It should be noted that unemployment “stabilized” in November and if the trend continues, we should see the rebound starting to take place.
Lawrence H. