An interesting article in a recent edition of Hola Noticias (February 26, 2008) notes that Latino immigrants are buying fewer cars these days. One auto dealer in Charlotte states that sales to Latinos are down 50%. Another Toyota sales rep laments that there used to Latino clients every day. Now days go by before he sees a potential customer and then it is usually someone trying to sell a car.
So what is happening? Recent laws in North Carolina have made it more difficult for immigrants to obtain a driver's license. The result is that immigrants with only a Tax ID number no longer qualify to buy and register a vehicle. Loan agencies and banks, in turn, are also requiring more identification and charging higher rates. Combine this with loss of wages due to a slowdown in the construction industry and you get trouble for car dealerships.
At the same time, North Carolina is in the process of allocating billions of dollars for new and refurbished roads. The bigger question is: Who exactly is going to be traveling on these future highways? And where will we get the young workers that our economy needs to compete with Germany, India, and China? Look no farther than the folks trading in their NC license plates and heading to Kentucky.
Colin Austin
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The loss of middle class jobs
A lot of our attention is focused on getting people connected to the labor market. The tools at hand include pre-employment workshops, language training, and certificate courses. With some support services mixed into this recipe many individuals can get a job and hopefully move up over time. But what are the real possibilities for getting ahead?
Joan Fitzgerald paints a sobering picture in her new book "Moving up in the New Economy." After thoroughly examining the best available research she concludes "Often there is no pathway for low-wage workers to advance through a progression of more responsible and better-paid jobs as they gain skills and experience, for the simple reason that there are no more intermediary jobs for them to advance into. In many industries the middle rungs of what ought to be or used to be a career ladder are simply missing; there are well-paid professional or managerial jobs at the top and dead-end jobs at the bottom - and few if any positions in between."
Restoring those middle rungs will require more structure in the labor market. One approach encourages employers themselves to structure work and advancement within their firms. Another way to achieve structure involves government policy like the minimum wage and labor regulations. Unions or some form of representational advocacy are also at play. These areas of workforce development are often the least understood, yet perhaps the most critical if we are to find ways to increase the number of middle-class jobs.
Colin Austin
Joan Fitzgerald paints a sobering picture in her new book "Moving up in the New Economy." After thoroughly examining the best available research she concludes "Often there is no pathway for low-wage workers to advance through a progression of more responsible and better-paid jobs as they gain skills and experience, for the simple reason that there are no more intermediary jobs for them to advance into. In many industries the middle rungs of what ought to be or used to be a career ladder are simply missing; there are well-paid professional or managerial jobs at the top and dead-end jobs at the bottom - and few if any positions in between."
Restoring those middle rungs will require more structure in the labor market. One approach encourages employers themselves to structure work and advancement within their firms. Another way to achieve structure involves government policy like the minimum wage and labor regulations. Unions or some form of representational advocacy are also at play. These areas of workforce development are often the least understood, yet perhaps the most critical if we are to find ways to increase the number of middle-class jobs.
Colin Austin
Friday, September 21, 2007
What is the value of soft skills?
Sometimes you get the best information if you stick around to talk after an important event. I recently had such a conversation with two men that just graduated from the Technical Career Ladders for English Language Learners at Central Piedmont Community College. This innovative program combines skills training in selected occupations with an English language support course. Part of the program is a segment on the "World of Work," including behaviours expected in the workplace. Employers often claim that they need workers with "soft skills" such as showing up for work on time, being able to work in teams, communicating with management, appropriate dress, and a strong work ethic.
As we sat at a table munching on refreshments I asked the men what they thought of the soft skills portion of their training. They responded that it was very nice, but they already had work experience so the information was nothing new. What they really wanted from the course was the technical training and a certificate that would hopefully get them connected to a better job.
Their comments reminded me that many immigrant workers (these men were from Mexico) face a different set of circumstances than native-born participants in job training programs. The problem for most immigrant workers is not job placement or even retention. The real issue is that they are stuck in low-paying jobs without opportunities to advance. The kinds of soft skills they will need to move up a career ladder may be different than those required to keep from getting fired. And the most direct source of feedback about the actual barriers are immigrant workers themselves.
