This is Frustrating!! Last month it was the corporate tech giants in silicon valley and others criticizing the president's travel ban decision because of the impact it could have attracting international talent for jobs in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics industries and now it’s Healthcare. What about preparing more US workers to fill these jobs? The biggest challenge low skilled and displaced adult job seekers, like me, have is finding funds and time off to train and prepare for job in these areas. Companies hiring want applicants that have 2 or more years of experience. We need more corporate and government workforce collaboration programs that provide on the job training for US workers.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-travel-ban-impact-on-international-doctors-american-health-system/
Here is an interesting article I read today about the difficulties a lot of millennial women are facing in the workforce: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-some-companies-are-treating-employee-mental-health-days-like-sick-days-2017-02-13?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo
According to a 2015 Child Trends report (“Parents Behind Bars: What Happens to Their Children”), 1 in 14 American children (about 7%) has experienced the absence of at least one parent because of a prison sentence. That’s up from the last estimate in 2007, which put the percentage at 2%. The 2007 percentage comes to about 1.7 million children. According to Child Trends, that percentage might now approach 5 million. That’s nearly three times larger than what experts recorded just eight years ago.
To help get a practical of idea of what this figure means, take a mid-sized Indiana city, such as Fort Wayne. Currently, that city has a population of about a quarter million people. Now do some math. The 5 million children who currently have lost a parent to prison would fill 20 cities the size of Fort Wayne. No adults, mind you, just children. To peg the rate of growth from just eight years ago, the 2007 estimate would fill between six to seven cities. By the end of 2015, the number of children who had seen a parent behind prison bars added the equivalent of thirteen more mid-sized cities—an annual total of twenty municipalities.
As things stand, that number will continue to grow. That's twenty cities and counting. No one can favor that kind of “urban growth” or call it healthy for families. Research has already documented the lasting damage to children caused by the loss of a parent to prison. In an article published by Education Week (“Children of Inmates Seen at Risk”: 2/25/15), reporter Sarah Sparks summarizes the research findings on the negative effects. These include:
· Behavioral problems,
· Language and speech delays,
· Physical and psychological illness,
· Lower academic achievement,
· Lower high school graduation rates,
· Lower college entrance and graduation rates, and
· Greater likelihood of incarceration in later life.
Damaging American children in this way is both unacceptable and unsustainable. It might even be called child abuse. Justifiably, the courts often send adults guilty of that crime to prison. What happens to a society that tolerates damaging children as collateral damage in its efforts to control of crime? Ironically, that remains uncertain. But without a solution, America will eventually find out--as the collateral damage matures to adulthood.
SOURCES:
http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-42ParentsBehindBars.pdf
Coding is a blue collar job now? I thought coding work was only done by teenaged geeks I see walking around downtown all the time wearing sneakers and hoodies. Nothing wrong with that but that's always been my image of the typical coder or tech worker. I have an interest in the field but being in my 50’s I’ve always honestly felt a little intimidated changing careers or looking for job in tech. This article is an eye opener but it doesn’t say much about senior level coders or job seekers. How difficult would it be for a 54 year old find blue collar coding job?
https://www.wired.com/2017/02/programming-is-the-new-blue-collar-job/
The following is a response to Tom Orr's insightful "Poor in Indiana: Part III." The marked link below will lead the reader to Mr. Orr's discussion of the "cliff effect."
Supporting those who have fallen into poverty makes humanitarian sense. Failure, however, to provide an effective transition from poverty to independence turns that support into a trap. The grants social service agencies fight over frequently add bells and whistles to that trap, not a way out. That's both disrespectful and condescending.
Effective transitional support would encourage decisions that lead to independence. That makes economic and humanitarian sense. It also treats people with respect.
So let me see: dependence or independence? Perhaps what we have chosen to pay for is precisely what we are getting. So let's be honest. Rather than blaming irrational policies for thoroughly predictable results, we elect to blame the poor for remaining dependent.
That's amazing, but I suppose it's easier than changing how we allocate grant money. Of course, it's not defensible morally or intellectually; it's just easier. Consequently, the poor are not the only ones who make "bad" financial decisions. They are, however, more likely to endure sanctions--even when their decisions are good ones
Tom Orr's Series Entries:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/poor-indiana-part-i-thomas-orr https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/poor-indiana-part-ii-thomas-orr The Cliff Effect: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/poor-indiana-part-iii-thomas-orr
Saw an article on LinkedIn today, be moaning the fact that the author was missing the wisdom and experience of older people. He pointed out that the younger generations really don't seem to have the business acumen, we older folks have acquired. Maybe there's hope yet for the over 50 folks.......
Awhile back I made a suggestion to someone that maybe they should try looking into working from home. (Not sure if those were the exact words but it was somewhere along those lines) well anyway. I received quiet a few inboxes. So I thought I would make a post with with a link to post of a list of 27 + companies that have virtual positions.. I know that sometime it's hard for people with disabilities to get out of the house to get to a job site or someone with small children to find employment that will work with your schedule. At some places you have the option of picking your own hours. So that is really a plus when you have small children. I hope that this helps at least one person out.. http://www.dreamhomebasedwork.com/work-at-home-now-hiring/
I almost forgot to add the link! lol!!
"When the Door Closes, Look for the Window"! Non-profit organizations like DefyVentures.org (New York & California) have programs and support services to equip former felons with the know-how, connections, and investment options needed to live out their entrepreneurial dreams. Having a hard time finding a job? Then be your own Boss!!
Take a look at this info if you live within the NY or CA areas and struggling to find good job. Read this article too -
If you have a disability, a great place to start your job search is within award winning companies recognized for their diverse culture and hiring practices. These disabled friendly companies, in most cases, are able to provide you with reasonable accommodations in order to create a welcoming workplace environment to help you meeting your job duties. Here’s list of 5 top companies from DiversityInc you should check out if you’re currently looking for a new job or considering a career change.
1 - IBM
2 - Aetna
3 - Comcast
4 - Sodexo
5 - Ernst and Young