Jobs that need doing 4

A whole lot of folks need jobs today in the U.S. of A.  (At least three times a month, I help someone write a cover letter or upgrade their resume who was referred to me by a friend I’d helped before.  I also forward job openings to lots of friends and colleagues. So work and jobs are often on my mind.)

Teens, young adults, college grads, career changers, parents, mid-career workers, retirees, returning veterans, the formerly incarcerated, the down-sized and the down-and-out who are now lifting-up and about – all of these people need and want jobs.

There used to be demands for full-employment.  I haven’t heard this phrase used or philosophy espoused in some time.

This makes no sense to me because there are certainly jobs that need doing and positions that need to be created or reopened.  Some jobs I see that need doing include:

• Bus monitors for all school buses. (I was a bus monitor once and I maintained order and gave the kids warmth and affection on our journey to and from school.)
• Sidewalk trash cleaners (this would be especially useful post-election season when signs linger for weeks and even months)
• Municipal composting workers (collecting from homes, restaurants, etc. to keep food debris out of our landfills)
• Municipal oil collectors (from homes, restaurants, etc.,  to provide energy & keep cooking oil out of landfills and water supplies)
• Childcare workers (so that quality childcare is available for all working families)
• Traffic officers (to enforce traffic rules – an untapped source of revenue in Boston)
• Academic tutors (at all schools)
• Home Economics and Financial Instructors (at all middle and high schools)
• Technology and new media corps to offer free/low cost training to all
• Weatherization crews to provide reasonable weatherization for all homes
• Neighborhood fitness coaches and leaders (for public walking, taichi, zumba, yoga, etc., offered at neighborhood parks, community centers, T stations and other places where people gather)
• Playground attendees
• Green energy job corps
• Senior Citizen well-being corps
• Workers at neighborhood-based gardens

How about hiring back the people laid off during the recession-depression whose positions are still needed but not being filled?

How about having the full cohort of inspectors needed in our food, housing and other licensing and permitting departments?

How about bringing back the cashiers whose jobs were eliminated by the self-cashing machines?

How about having personnel at every MBTA Station to answer the questions and show people how to work the machines (often broken) instead of relying on the largess of other citizens (who may or may not have time)?

How about 24/7 transit service?

How about continuous repair and upgrade of walkways, roads, and bridges?

How about bringing back record stores and record store clerks? (I’m told that vinyl is making resurgence!)

It’s only the limits of my thinking that keeps this list from being more expansive.  If you have other jobs you see that need doing, please share.

We don’t need to be a nation of idle hands or lazy minds.  We don’t need to be a nation of people who despair and withdraw because they have little hope for the future. People who are able to earn honest and decent livings contribute more to society than those who don’t.

Full employment is achievable.  Can I get a witness?

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Related:

Definition of Full Employment

Will We Ever Get to Full Employment (PBS – News Hour)

Book: Work’s New Age: The End of Full Employment and What It Means to You – James B. Huntington,Royal Flush Press