US job losses are double expected figure

[krazykoukides 3]

The army is hiring.

I will never join any military branch unless they reinstate the draft.

... my wife could be here in the USA with me within 3-5 months. I'm not gonna go off to Afghanistan when she's gonna be here. I wouldn't mess that up for the world.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Now It's Armenia: USAID Funds IT In Eurasia

After pledging millions to bolster outsourcing in South Asia, federal agency extends largesse to a new recipient.

By Paul McDougall

InformationWeek

August 5, 2010 03:09 PM

Even as controversy mounts over its funding of IT outsourcers in South Asia, the U.S. Agency for International Development has announced a program under which it will partner with the government of Armenia—a nation anxious to lure computer work from American shores--to promote the development of the country's information technology industry.

Jonathan Hale, USAID deputy assistant administrator for Europe & Eurasia, is on a four-day trip to Armenia to meet with government and private industry leaders in the country. On his agenda is a meeting with Armenian economic minister Nerses Yeritsyan.

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Mike Feinberg at EMC and Steven Caniano at AT&T discuss EMC Atmos onLine, which EMC announced at EMC World 2009. AT&T also announced a new storage service based on Atmos at the show as well. "We look forward to partnering with USAID on the IT sector, which has great potential as Armenia has an advantage in this sector," Yeritsyan said in a statement released by USAID. "We want companies to come to Armenia and create their innovative environments," Yeritsyan said.

Among other things, Armenia is looking to establish itself as a center for low-cost IT and engineering work outsourced from the U.S. and other Western countries.

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USAID, a taxpayer-funded federal agency, did not disclose how much it's contributing to Armenia's efforts to become a global IT competitor. Among the U.S. companies participating in the project is Oracle's Sun Microsystems unit.

Word of USAID's mission to Armenia comes a day after InformationWeek disclosed that the agency is contributing millions of dollars to an effort that aims to help Sri Lanka establish itself as a player on the international outsourcing stage.

Under director Rajiv Shah, whom President Obama appointed to run the agency in January, USAID will partner with private outsourcers in Sri Lanka to teach workers there advanced IT skills like Enterprise Java (Java EE) programming, as well as skills in business process outsourcing and call center support.

USAID will also help the trainees brush up on their English language proficiency. USAID is contributing about $10 million directly to the $36 million project.

USAID's efforts to help build up IT and outsourcing industries in Europe and Asia would seem to run counter to Obama's public pledges to keep more hi-tech jobs in the U.S., where unemployment in the technology industry continues to run high.

"This action is contradictory to Obama’s commitment to create jobs and revitalize the American economy," said Rennie Sawade, a spokesperson for WashTech, a Communications Workers of America affiliate that represents IT professionals. "Any taxpayer money that is appropriated to train workers to take American jobs should, without question, be directed toward the unemployed and the underemployed in this country," said Sawade.

USAID officials did not respond to requests for comment.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Private sector is adding jobs, government is shedding jobs. That's not a bad thing. Sure we need multiples of the jobs created in the private sector and that will eventually kick in. A bit concerned with the timing, though, since every company I have ever worked for usually tightens up or even freezes hiring during the 4th quarter. And that happens even in the best of times. We'll see.

[slim 1,519]

I will never join any military branch unless they reinstate the draft.

... my wife could be here in the USA with me within 3-5 months. I'm not gonna go off to Afghanistan when she's gonna be here. I wouldn't mess that up for the world.

3-5 months would be just right. You could finsish basic and AIT and be all settled in by the time she gets here.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Private sector is adding jobs, government is shedding jobs. That's not a bad thing. Sure we need multiples of the jobs created in the private sector and that will eventually kick in. A bit concerned with the timing, though, since every company I have ever worked for usually tightens up or even freezes hiring during the 4th quarter. And that happens even in the best of times. We'll see.

Yep. What is keeping business on the sidelines is an inability to plan into even the next quarter. Typical 3rd quarter strategy for my sector in to end up with enough money to make it to the 2nd quarter in the following year. So, money stays in the bank, instead of being invested. Other sectors have different timelines, so until some certainty is restored to the economy, the cash is in cold storage, and investments are on hold.

Best thing the President and Congress could do is nothing for the next couple of years. Gridlock would save the economy.

[slim 1,519]

Best thing the President and Congress could do is nothing for the next couple of years. Gridlock would save the economy.

Instead, they're going to raise taxes.

[DEDixon 39]

I am vaguely surprised that you guys have enough money to invest. We're living day to day and my husband is an engineer. :/

i'm a saver. my focus for nearly as long as i can remember was to retire early. we are waiting for my wife to gain citizenship before i retire. i work in tech so my salary isn't small though i haven't ever bought but 1 new car in my life (the car i have now is 11 years old), i don't have a cell phone, i don't have pretty furniture, i'm not materialistic so i don't collect #######, i'm handy around the house so that helps too, and i know my wants from my needs.

and i didn't have kids either, but that decision wasn't expense related, it was because i think the world is a s%it hole and so i'd feel guilty bringing any one into it.

[DEDixon 39]

I will never join any military branch unless they reinstate the draft.

... my wife could be here in the USA with me within 3-5 months. I'm not gonna go off to Afghanistan when she's gonna be here. I wouldn't mess that up for the world.

the air force isn't a bad job.... it is the miliary's gravy train.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

the air force isn't a bad job.... it is the miliary's gravy train.

It's true. The AF treats their EM's better than the Army treats field grade officers.