Business confidence in the job market gets a lot of press. But what about the confidence of actual human beings? Just how optimistic are actual human beings around the world when it comes to finding work when there are no jobs?
Today, Gallup released results of a survey of 146 countries around the world. The question; “Thinking about the job situation in the city or area where you live today, would you say that it is now a good time or a bad time to find a job?”
Just one simple question. For everyone. Asking for a snapshot of an opinion right now. No pundits or blame. (At least for a moment or two) Just the numbers. And the results?
The countries most optimistic about finding work are, with the exception of Singapore, all developing countries.
% Saying "Good Time To Find Work"
Saudi Arabia: 69
Oman: 69
Panama: 67
Qatar: 65
Singapore: 63
Philippines: 63
Kuwait: 62
Thailand: 59
Paraguay: 58
Uzbekistan: 57
Gallup reports 6 of the 10 countries least confident about finding work were European. In Greece, 96% of the people thought this was a bad time to find work. In Ireland, it was 93%. Pretty much everyone.
Among the world’s 10 largest economies, the United States was wedged firmly in the middle of the pack. 26% of those of us here in the US are thinking, “Yep. Now is a good time for finding work.” Brazil leads the people’s confidence train with 54%. While Italy brings up the rear with 4%.
Worldwide? Across all 146 countries? 33% of all of us think now is a good time to find work.
So what does it all mean? I suppose we could analyze or blame.
Or we could do something different.
As what we’re talking about is real people, all of us, across the world---I think first of my Cousin Mike.
Turns out that moving to Thailand was a pretty smart move. Thailand is one of the most optimistic places for finding work in the world. Like all of the countries, this doesn’t mean that the person will find work. It means they think they will. Like Mike.
Mike came to mind this weekend as I was working, driving through Evanston, Illinois where we all grew up. And in the shadow of the big football stadium, I passed the old white shack, “Mustard’s Last Stand,” where we’d all go for hot dogs and burgers. Sometimes, a quick dinner when my aunt was working late. Mustard’s was still there. Still crowded. That place where we all grew up.
But Mustard’s and the memories were all that were left.
All of us part of a much bigger world now. Now Mike can have his morning coffee looking at the sunrise over the ocean, standing on the sands of a beach in Thailand. He can move at a pace, a rhythm that suits him. He can be in love. Live in a country of civilized health care. Work in the restaurant/store; sometimes work the farm, sometimes teach English.
Picturing Cousin Mike on the beach in Thailand sipping coffee, cooking, farming, and teaching; it becomes clear that in a world where there are no jobs; perhaps what’s needed most is a new way to think about finding work.
A way of thinking that begins NOT with looking for a job, but instead with looking for a need. Looking for a need you can fill.
If it sounds like semantics---read it again. Because it’s not a semantic difference. Looking for and finding a need can result in work even when there are no jobs. If it sounds simple, in some ways it is. But in some ways it’s unimaginably complicated.
Looking for a need you can fill. Imagine the confidence you'll have when you FIND it!
That, and your own beach to stand and watch the sunrise, drink your coffee, and be confident you live in a place where you can find work.
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“Finding Work When There Are No Jobs.” By Roger Wright. Will be released January 2013.
Photo Credit: gnarlysunset dot com.
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Emily Conyngham
libbyliberalnyc
Francesca Biller
Jacob Sugarman
Jeff L. Howe
Tinkerertink69
Salon.com
Comments
Lezlie
By the way, a friend got a certification in teaching English as a second language, went to Thailand, and had a job teaching English within a week.
John--Our slogan for Mustard's was "It's Not that good---but its there." And I should apologize up front to anybody who stops by regularly for what will be the relentless self promotion on the book for the rest of the year--which goes beyond even my very loose and whorish standards.
Lezlie--I want to say that was the concrete company owned by the Crown family--people WAY above my social strata--cause I do remember that.
Gerald--Good point. The survey released today is the first of the series. More to come.
Olga--The data on Greece was (as you can imagine) devastating. 96% negative and the survey has a sampling error of 3.5-4%. Perhaps the only comfort there is that the numbers back up what everyone is feeling.
r.
:-) / r
And the idea is spot on.
Another is buying the sales and promotion. I'm hiring an old friend who does book promotions for my jobs book. And am working with a "distributor" (sales force) to sell the book to retailers and of course amazon.
Part of it is of course the massive effort to remove the writer from the profit chain. But that's not all of it. There is also the fact that there is SO much out there, that if you don't draw attention to whatever you got and you wait for people to come---they don't!
Another thought is fashioning the talents you do have towards a sales goal. "Now Discover Your Sales Strengths" presents a way to do that.
Say you have an analytical talent, the book goes into how you can use that in a sales situation without commoditizing yourself.
Frank--How does somebody NOY buy a book with that title!
You and I have communicated on this issue in the past, and I agree with the comment that if you are over 50 in the U.S. you will be passed over for a younger applicant, particularly if the job offers benefits (older workers cost more).
I have written posts on moving over-seas, but I want to offer a few caveats here as I prepare to come back to the U.S., and yes I did end up getting a teaching job back in my home city, but only because of my recent ESL experience here (they have a ton of Asian students who need basic English improvement).
One, wages are going down all over Asia. The reason I never worked in Thailand (my #1 choice) is wages. The cost of living is low, but it would be difficult to save money, but there are many teaching jobs available if you have no debts to pay back in the U.S.
The second warning I need to leave is there is also a change in how Americans are viewed overseas. Over the last four years, since our economy tanked, many many Americans have come abroad, and many have not behaved themselves, have not followed the laws and attempted to live here illegally. Then we have the "Yellow Fever" dudes who come just to troll for women.
China has cracked down on visas. Starting in 2013 they now require your college transcript be translated into Chinese so they can verify you really have the degree you claim on your resume (before they just wanted a copy of your diploma which can easily be photoshopped). When you want to renew your work visa, you must now show receipts for your rent and utilities to prove you are living independently, and are registered with the police at that address (and not living with a Chinese woman where you pay the rent).
They know exactly where every foreigner is in China, and they have the capacity to reach you in 24 hours if they need to.
So, for those who decide to come, play by the rules or expect to be kicked out. Once kicked out, there is no coming back.
Jeff---I'd go with the "not willing to pay for it" as being the bigger part. And absolutely yes, finding the need and filling it is problematic. Which is really what the book is about.
Stim--I was wondering that myself! As to the workers--its been gradual but it is, in my opinion. getting out of control.
Paul Haider, Chicago