Colin Austin
As we sat at a table munching on refreshments I asked the men what they thought of the soft skills portion of their training. They responded that it was very nice, but they already had work experience so the information was nothing new. What they really wanted from the course was the technical training and a certificate that would hopefully get them connected to a better job.
Their comments reminded me that many immigrant workers (these men were from Mexico) face a different set of circumstances than native-born participants in job training programs. The problem for most immigrant workers is not job placement or even retention. The real issue is that they are stuck in low-paying jobs without opportunities to advance. The kinds of soft skills they will need to move up a career ladder may be different than those required to keep from getting fired. And the most direct source of feedback about the actual barriers are immigrant workers themselves.
Colin Austin
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Putting a face on our workforce 7/6/07
We have a Post-it problem. At a recent strategy meeting of a policy task force I found myself staring at my last remaining Post-it. Each of the approximately 50 people in attendance were given three Post-its to attach to one of about a dozen recomendations that would go to the North Carolina Workforce Commission. Most of the recommendations had between five and fifteen post-its. Except for the one in front of me that read "Prepare both companies and the workforce service-delivery infrastructure to deal with opportunities and challenges presented by the emerging Latino workforce." Zero Post-its. What was more strange was that the adjoining flip-chart listed the same exact recommendation except with the words "aging workforce" instead of Latino workforce. Lots of Post-its there.
It struck me that we still do not see Latinos or other minority workers as an important part of our future. We just do not have the vision for it. Even though the facts are in front us - see the 2007 State of the NC Workforce report located at http://www.nccommerce.com/workforce/swr/, an excellent publication. One recommendation that did get votes was "Provide equal access to quality education and training for the State's entire workforce ..." To me the message is that we must make the case for all workers. An inclusive campaign rather than seeking out programs for special populations. But the challenge is to broaden the image so that people see all the faces.
Colin Austin
It struck me that we still do not see Latinos or other minority workers as an important part of our future. We just do not have the vision for it. Even though the facts are in front us - see the 2007 State of the NC Workforce report located at http://www.nccommerce.com/workforce/swr/, an excellent publication. One recommendation that did get votes was "Provide equal access to quality education and training for the State's entire workforce ..." To me the message is that we must make the case for all workers. An inclusive campaign rather than seeking out programs for special populations. But the challenge is to broaden the image so that people see all the faces.
Colin Austin
Are we ready for immigration reform? 5/25/07
Attention is focused on Washington this week as the Senate debates an overhaul of the immigration system. An idealogical tug-of-war is going on to determine who should be considered a resident, a worker, and eventually a citizen. But behind the news updates is an important issue that is hardly being considered. That is, how are we going to train 10 million new immigrant workers?
Our efforts in Latino Pathways are certainly timely and an important model for moving forward. At the same time it is clear from our work that concerted effort is needed to connect and adapt existing training and employment services. Most of the educational providers in North Carolina do not have the staff or support services in place to manage this new flow of adult learners. Our JobLink centers have little experience working with immigrant populations. There are many new and growing Latino community-based organizations, but few have any connection to the workforce system.
The prospect of massive work authorization makes Latino Pathways all the more important. While we have made important strides in organizing career pathways, we may be called on to go to scale sooner than we thought.
Colin Austin
Our efforts in Latino Pathways are certainly timely and an important model for moving forward. At the same time it is clear from our work that concerted effort is needed to connect and adapt existing training and employment services. Most of the educational providers in North Carolina do not have the staff or support services in place to manage this new flow of adult learners. Our JobLink centers have little experience working with immigrant populations. There are many new and growing Latino community-based organizations, but few have any connection to the workforce system.
The prospect of massive work authorization makes Latino Pathways all the more important. While we have made important strides in organizing career pathways, we may be called on to go to scale sooner than we thought.
Colin Austin
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