Minha Beg
Mrs. Straub
AP Econ
1 May 2016
Spring is Here!
As the snow starts to melt, people are pulling out their sunglasses and flip flops to enjoy the warm weather that we all have been waiting for. But as the weather improves, what exactly does that mean for the employment rate in the U.S? Are people more interested in getting a job or just soaking in the sun? According to ABC News, people want go out and make money so they can spend it on other activities during the summertime. This bodes well for the US economy, because the economy benefits as more money changes hands. This means that with more people employed, people are able to spend more due to an increase in their disposable income.
Currently, our economy is still not at its peak. June 2014, marked the 5 year anniversary of the end of the Great Recession and our economy is only between one-third to half of what it used to be before the recession hit. Since the economy just got of this severe recession in June 2009, 11 million jobs were needed to bring back the unemployment rate (Johnson). Linked here is video that explains a bit more about how our economy was after the Great Recession.
Today were are in a much better spot, but still need to continue recovering to get back to the potential output. There are many businesses that have seasonal workers, so their labor demand increases during the warmer seasons. For example, Home Depot and Wal-Mart for their garden department, Six Flags, and Hershey Park. According to ABC News, in 2011 there were over 100,000 season jobs that were open. With Home Depot having 60,000 seasonal hires openings and Lowe’s having 50,000 hires. With all of these new seasonal hires, it is a good sign for the economy because with more employment, there will be a more robust economy. This allows for there to be stability in the economy because the economy is showing signs of growth and recovery. All of this leads to an increase in consumer spending and confidence, because they believe that their jobs are secure and they can spend a bit more than they did when the economy was shaky and going through the recession. All of these positive signs will feed forward and allow the economy to grow at a steady rate, increasing the U.S GDP overall and allowing us to recover from the recession that ended in 2009.
In the picture above, you can see ever since the Great Recession ended the unemployment rate has gradually been decreasing which is a good sign. As of 2015, the unemployment rate was at 5%, which the ideal rate so we are currently in a good position for unemployment; which will hopefully stay that way as more people get employed during these warmer months.
Works Cited
Fieldhouse, Andrew. "5 Years After the Great Recession, Our Economy Still Far from Recovered." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
Johnson, Tory, and Workplace Contributor. "Spring Fling: Season Brings Tens of Thousands of Temporary Jobs." ABC News. ABC News Network, 21 Feb. 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
TYTshows. "Is It Worse Now Than During The Great Recession?!" YouTube. YouTube, 23 Aug. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
"Unemployment in the United States." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Mar. 2016. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.
It's interesting and awesome that jobs can go up so much during the season's changing I never thought about the job oppertunities that open when the sun comes out like amusement parks and Zoos for instance. The great recession was one of the most devastating times in our country but it is amazing that we are now celebrating the 5th year out of those times, with our national poverty level at only 5%.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting and awesome that jobs can go up so much during the season's changing I never thought about the job oppertunities that open when the sun comes out like amusement parks and Zoos for instance. The great recession was one of the most devastating times in our country but it is amazing that we are now celebrating the 5th year out of those times, with our national poverty level at only 5%.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of seasonal employment is a good one to discuss this time of year. I know from personal experience that many jobs are created in the spring/summer. With school out, students are searching for a way to make some extra cash. Seasonal parks are a huge contributor to the rise in jobs, along with smaller opportunities through the Park and Rec dept., etc. One thing that would have added a new side to your argument is the effect of lost jobs due to the changing weather. You made it clear that there is an overall increase, but many winter jobs, especially those that rely on snow, are lost. How do individuals and companies compensate for this loss?
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a scary thought to think that the median household income could continue to decrease and the top 1% of people making income is continuing to receive all of the money from the recession recovery. I don't think that is fair that they are receiving so much while everyone else with lower incomes isn't. Perhaps after more people become employed for the summer months, the household income can increase to balance this out. I wonder if there is any other idea we can put into action to fix this unfair problem.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some people are more motivated around this time of year to get a job because they want money to spend for the summer but again some people specifically want off so they can enjoy everything the summer has to offer. Regardless, seasonal employment is a relevant issue right now and will be for the next few months. There are many places like public pools for example that offer strictly seasonal employment. Additionally, based on the graph you've provided, with the decreasing unemployment rate hopefully the economy can make a full recovery. I did hear however that another economic downfall is expected soon, which is normal according to the business cycle.
