/PRNewswire/ -- Less-educated, younger, and minority American workers face the worst job market in decades, far worse than their more educated counterparts. However, the situation for these workers was very difficult even before the current recession. A report from the Center for Immigration Studies examines their employment situation in the second quarters of both 2007 (before the recession) and 2010. Younger and less-educated workers are the most likely to be in competition with immigrants - legal and illegal.
The report, "From Bad to Worse: Unemployment and Underemployment Among Less-Educated U.S.-Born Workers, 2007 to 2010," is at http://cis.org/bad-to-worse.
Among the findings:
-- Younger and less-educated natives often do the same jobs as
immigrants. During the second quarter of 2010, in the occupations
employing the most young and less-educated U.S.-born adults, one in
five workers was an immigrant.
-- In the second quarter of 2010, the unemployment rate for U.S.-born
adults who have not completed high school was 20.8 percent. But even
in the second quarter of 2007, before the recession, it was 11.1
percent.
-- Using the broader measure of unemployment that includes those who want
to work but have not looked recently, and those forced to work
part-time (the U-6 unemployment rate), the rate for those who haven't
completed high school was 29.3 percent in the second quarter of 2010
and 18.7 percent in the same quarter of 2007.
-- The unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers who have only a high
school education and are 18 to 29 was 20 percent in the second quarter
of 2010. But even before the recession in 2007 it was 9.6 percent in
2007.
-- The broader measure of unemployment for 18- to 29-year-old U.S.-born
workers with only a high school education was 29.2 percent in the
second quarter of 2010. It was still 16.6 percent in 2007.
-- The unemployment rate for U.S.-born black workers without a high
education is currently 29 percent. Using the broader measure of
unemployment it is an astonishing 39.8 percent.
-- The unemployment rate for U.S.-born black workers with only a high
school education who are 18 to 29 is currently 22.9 percent. It is
32.4 percent using the boarder measure of unemployment.
-- The unemployment rate for U.S.-born Hispanic workers without a high
education is currently 22.9 percent. It is 32.4 percent using the
boarder measure of unemployment.
-- The unemployment rate for U.S.-born Hispanic workers with only a high
education who are 18 to 29 is currently 23.3 percent. It is 33 percent
using the boarder measure of unemployment.
-- In the second quarter of 2010 the unemployment rate of U.S.-born teens
(16 and 17) was 31 percent. It was 38 percent using the boarder
measure.
-- The total number of young and less-educated U.S.-born workers
unemployed is enormous. If we look at the broad measure of
unemployment for all workers who lack a high school education or have
only a high school education and are young (18 to 29) or are teenagers
(16-17), 6.3 million were unemployed in the second quarter of 2010.
-- In addition to the 6.3 million unemployed or underemployed, there were
another 16 million of these younger and less-educated individuals who
were entirely out of the labor market. That is, they were not working,
nor were they looking for work, even using the broadest measure of
unemployment.
-- To place these numbers in the perspective, there are an estimated
seven to eight million illegal immigrants holding jobs.
Policy Discussion: One argument for amnesty and increased future immigration is that there are not enough Americans workers to do jobs that require relatively little education, such as construction labor, cleaning and maintenance, food service and preparation, delivery, and light manufacturing. However, the employment data analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies does not support these assertions. Unemployment is extremely high among the least-educated Americans who often do these kinds of jobs. In fact, the employment situation for such workers was very high even before the current recession began. Thus it is very difficult to find any evidence to support the contention that the country needs large-scale unskilled immigration. Since there is an abundance of such workers already in the country, employers who have difficulty finding workers may need to offer better pay and working conditions in order to attract Americans.
Methodology: All figures in this report are calculated from the public use files of the Current Population Survey, collected by the Census Bureau, for second quarters of 2007 and 2010. Figures are seasonally unadjusted. Figures for U.S.-born blacks are for those who chose only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics can be of any race and are not included in the figures for other races.
The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent, non-partisan research institution that examines the impact of immigration on the United States.
-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Showing posts with label americans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label americans. Show all posts
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Amendments Encourage Senate Finance Committee to Protect Flexible Spending Accounts
/PRNewswire/ -- Following the introduction of health care reform legislation last week by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), more than a dozen amendments were filed this weekend by members of the Senate Finance Committee to protect flexible spending accounts (FSAs) -- a valuable benefit used by millions of Americans to manage and hold down their health care costs. As reemphasized in updated legislation introduced today, Sen. Baucus proposes to restrict the use of FSAs to help cover a portion of the costs of health care reform.
America's Healthy Future Act, as introduced by Sen. Baucus, contains provisions that would drastically restrict the use of FSAs primarily by imposing a $2,500 cap (initially proposed last week at $2,000) on contributions that - unlike other provisions in the legislation - would not adjust with inflation. The legislation also proposes limiting the use of the benefit for over-the-counter medications without a doctor's prescription and including FSAs together with major medical plans in an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans.
