The Economy by the Numbers

FoxNews via the Associated Press reported Nov. 5th, 2010, that October was the 10th straight month of employment gains in the US and the highest gains in employment payrolls of 159,000 (151,000 after factoring government job losses). While this number is important, the other numbers tell another story.

Unemployment remains over 9%, approximately 14.8 million Americans are still unemployed, many more who have given up reporting for unemployment, and many more Americans struggling to pay bills. Companies today have a primed and ready workforce at their disposal if they are willing to open their doors.

The concept of triage is to treat the most severe, life-threatening injuries first and then methodically treat the less severe injuries from top to bottom. Many business owners I have spoken with say they need more workers, especially those who will remain long-term employees and effective partners in their mission. Unfortunately, the economic struggles have resulted in fear and uncertainty for many business owners. This has resulted in tightening the payroll and cutting off potential long-term employees. They literally let opportunity die rather than addressing opportunity as a chance to bring life to the company.

Companies who wish to survive the tough times must plan for the good times. Hypothetically speaking, if 1 millions companies opened only 1 new well-paying, long-term job, there would be 1 million new employees who could add back to the economy. These people are consumers, business partners, and end-users. Compound this by 1 million companies offering 15 new jobs. The jobless rate would be near not existent, and the economy would be infused.

As our economy limps along, it is the challenge for all businesses to find ways to add even one long-term employment opportunity. Each opportunity helps the very economy that we all wade through. Sow into your business' future and into the economy in which you conduct business. A small investment (sacrifice) now, often reaps many-fold rewards (blessing) in the future.