2 posts tagged “economy”
Applied at a temp agency in SF today. I really need some work/money and most everything I have pursued has fallen flat. Along with money that I need for my upcoming business venture in Portland, I need some structure! Given recent events and the fact that I only work 2 nights a week this lack of structure kinda drives me nuts, although when I get back to working 60 hour work weeks I'm going to wonder why the hell I ever thought I needed "structure".
Usually when I contact temp agencies they take one look at my resume, which mainly consists of jobs I have had in the creative field and say "Thanks, but no thanks. We don't have many creative clients." I kinda have to get aggressive and explain to them that many of my skills transfer, I can in fact use a computer, Windows, Microsoft Office and I'm fucking awesome at Powerpoint and most importantly, I won't put white-out on the screen. I usually tell them that I am moving away from the creative industry (come to think of it, I was rarely being creative at those jobs - ever)
Being aggressive worked and they allowed me to come in for an interview. Luckily, the computer that I used to take a skills test froze before I got to the typing section, so I was able to lie and say that I type a BLAZING 55 wpm. I also mentioned that I wasn't "Greenspan" when it came to excel. I had a jovial conversation with the recruiter and I said that I was willing to take anything - as long as it does not involve me dancing on a platform in my undies - or "teabagging". ("But they'll pay ya' 11 dollars just to touch your chest!)
The only thing I am worried about is that my ex works for the same company. She mentioned good things about them, and I definitely trust her opinion so why not? Hell, they were the only people that gave me a chance. I just felt odd going to the same place, as if I am encroaching upon her personal space. I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable. Sometime this week I will have to write her just for the sake of full disclosure. I don't want her getting angry with me. However, I doubt that we will see each other and I highly doubt that we would ever be assigned to the same office. If this did happen though, It could easily become a good pitch to NBC and possibly be a hit comedy.
ps If anyone knows of an ok job in sf that pays at least 15 an hr give me a pm or email - thanks
Illegal immigration declines as U.S. economy falters
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 2, 10:57 AM ET
WASHINGTON - Illegal immigration, which has sparked political and social turmoil in communities across the nation, is on the wane, according to an independent report released Thursday.
The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has slowed significantly the past few years, falling below the number of those entering the country legally, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center, a Washington think tank.
The report estimates there were 11.9 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. as of March. That would be a decline of 500,000 from the center's estimate a year ago. However, the change was not statistically significant because of the large margins of error.
The Pew study does not address why the decrease occurred, but other researchers cite the nation's struggling economy and stepped up enforcement of immigration laws.
"The decline in job prospects in construction, service and other low-skilled jobs are communicated through extended networks of would-be movers from Mexico and Latin America," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, another Washington think tank. "It also may propel more return migration."
Census data released last month showed that overall immigration slowed dramatically in 2007, though the Census Bureau does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.
Illegal immigrants are notoriously difficult to count. Many researchers, including the federal government, estimate there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.
That's a big increase from the start of the decade, when the Pew Hispanic Center estimated there were about 8.5 million.
From 2000 to 2004, about 800,000 illegal immigrants a year entered the U.S., the Pew report estimates. Since then, the average has dropped to about 500,000 a year.
A decade ago, the number of newly arrived illegal immigrants began to outnumber those legally entering the country, said the report, written by the Pew Hispanic Center's senior demographer, Jeffrey Passel, and senior writer, D'Vera Cohn.
"The reverse now appears to be true," the report said.
Illegal immigrants make up about 30 percent of all immigrants, according to the report. About four in five come from Latin America, with most coming from Mexico.
Congress has passed several measures designed to increase border enforcement, and the Bush administration has stepped up raids on businesses. Some local communities have also passed ordinances to address the issue.
Congress, however, has failed to pass a comprehensive package addressing illegal immigration, despite several attempts.
Illegal immigration has not been a big issue in this year's presidential election in part because both of the major parties' nominees, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, support comprehensive immigration packages that include increased enforcement and an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants.