"It's disappointing that Sen. Baucus has focused his sights on restricting the use of flexible spending accounts through an unreasonably low cap on contributions. He appears to be discriminating against FSAs which, unlike other provisions in the bill, is not indexed over time," said Joe Jackson, chairman of Save Flexible Spending Plans and CEO of WageWorks, a benefits company based in San Mateo, California. "Without a change, many who rely on flexible spending accounts, including individuals and families battling chronic conditions with high out-of-pocket costs, will lose the full value of the benefit and be forced to pay higher taxes and health care costs."
Amendments filed by Senate Finance Committee members included proposals to increase or remove the originally planned $2,000 contribution cap, exclude FSAs from the excise tax on high cost health insurance plans and clarify the reimbursement role of FSAs for over-the-counter medications.
"We are encouraged that eight Senators from both sides of the aisle filed amendments to protect a benefit that has helped millions of hardworking Americans manage and hold down their health care costs," said Jackson. "At a minimum, amendments filed that would increase the cap on FSA contributions, including those by Senators Schumer and Snowe, represent a step in the right direction. Without a higher cap, Congress could force plan participants, including many fighting chronic illnesses, to forgo necessary medical treatment, prescriptions and supplies for financial reasons, resulting in a deterioration of health and an increase in hospitalizations and overall health care system costs."
About Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are voluntary, account-based plans that enable millions of Americans to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses like prescription drug co-pays, vision and dental costs, office visits and medical supplies. Most FSA participants are middle income, earning approximately $55,000 annually. Currently, limits on contributions to FSAs are set by individual employers.
In July, the House Ways and Means Committee approved health care reform legislation that includes a ban on using money set aside in FSAs to buy over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and allergy medications.
About Save Flexible Spending Plans
Save Flexible Spending Plans is a national grassroots advocacy organization protect against the restricted use of flexible spending accounts in health care reform efforts. The campaign is sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), www.ecfc.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of private employee benefit programs on a tax-advantaged basis. To learn more, take action and read the personal stories of FSA participants, please visit www.savemyflexplan.org.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
America's Healthy Future Act, as introduced by Sen. Baucus, contains provisions that would drastically restrict the use of FSAs primarily by imposing a $2,500 cap (initially proposed last week at $2,000) on contributions that - unlike other provisions in the legislation - would not adjust with inflation. The legislation also proposes limiting the use of the benefit for over-the-counter medications without a doctor's prescription and including FSAs together with major medical plans in an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans.
"It's disappointing that Sen. Baucus has focused his sights on restricting the use of flexible spending accounts through an unreasonably low cap on contributions. He appears to be discriminating against FSAs which, unlike other provisions in the bill, is not indexed over time," said Joe Jackson, chairman of Save Flexible Spending Plans and CEO of WageWorks, a benefits company based in San Mateo, California. "Without a change, many who rely on flexible spending accounts, including individuals and families battling chronic conditions with high out-of-pocket costs, will lose the full value of the benefit and be forced to pay higher taxes and health care costs."
Amendments filed by Senate Finance Committee members included proposals to increase or remove the originally planned $2,000 contribution cap, exclude FSAs from the excise tax on high cost health insurance plans and clarify the reimbursement role of FSAs for over-the-counter medications.
"We are encouraged that eight Senators from both sides of the aisle filed amendments to protect a benefit that has helped millions of hardworking Americans manage and hold down their health care costs," said Jackson. "At a minimum, amendments filed that would increase the cap on FSA contributions, including those by Senators Schumer and Snowe, represent a step in the right direction. Without a higher cap, Congress could force plan participants, including many fighting chronic illnesses, to forgo necessary medical treatment, prescriptions and supplies for financial reasons, resulting in a deterioration of health and an increase in hospitalizations and overall health care system costs."
About Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are voluntary, account-based plans that enable millions of Americans to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses like prescription drug co-pays, vision and dental costs, office visits and medical supplies. Most FSA participants are middle income, earning approximately $55,000 annually. Currently, limits on contributions to FSAs are set by individual employers.
In July, the House Ways and Means Committee approved health care reform legislation that includes a ban on using money set aside in FSAs to buy over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and allergy medications.
About Save Flexible Spending Plans
Save Flexible Spending Plans is a national grassroots advocacy organization protect against the restricted use of flexible spending accounts in health care reform efforts. The campaign is sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), www.ecfc.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of private employee benefit programs on a tax-advantaged basis. To learn more, take action and read the personal stories of FSA participants, please visit www.savemyflexplan.org.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Libertarians call on Democrats to end their 'war on dissent'
Libertarian National Committee Communications Director Donny Ferguson released the following statement Wednesday, after Democratic National Committee Communications Director Brad Woodhouse released a statement Tuesday accusing private citizens opposed to the proposed government takeover of health care of being part of a paid, organized conspiracy against the president:
“Whether it’s having the Franking Commission censor congressional opponents’ outgoing mail, sliming private citizens who question their agenda or urging their followers to report critics directly to the White House, desperate Democrats have only one way of dealing with Americans’ overwhelming opposition to their radical agenda -- using the power of government to silence dissent.
