Where the Jobs Are

Industrial structure shifts along with labor productivity within an economy. But shifting geographic trade patterns also affect structure. In turn, both productivity and trade influence employment levels but not necessarily in the expected ways. Farm and factory output is rising in most countries. Canada’s factory jobs rise and fall mainly with the dollar exchange rate. Strong German exports do not reduce unemployment. Productivity is reducing factory jobs in China.Some aspects of the US jobs crisis are disproved. Contrary to popular opinion, overall unemployment has improved as the trade deficit increased since the 1980s; service sector wages pay more and rise more than other sectors; production jobs and management jobs were equally affected by the recession.