Barr McClellan, a bestselling author, has written a new book, entitled "Made in the USA". The book describes how the lack of American manufacturing proceded the mortgage crisis and how he sees a strong American manufacturing base at vital to America's economic recovery. McClellan predicts that America can make a quick recovery if consumers make the commitment to buy products that are made in the USA. This will keep money in local economies, which supports local jobs,local mortgage values and ultimately the entire economy.

McClellan's release will be hitting shelves on April 7th. I'll be sure to check it out.

-Jess 

Surprisingly enough (well at least in my mind), Utah is expected to be one of the states to be benefitting the most from the creation of new jobs under Obama's stimulus package. The Beehive State is expected to rack up about 32,000 new jobs out of the 3.5 million the stimulus package is aiming to create.

Utah is also going to get lots of the money going towards education, making sure that teachers won't lose jobs, schools will be renovated, and Head Start programs will be enhanced. 

Good news for Utah. Hopefully other states will be benefitting this greatly as well! 

-Jess 

We all know America is not the best place to be unemployed right now, but are there jobs other places in the world? Actually, yes. In fact, India is proving to be full of jobs right now for skilled workers. Last year, The National Foreign Trade Council found that India replaced Germany as one of the top four countries where multinationals planned to move employees.  India is in need of well trained workers, as opposed to entry level workers, which there are plenty of there. Though these jobs may pay less than their American couterparts, the cost of living is much lower in India, allowing many foreigners who move there to have luxuries such as housekeepers.

Might be a good place to go looking, if things don't get better around here!

-Jess 

Texas has come under fire recently for one of the state's peanut plants being found out as the source of the national salmonella scare. As a result, Texas law makers are looking for state funding of additional state food inspectors. The Department of State Health Services is asking for funding for an additional 133 staffers to be added in the next two years, bringing the Department's total 1,047 employees. These employees are responsible for licensing and regulating everything from hospitals and food manufacturers to massage therapists...so not just the peanut plants of the state.

So how big is the job of a Texas food inspector? Well there are 17,000 food manufacturers that just 46 sanitarians (ie food inspectors) are supposed to inspect, in addition to the almost 3600 wholesalers and other food operations that these sanitarians must monitor as well. This makes each inspector in charge of monitoring and inspecting over 600 facilities. That's kinda a big job.

Would these new inspectors stop salmonella from contaminating our food supply once again? Considering that the Plainview, Texas plant where the salmonella was traced to, had operated since March 2005 without obtaining a state license or being inspected, I would say yes!

Texas lawmakers, say yes to more inspectors! You will be creating more jobs and safer food for Americans! 

-Jess