“After years of paying ACORN radicals to show up at events and having union members take paid vacations to go protest, I can see how Democrats are now incapable of recognizing free speech when they see it. They appear to have conceded the fact their government takeover of health care sends costs skyrocketing, innovation plummeting and waiting lists growing. Unable to sell Americans on the virtues of government control, Democrats have now resorted to trying to silence them.
“Among them is Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who claimed citizens spontaneously and freely expressing mainstream opinions he didn’t agree with were conspiring with Libertarians to stop government-run medicine. Libertarians didn’t organize this expression of free speech, they’re just joined by millions of other mainstream Americans in opposing this dangerous plan for government-run, rationed care.
“The Democrat war on dissent reached a peak this week when the White House posted a blog entry urging the president’s followers to find people who criticize the president, even “in casual conversation,” and forward the information to flag@whitehouse.gov. That is a brazen attempt to bully people into silence by leading them to believe any statements critical of the president will land them on the new version of the ‘White House enemies list.’”
“Libertarians find it ironic a community organizer is now using the government to try and to stop people from organizing their communities. Instead of using official edicts to smear, slander and intimidate everyday Americans into silence, Democrats should listen to the majority of Americans and drop their plans for a radical government takeover of their health care.
“Libertarians call on President Obama to issue a public apology to the millions of independent-thinking Americans his administration has slimed, to call off his plans to compile the flag@whitehouse.gov enemies list and to end the Democrats’ use of government power to silence dissent.”
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
“Whether it’s having the Franking Commission censor congressional opponents’ outgoing mail, sliming private citizens who question their agenda or urging their followers to report critics directly to the White House, desperate Democrats have only one way of dealing with Americans’ overwhelming opposition to their radical agenda -- using the power of government to silence dissent.
“After years of paying ACORN radicals to show up at events and having union members take paid vacations to go protest, I can see how Democrats are now incapable of recognizing free speech when they see it. They appear to have conceded the fact their government takeover of health care sends costs skyrocketing, innovation plummeting and waiting lists growing. Unable to sell Americans on the virtues of government control, Democrats have now resorted to trying to silence them.
“Among them is Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who claimed citizens spontaneously and freely expressing mainstream opinions he didn’t agree with were conspiring with Libertarians to stop government-run medicine. Libertarians didn’t organize this expression of free speech, they’re just joined by millions of other mainstream Americans in opposing this dangerous plan for government-run, rationed care.
“The Democrat war on dissent reached a peak this week when the White House posted a blog entry urging the president’s followers to find people who criticize the president, even “in casual conversation,” and forward the information to flag@whitehouse.gov. That is a brazen attempt to bully people into silence by leading them to believe any statements critical of the president will land them on the new version of the ‘White House enemies list.’”
“Libertarians find it ironic a community organizer is now using the government to try and to stop people from organizing their communities. Instead of using official edicts to smear, slander and intimidate everyday Americans into silence, Democrats should listen to the majority of Americans and drop their plans for a radical government takeover of their health care.
“Libertarians call on President Obama to issue a public apology to the millions of independent-thinking Americans his administration has slimed, to call off his plans to compile the flag@whitehouse.gov enemies list and to end the Democrats’ use of government power to silence dissent.”
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Americans Agree With Republicans: Keep Terrorists Out of America
The Administration has been dealt yet another sharp blow this morning as it scrambles for a clear plan for what to do with more than 200 of the world’s most dangerous terrorists currently housed at the Guantanamo Bay prison. A fresh Gallup poll released today confirms that Americans’ opposition to importing the terrorists held at Guantanamo is solidifying, with 75 percent of Americans opposed to having them moved into prisons in their own states. USA Today reports:
“Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to closing the detention center for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and moving some of the detainees to prisons on U.S. soil, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.”
“By more than 2-1, those surveyed say Guantanamo shouldn’t be closed. By more than 3-1, they oppose moving some of the accused terrorists housed there to prisons in their own states.”
“The findings underscore the difficult task President Obama faces in convincing those at home that he should follow through on his campaign promise to close the prison in Cuba, especially in the absence of a plan of where the prisoners would go.”
In short, the American people have spoken loudly and clearly: they want to keep terrorists out of America. Republicans agree. That’s why House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and his GOP colleagues have introduced the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (H.R. 2294), legislation aimed at stopping the importation of terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison by:
- Affirming Congress’ opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison into the United States.
