i hope Trump can bring jobs back

[LivingAlmostLarge]

100% agree. A big problem which Bill Gates once brought up was that Americans aren't going into STEM fields so how's he supposed to hire them? It's a catch-22. But even without stem jobs a lot of jobs were replaced by technology and are outsourced because it's cheaper. So how are we going to bring it back?

[kork13]

But even without stem jobs a lot of jobs were replaced by technology and are outsourced because it's cheaper. So how are we going to bring it back?

"Bring it back" isn't the idea. I mean sure, that's theoretically one way to improve the nation's employment issues, but as you and others said, it's unlikely to bring many jobs BACK from overseas. Rather, we should focus efforts on filling the job openings that exist, building our workforce AS a workforce, and make possible new jobs through that development.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

A strong dollar isn't great for bringing jobs back either. It just makes it more likely to outsourse work actually. It's becoming more expensive to make things in the US.

[corn18]

A strong dollar isn't great for bringing jobs back either. It just makes it more likely to outsourse work actually. It's becoming more expensive to make things in the US.

I'm not sure this is exactly correct. It isn't more expensive to make things in the US. If you have largely US content, the cost is the same. If you have largely import content, the cost is less. The issue is when you export the product. When the dollar is strong, US products become less competitively priced compared to something priced in native currency. Something that cost 1 Euro to buy form the US yesterday, now costs 1.3 Euro to buy today. Nothing has changed except the exchange rate.

Another issue the strong dollar creates is repatriating profits. If a lot of your profit is generated overseas, then bringing that profit back to the US costs more. The discount year over year is approaching 40%. That means we may just leave our profits over there until the Fx is more favorable. Hurts free cash flow.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Doesn't the stronger dollar make wages cheaper abroad as well?

[corn18]

Doesn't the stronger dollar make wages cheaper abroad as well?

Depends. If you pay them in dollars, then yes. If you pay them in their native currency then no.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

He can't. Trump is a moron who doesn't understand economics (no, i'm not a supporter).

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

You want to direct deposit that salary into my bank account?

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat46.htm

55yo+ have a higher absentee rate than 55 and under. 20-24 shows no difference vs people between 25-55.

Absenteeism could be sickness. Not just skipping work.