Week 14 Post 1

Part of Chapter 22 discussed employment.  One section discussed how often and why people change jobs. The frequency of job changes has increased due to the decreased hiring and increased firing.  According to Berger, the average worker in the United States between 25 and 42 years old has had five different employers.  Job changes may be involuntary due to a company's decision to downsize, elimination of positions, relocations, outsource work, and cancel contracts.  Job changes may also be voluntary and stem from a worker's ambition or restlessness.  Although these changes in jobs occur more frequently in adults between the ages of 25 to 42, older workers also have to deal with job changes and these changers are more difficult for three reasons.  One reason job changers are more difficult is because older workers normally have seniority, respect and expertise, which they will lose once they leave their job.  Skills that are required for many new jobs were never taught to the older worker therefore it is more difficult to find another job.  A third reason finding another job is difficult is because older people are not willing to relocate for a job since they have already established a sense of home where they are at.  I found this section of job changes interesting because it is an issue in the United States right now.  I know a number of people who have been fired for a number of different reasons or voluntarily chose to quit.  It is difficult to find a job these days so people should not be voluntarily quitting unless they have another job lined up.