ReplyDeleteI thought your article was very relevant to today since it is spring and summer is approaching. The decision to work in the summer or enjoy it is a tough one. Personally, I choose to work a little bit in the summer and make some spending money. I am making a trade off by only working a little bit in instead of working full time and making more money. The jobs that I do are seasonal such as mowing the lawn, landscaping, and staining docks. I wonder how much less revenue businesses make in their off-seasons. I also wonder if they have a way to make up the difference in revenue in the off season by offering another product or service. If they can find a way to do this, I predict that the economy will improve greatly. Great article!
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting that the economy still has not peaked since the Great Recession 5 years ago. I also found it interesting that employment increases during the summer. However, this makes sense because may college students come home and look for work as well as many internships to gain experience. Also since the increase in employment is during the summer I would imagine that many people will take more vacation days. Overall I thought that this article was very interesting to see that more people are employed during the summer months.
ReplyDeleteThis article posed a very interesting idea; since summer is the time that people like to go on trips and spend money doing fun summer related activities, of course people will want to earn more money before that time comes. So, spring is the time that consumer's demand for money (and demand for a job) increase. However, during the summer, many employees will not want as many hours because they are going to want to be enjoying the nice whether. As well, parents will want to stay home with their kids when they get out of school. These are two very sudden and close together changes in the economy that I have never considered before. In all, I found this to be very interesting and eye- opening.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about how the seasons effect different job opportunities. After such a cold winter I feel as though many people are going to want to take the summer "off" and enjoy the nice warm weather. Parents are also going to want to stay home and watch their kids once they get out of school. The demand for jobs this summer will increase because they want money to go out and do things but they don't really want to be working. I thought your article was really interesting and the video you included was a good touch.
ReplyDelete-Kristie
I found this piece very interesting. I thought about myself in the summer, and preferably I would not work as much as spend time on the beach, but at the same time with college coming up, I plan on working often. I have a seasonal job like many teenagers and I am a nanny during the summer. Also when I am unemployed, I do not spend nearly as much money as when I am employed. Therefore, it is good for the economy to trade money from hands to hands.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how weather motivates individuals to get a job in spring to prepare for summer. I would argue that the unemployment rate isn't really affected though, considering that the demographics of jobs change from season to season regardless-- the consumerism of winter months with Christmas and other holidays, the outdoor activities of the summer-- so even though the jobs may shift in focus, I'd argue that the unemployment rate isn't really affected. Overall, nice use of information to prove your point, and enlightening your audience with a prevalent topic.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWas this a poll by ABC News suggesting that more people want to work more to spend more? Or was it based on statistics and increases of employment? I’m wondering if a flux in employment during the summer months could be due to students getting out of school, trying to earn and save as much as possible so that they don't have to work as much during the school year.
I don't know if I agree with you that the employment rates go up in the summertime. A lot of jobs are seasonal such as, teaching jobs. Summertime is also a time where people like to go on vacations and take vacation days. Personally, until I was 16 years old my mom worked from home and spend summer days with me and my brother and then she would work at night. I know a lot of stay at home parents work during the school year and then don't in the summertime so they can enjoy time with their kids. Though, it is completely arguable that the change in weather creates a change in the economy. People are buying gardening stuff from Stein's and whatnot. Each year on Mother's day my mom, dad, brother, and I go out to buy hanging flowers that my mom picks out and then we all help hang in our front yard so I know from personal experience that, that fact is very true. Great article.
ReplyDeleteI found this writing to be very interesting, seasonal unemployment is a very large issue, it is a good and bad situation however. During half the year many people will have a job, or find it easier to have a job, but as soon as the weather changes those people will lose their job and struggle to find work. So although during the good seasons such as spring the unemployment decreases, as soon as the weather changes and becomes cold many of the garden center workers and such find it hard to maintain or even have a job.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that more jobs are needed in the summer, but that makes sense. People want to go to parks, want to work on their lawn and/or go swimming. It is sad though because if you think about it, here in Wisconsin summer is so short compared to other places. And now that price of things are going up that, people aren't going to go out, which means that places are going to need less people to work.
