When Will Obama Sound the Alarm About Jobs?

This disconnect between GDP growth and jobs is the economic issue of our time. Some of the jobs have been off-shored. Much of the slow job growth is due to companies’ refusal to hire new workers because demand is so uncertain (not due to increased regulations). New technologies have a part to play. But it is hard to escape the fact that increasingly, corporations are in a battle with workers to minimize labor costs. Productivity growth is now the result of “efficiencies,” not innovation. “Efficiencies” is now a euphemism for disregard — and sometimes contempt — for workers.

Stock prices went up rapidly in this expansion along with profits. Maybe that’s what makes Washington complacent on the jobs issue and turns its focus to budget balancing. As for the press, big finance also dominates their thinking. Now stock prices have been falling. This may prove the only wake-up call Washington can’t ignore.