |
| Economic crises of the last thirty years have | | | | making things and more jobs in marketing and |
| tended to blames overseas competitors for | | | | servicing things. Unfortunately the American |
| America's financial woes. During the seventies it | | | | education system has been ill prepared for this |
| was foreign steel to blame and during the eighties | | | | inevitable change. In the mid to late nineties, |
| it was foreign agriculture. The current trend of | | | | thousands of well paying computer jobs went to |
| moving American jobs overseas, particularly to | | | | foreign nationals on temporary work visas. |
| India, The Phillipines and other developing nations | | | | Additionally, domestic workers on a whole will |
| has been troubling to many. While some people | | | | move from being permanently hired employees |
| think this is a temporary situation, shifts in the | | | | to contract or temporary employees. As a |
| American economy and world politics indicate | | | | worker, it will be more important to market |
| otherwise. | | | | yourself, keep a good network of contacts and |
| One of the effects of the collapse of the Soviet | | | | maintain your technical skills. |
| Union and the end of the Cold War has been the | | | | Although this news sounds grim, it's really not. |
| increased globalization of trade. On this continent, | | | | Most of the jobs going overseas are in the lower |
| economic borders have opened up due to the | | | | salary ranges like customer service and technical |
| North America Free Trade Act (NAFTA). In | | | | support positions. Meanwhile, the new "hot jobs" |
| Europe, the collapse of the Iron Curtain has | | | | pay very competitively, even for workers who |
| opened the borders of the eastern countries. And | | | | lack employment experience. |
| the European Union has made a significant impact | | | | If you're afraid your job may be going overseas, |
| on the economy; standardizing currency in 13 | | | | or you want a better paying career with more |
| countries in 2000 and adding 10 new member | | | | advancement opportunities, take a look at these |
| nations last month...mostly former Eastern Bloc | | | | hot jobs: |
| nations. Even China has joined the global free | | | | 1. IT Security |
| market, contributing $620 billion in trade to the | | | | 2. IT Project Management |
| world's markets in 2002. China has taken control | | | | 3. IT Outsource Management |
| of Taiwan and regained Asia's economic | | | | 4. IT Database Administrators |
| powerhouse - Hong Kong - after 100 years of | | | | 5. Health Care - Medical Assistant |
| British rule. | | | | 6. Health Care - Nursing |
| These global economic changes are big and they | | | | 7. Health Care - Home Health |
| will not go away. American companies have taken | | | | 8. Health Care - Dental Hygienists |
| advantage of the global market, establishing icons | | | | 9. Health Care - Medical Coding |
| of American culture like fast food, retail stores | | | | 10. |