Today we wanted to follow up on yesterday's post dealing with outsourcing and jobs/careers that are virtually 100% outsource-proof...
Technology at times can be a real bitch...
The greater the advancements in bringing the world together socially, the greater the competition ultimately for jobs and career paths that seemed quite safe merely 15-20 years ago.
For instance, back in the mid to late 1990's, the big push was learning IT (Information Technology) and that was going to guarantee a career that paid in the upper-five to six figure range.
Problem was we as Americans weren't the only ones studying the new field-- many intelligent people in Europe and South America and Asia were doing the same thing.
And because some of them were quite happy to get the equivalent of $24/hr wages, it meant that the fantasy of earning a guaranteed $35-50/hr in this field went virtually 'Poof!'
The jobs or careers that are most secure from outsourcing and foreign competition are the ones that require a physical immediacy.
In other words, the tasks completed are things that the customer can not patiently wait to have completed-- like a very bad toothache or a busted water pipe in the home or a newly constructed home that needs electricity sources installed.
In the case of a Dentist, that requires advanced education beyond a Bachelors' Degree..
In all sincerity, if you are attending college and thinking a 4 year degree will provide you the employment you seek, be mentally and financially prepared to continue with your studies another 2-5 years beyond...
And unfortunately a Doctorate in English is as worthless as a Bachelors' unless your goal is teaching, so one still needs to pick their major intelligently...
But we digressed a little..
The professions that require physical immediacy will rarely if ever be outsourced...
Here are more jobs/careers that can not be outsourced (a couple of them mentioned yesterday as an aside so we'll repeat here)
1) Trash Pickup/Disposal
2) Painter (House/Building)
3) Tree Removal services
4) Hair cutter/stylist
5) Manicurist/Pedicurist
6) Physical Therapist
7) Tow Truck operator
8) Lab Technician
9) Nursing
10) School Bus Driver
And as we said yesterday, there's many other professions like this but notice once again, these are hands on professions that require a physical immediacy.
One can't outsource a person in France or the Philippines to style one's hair or pick children up every morning and take them to school.
It is the careers that require intellect and lack immediacy which are readily outsourced.
What is the difference to a company if an American architect vs a Chinese born one is used to draw up plans for a new building as long as there's the same access to communication i.e. phone, email, etc to go over concerns?
What is the difference between an engineer in the US and in India?
Is a geologist who lives in Sweden not just as capable of seeking out new sources of drilling for oil than one educated here?
That's the world we live in today...
There is a reason in spite of all the technological advancements, we as a nation are more dumbed down than ever before and its little to do with the education we receive K-12.
Its basically lack of economic and social motivation.
Let's take History, which was one of the 10 majors a list composed by Yahoo! said to avoid....
It is actually a very important and necessary field of study.. Problem is, most don't respect or value history-- they see it as a hobby akin to perhaps stamp collecting.
And because people don't respect or value either history or those who are passionate about it, employers do not respect it...
And that means unless you're teaching, there's very few paths open to a History major where she or he can actually use the knowledge and information they've acquired.
So what's the motivation of most to sit down and truly delve into the topic and seek out a career in this field outside of true passion and love? The pay is going to be average at best, its going to be a struggle finding employers to see the usefulness of the degree and one is open to a lifetime of career insecurity.
Yet people in their deep simplicity value and respect a man dunking a ball in a hoop or actress crying on cue more than an academic. Thus everyone dreams of being an athlete or Hollywood star, and few aspire to really be intelligent.
We as a society don't respect the mind, particularly others' minds because we all think we're gifted and brilliant when that is not the case.
We instead respect the person who can lift 300lbs or play the 10min guitar solo because most of us know we can't.. Yet quite a lot 'think' they can be Einstein if they just study hard
Thus, the career paths that require true intelligence, analytical ability, deductive reasoning and other advanced cognitive skills-- Employers simply play one nation off another to find the cheapest worker as if these qualities were common commodities...
And thus you have over time a continual erosion of people motivated to expand their intellect beyond what is necessary to get a particular job...
When our founding fathers attended College, they learned Advanced Mathematics, Physical Science, Philosophy, Greek, Latin, Theology, History...
Do you think Jefferson could have designed his home Monticello, much less write the Declaration of Independence if he attended a 4-year university today?
If/when professions of intellect are paid what their worth and given a form of job security from outsourcing, then you will see a nation once again respect and seek out knowledge in the way they seek out entertainment..
Realistically though, to survive in the modern world, you have to have skills that translate to physical immediacy...
And If/When Star Trek-like teleporters are ever available for everyday use and one can TP to Korea or Kenya for a manicure or bikini wax, then all bets are off