ReplyDeletePeople who only work in the summer decrease frictional unemployment during their time of employment. One could agree this also increases long run aggregate supply which is similar to your prediction of GDP increases because of this increased employment. However, I think that this summer employment only effects the short run because eventually the shifts that occur will be cancelled out or reversed. Still, it is interesting how employment increases as the weather gets warmer! I did not know this and was very surprised by the data supporting your post.
ReplyDeleteI found this article interesting. I never realized how many seasonal jobs these stores hired. I wonder how stores like Steins Garden Center and Bartz's seasonal sales compare to the rest of the yearly sales? For instance, does Bartz's October sales equal the rest of the year combined? I know many teenagers who work just during the summer, so this article does make perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteThe part about the seasonal jobs is very interesting, and I can attest to that as well. I work at Walmart, and we are making a huge push for hiring people. Some for the Lawn and Garden department, but most are actually for other areas. Part of the reason for that is because over the summer, there are usually more people out and about, and more people are needed to run the place, to keep up with the demand of products, and services. So the seasonal jobs are for more than just the outdoor departments of the store.
ReplyDeleteI find this article interesting because I am someone who does do seasonal jobs. I find them both beneficial and also a drawback. I like them because they do increase GDP and my disposable income, but I do not like their temporariness. I think it would be interesting if you found out how much the unemployment rate increases once these seasonal job periods are over. I think this would not only have an effect on unemployment, but the economy as a whole as well. Overall, great post!
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this article I found it very interesting to learn about seasonal jobs. They have their benefits and drawbacks. When the jobs are in session they help increase the nations GDP, but when they aren't being accompanied they don't have a contribution. I would say thought that this only changes supply in the short-run because of the period of which summer jobs take up. Overall this is an interesting article to read.
ReplyDeleteI believe that seasonal jobs are accurately accounted for in the GDP; however, the arrival of summer, in my opinion, does not affect GDP that much because as some jobs are starting because of the warm weather, others are ending (for example snow plow jobs and ice skating rinks). It's interesting that part-time workers are counted as employed--especially the seasonal workers. I think that definitely understates the unemployment rate. Great job, Minha!
ReplyDeleteEconomically speaking, summer is the best time for growth, with all the new harvests to bring down food prices, and as you said, seasonal job opportunities. I find it interesting how just boosting the temperature above 50 can create so much stimulus to the economy. Even though my job isn't seasonal, my workplace is still much busier in the summertime and therefore we need to hire more workers and schedule longer hours. We are open later each night to accommodate for the extra people that come in for custard and burgers. Seasonal workers really aid in economic growth from the increase in employed people. Are teachers considered to be 'seasonal' workers since they have summer vacation as well?
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting to me. Before reading this, I did not realize how many seasonal jobs there were. It is crazy to think how many more jobs there are when the weather is nice. Although I really enjoyed your post, I feel it would have been useful to data relating to the ages of the people who have a seasonal job. I feel that there are more seasonal jobs for students, so it would have been interesting to actually see this. All in all, you posed a great thesis and I do believe that as the weather gets warmer, the unemployment rate goes down.
ReplyDeleteI agree that most seasonal jobs are in the spring. This is because the weather is optimal in spring. A lot of construction sites are not able to work because of snow/heat. There is also high demand during the spring for work. This is because there is a long period of poor weather where they have time to think about there new wants/luxuries. Also money in accumulated over the long period of time.
ReplyDeleteWithout even knowing it, I see myself searching for jobs the second spring rolls around. The warm weather reminds me of how much I want to do over the summer, which requires money and time. Since other people feel the same way, and can see the dip in their bank account like mine, the number of open jobs slowly closes up and makes it a bit more difficult to find a summer job. This however is different since there is a higher demand for jobs because of the amount of people who do more things in the spring and are more willing to purchase services.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that spring and summer brings seasonal work for those who unwishingly attribute to the high unemployment rate, but this seasonal work is only a temporary solution. Have there been any strides in these companies making those full time jobs? I feel as if these more temporary seasonal jobs are more for high school and college students, where as adults are striving towards full time jobs for family reasons and such. Maybe adding a chart to relate all of the data to age would help a little!
ReplyDelete