What Stimulous? New Jersey

So far, here in New Jersey, there is little or no evidence of an economic stimulous taking place. News of billions of dollars in baleouts and legislation passed to stimulate the economy and create jobs has been in the news since Obama took office on January 20, but unemployment figures have not budged. In fact, unemployment figures have edged upward.

The real proof the baleouts and economic stimulous package is having a positive effect would be the creation of jobs. Here in NJ, all one has to do is pick up any newspaper or search any internet job boards to discover the painful truth that jobs remain in short supply and those who are looking for jobs outnumber the jobs by a wide margin.

Many workers who received unemployment benefits early in the recession have seen their benefits expire. Many of those have been forced to settle for part time jobs or jobs well below the salary level of their last job. It goes back to that old saying, "If you have a job, we are in a recession; if you are unemployed, we are in a depression.

When we are going to see signs of the federal stimulous package actually creating some jobs? Good question. A look at the New Jersey job landscape is very telling. Manufacturing, which used to be a mainstay for jobs in NJ has shrunken drastically. Many manufacturers have fled NJ for other states as NJ business taxes and draconian environmental laws have made it too costly to do business here. Construction jobs are down as well with the biuilding industry reduced to a crawl.

As to when the recession will end and when we will see more jobs made abvailable is anyone's guess. People aren't buying homes, cars or any other big ticket items. Another fact of life making matters worse is China seems to have taken over the manufacturing industry for this country. We don't make half of what we used to make and what we do make, no one is buying.

Ahh, but there are some employment sectors booming. The health care industry is always busy. The problem is, with many people being out of work for so long, many are losing their health care benefits and can't afford to go to a doctor. Government is a another employment sector that is booming, that is if you believe government figures. Try telling an unemployed worker there are government jobs to be had. The line starts in the rear......