The American Labor Force Chapter 12 Section 1 Americans at Work

Civilian Labor Force Civilian Work Force: Total number of people 16 years or older who are employed or actively seeking work. Civilian Work Force: Total number of people 16 years or older who are employed or actively seeking work. Groups not included: * Disabled * Disabled * Armed Forces * Armed Forces * Prisons/Institutions * Prisons/Institutions * Full-Time Students * Full-Time Students * Homemakers * Homemakers * Others not seeking work * Others not seeking work

Categories of Workers Blue-Collar: Crafts, manufacturing, and non-farm labor Blue-Collar: Crafts, manufacturing, and non-farm labor White-Collar: Offices, sales, or professional positions White-Collar: Offices, sales, or professional positions Service Workers: Those who provide direct services to individuals. Ex. cooks, health- care aides, barbers, etc. Service Workers: Those who provide direct services to individuals. Ex. cooks, health- care aides, barbers, etc.

Jobs by Skill Level Unskilled Workers: Jobs that require no specialized training. Ex. Custodians, waiters, etc. Unskilled Workers: Jobs that require no specialized training. Ex. Custodians, waiters, etc. Semi-skilled Workers: Jobs that require some training often using technology. Ex. nurse’s aide, receptionist, etc. Semi-skilled Workers: Jobs that require some training often using technology. Ex. nurse’s aide, receptionist, etc. Skilled Workers: Someone who has learned a trade or craft through a vocational school or apprenticeship. Ex. Police officer, mason, carpenter, etc. Skilled Workers: Someone who has learned a trade or craft through a vocational school or apprenticeship. Ex. Police officer, mason, carpenter, etc. Professionals: Have college degrees or higher education. Ex. accountants, teachers, architects, pharmacists, etc. Professionals: Have college degrees or higher education. Ex. accountants, teachers, architects, pharmacists, etc.

The Labor Market: Supply & Demand Skill: The demand for high skilled workers is high but the supply is low: Ex. Professional sports, brain surgeons, etc. Skill: The demand for high skilled workers is high but the supply is low: Ex. Professional sports, brain surgeons, etc. Initiative: The demand for productive workers is always higher and the supply becomes lower as levels rise. Initiative: The demand for productive workers is always higher and the supply becomes lower as levels rise. Type of Job: Danger level of job increases wages (ex. coal miner). While workers for jobs like filmmaking and publishing are in higher supply than demand Type of Job: Danger level of job increases wages (ex. coal miner). While workers for jobs like filmmaking and publishing are in higher supply than demand Location: Attraction of area can raise or lower wages. Ex. Alaska vs. Florida Location: Attraction of area can raise or lower wages. Ex. Alaska vs. Florida

Minimum Wage Minimum Wage: Wage set by Federal or state law which sets the lowest hourly wage that may be paid to certain types of workers. Minimum Wage: Wage set by Federal or state law which sets the lowest hourly wage that may be paid to certain types of workers. While the minimum wage is intended to raise living standards, it also tends to cause unemployment. While the minimum wage is intended to raise living standards, it also tends to cause unemployment.

Group Exercise In your groups, discuss and write down your top 5 job career choices. In your groups, discuss and write down your top 5 job career choices. For each one, indicate whether they are White Collar, Blue Collar, or Service Oriented For each one, indicate whether they are White Collar, Blue Collar, or Service Oriented Next, Indicate if they are unskilled, semi- skilled, skilled, or professional Next, Indicate if they are unskilled, semi- skilled, skilled, or professional Would you have to relocate to make a living doing this work. Why or why not? Would you have to relocate to make a living doing this work. Why or why not?