It may be down, but don’t count manufacturing out.
The Associated Press reports the U.S. still leads the world in manufacturing, in terms of the value of goods sold. In 2007, the U.S. produced a record $1.6 trillion in manufactured goods — mainly heavy manufacturing such as aircrafts, weapons, cars and other vehicles.
Lighter manufacturing is being shifted to cheaper production markets overseas.
However, about 8 percent of the U.S. workforce is still employed in manufacturing. Economists expect U.S. manufacturers to emerge from this recession more productive and efficient, The AP reports.
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The New York Times writes that white-collar jobs are evaporating in Detroit nearly as fast as blue-collar. The bad news for designers, engineers and mid-level executives is that the housing market is defunct.
Upper-middle-class, suburban families are living on unemployment and weighing the merits of selling their houses at 60 percent of their purchase price, The Times reports. With each round of buyouts and layoffs, foreclosure rates are climbing.
“I know it’s not great everywhere, but this is probably the worst place to find a job,” said Doug Zupan, a designer who …

Thomas Friedman recently mused in his New York Times column that immigration might be a cure for the ailing economy. Given the chance, immigrants from developing countries will buy foreclosed homes, start businesses and help turn the country around, he says.
It’s an interesting proposition. Though it runs counter to the popular notion that immigrants create additional competition for jobs, there is ample evidence that immigration can be economically stimulating. More labor = more resources for production = greater wealth, that is assuming low unemployment rates (obviously a difficult assumption to make …

Awww

A beaver has been spotted in the Detroit River for the first time in 75 years or more, signaling to ecologists that efforts to rehabilitate the river have been successful.
The semi-aquatic rodent has taken up residence in an intake canal at a Detroit Edison plant within city limits, The Free Press reports. A plant employee first noticed signs of the beaver last year. In November, a motion-sensitive camera captured the proof. The story was not made public until last week because of concerns about the beaver’s safety.
Experts say beavers aren’t the …

Awww

A beaver has been spotted in the Detroit River for the first time in 75 years or more, signaling to ecologists that efforts to rehabilitate the river have been successful.
The semi-aquatic rodent has taken up residence in an intake canal at a Detroit Edison plant within city limits, The Free Press reports. A plant employee first noticed signs of the beaver last year. In November, a motion-sensitive camera captured the proof. The story was not made public until last week because of concerns about the beaver’s safety.
Experts say beavers aren’t the …