- Prohibiting the Administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state’s governor and legislature, and certification to Congress that strict requirements have been met.
- Prohibiting the President from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States without fulfilling strict congressional notification and certification requirements.
170 House Republicans support the legislation – including Ranking Members of the Armed Forces, Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs Committees. As Members of Congress arrive back in Washington today, will House Democrats – who represent millions of Americans opposed to importing terrorists into their communities – finally join Republicans in supporting the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act and demanding a vote on the legislation? And, as the American people continue to say loudly and clearly that they want to keep terrorists out of America, will the Administration finally agree to develop a plan to do just that?
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.politicalpotluck.com
Political News You Can Use
“Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to closing the detention center for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and moving some of the detainees to prisons on U.S. soil, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.”
“By more than 2-1, those surveyed say Guantanamo shouldn’t be closed. By more than 3-1, they oppose moving some of the accused terrorists housed there to prisons in their own states.”
“The findings underscore the difficult task President Obama faces in convincing those at home that he should follow through on his campaign promise to close the prison in Cuba, especially in the absence of a plan of where the prisoners would go.”
In short, the American people have spoken loudly and clearly: they want to keep terrorists out of America. Republicans agree. That’s why House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and his GOP colleagues have introduced the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act (H.R. 2294), legislation aimed at stopping the importation of terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison by:
- Affirming Congress’ opposition to transferring or releasing terrorists held at the Guantanamo Bay prison into the United States.
- Prohibiting the Administration from transferring or releasing any terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay to any state without express approval from the state’s governor and legislature, and certification to Congress that strict requirements have been met.
- Prohibiting the President from transferring or releasing a terrorist detainee into the United States without fulfilling strict congressional notification and certification requirements.
170 House Republicans support the legislation – including Ranking Members of the Armed Forces, Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs Committees. As Members of Congress arrive back in Washington today, will House Democrats – who represent millions of Americans opposed to importing terrorists into their communities – finally join Republicans in supporting the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act and demanding a vote on the legislation? And, as the American people continue to say loudly and clearly that they want to keep terrorists out of America, will the Administration finally agree to develop a plan to do just that?
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.politicalpotluck.com
Political News You Can Use
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Boehner: Republicans Stand Ready to Work With President Obama on Responsible Plan That Will Create and Protect Jobs
Boehner: Republicans Stand Ready to Work With President Obama on Responsible Plan That Will Create and Protect Jobs – But Democratic Congress Hasn’t Delivered
After a press conference held last evening by President Barack Obama, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) released the following statement:
“Our nation is in recession, and we applaud President Obama for continuing to make the case for action from Congress to help our economy create and protect jobs. As he said earlier this year and again this evening, both parties in Washington have a responsibility to tackle the challenge before us. In response to the President’s request for input, House Republicans have offered a plan that creates twice the jobs as the Democrats’ proposal – 6.2 million jobs total – at half the cost. Unfortunately, the trillion-dollar plan moving through Congress takes us in the wrong direction, relying on slow-moving and wasteful Washington spending that will pile even more debt on future generations, providing less tax relief than requested by the President, and encouraging dependence on welfare programs that hurt Americans instead of helping them. The American people need our help, and they deserve better than this. It is not too late to craft a bipartisan plan that creates more jobs and helps get our economy back on track, and Republicans stand ready to work with the President to do this.”
NOTE: By letting families, small businesses, home-buyers, and job-seekers keep more of what they earn, the House Republicans’ economic recovery plan will create 6.2 million new American jobs over the next two years, at half the cost of the congressional Democrats’ plan, according to a methodology used by President Obama’s own nominee as Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Dr. Christina Romer.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
After a press conference held last evening by President Barack Obama, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) released the following statement:
“Our nation is in recession, and we applaud President Obama for continuing to make the case for action from Congress to help our economy create and protect jobs. As he said earlier this year and again this evening, both parties in Washington have a responsibility to tackle the challenge before us. In response to the President’s request for input, House Republicans have offered a plan that creates twice the jobs as the Democrats’ proposal – 6.2 million jobs total – at half the cost. Unfortunately, the trillion-dollar plan moving through Congress takes us in the wrong direction, relying on slow-moving and wasteful Washington spending that will pile even more debt on future generations, providing less tax relief than requested by the President, and encouraging dependence on welfare programs that hurt Americans instead of helping them. The American people need our help, and they deserve better than this. It is not too late to craft a bipartisan plan that creates more jobs and helps get our economy back on track, and Republicans stand ready to work with the President to do this.”
NOTE: By letting families, small businesses, home-buyers, and job-seekers keep more of what they earn, the House Republicans’ economic recovery plan will create 6.2 million new American jobs over the next two years, at half the cost of the congressional Democrats’ plan, according to a methodology used by President Obama’s own nominee as Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Dr. Christina Romer.
-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)