College and economic security

The Georgetown Public Policy Institute for has released a report detailing how much better off college graduates fared in the economic downturn. Key points

• unemployment rate for 4 year college graduates never exceeded 6.3% during the recession, compared with a peak unemployment rate of 13.4% in February 2010.
• unemployment rate for new high school graduates peaked at 30% in January 2010, and remained at 24% in May of 2012.
• during the recession (Dec. 2007-Jan 2010) there was modest job growth (187,000) for those with a bachelor's degree or better.
• During the recovery (January 2010-Feb. 2012) job losses for high school graduates or less education continued to decline (230,000) while job growth for those with some college (2,012,000) and Bachelor's degree or better (3,374,000) improved dramatically.
• Nearly 4 out of every 5 jobs lost in the recession were held by workers with a high school diploma or less.

There is a wealth of additional information.

Avondale job losses

AFL-CIO blog correctly characterizes the Avondale layoffs, which are underway, as a huge economic disaster for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. As our marshes erode so do manufacturing jobs. While it may be hyperbole to compare the effects of the Avondale closure to the BP oil spill, long term it may not be.

Going, going, gone.

Here is another example (the leather goods industry) of the absolute collapse of domestic manufacturing causing the elimination of high paying, mostly unionized jobs. The interesting part here is an article with little politics and a good amount of plain facts.

"We can do it"

Leo Gerard, Steelworkers' President, picks up on the "make it in America" campaign and talks of Rosie the Riveter "We can do it" attitude, and cites an April study showing 58% of Americans believe the country is not the world's leading manufacturer, but 95% of those polled believe we could regain the top spot.