Job Creation: Quantity v. Quality?

The U.S. Labor Department released its August jobs report on Friday. The news for American workers was worse than expected. The U.S. added zero jobs in August, making this one of the worst job reports since the Labor Department began keeping records in 1939.

Courtesy of Anya Quinn via Flickr Creative Commons

The report also showed that the number of involuntary part-time workers, people who’ve had their hours cut or who’ve been unable to find full-time positions, rose from 8.4 to 8.8 million people. NPR takes a look at the real-life impact of this trend in its yearlong series “The Road Back to Work.” All six of the St. Louis residents profiled in the series have found new jobs since being laid-off, but four of them are working in temporary or part-time positions.

In a well-written op-ed for the New York Times, M.I.T. economist Paul Osterman called Texas Governor Rick Perry to the carpet on the same issue. Perry touts his job creation record in Texas, but Osterman writes that despite an impressive growth rate, many of the jobs created are hourly pay, minimum wage positions. This leaves many employed Texans living paycheck to paycheck, barely able to pay their bills. It raises the question, when it comes to job creation, is any job a good job?

In the wake of this latest report, President Obama’s jobs plan is under more pressure than ever. Here are two informative takes on what he could or should include: What Should Be in Obama’s Jobs Plan? and  5 Ways Obama Can Boost Jobs.

Revised Headline: Unemployment and the New Jobs in Texas: Quantity vs. Quality?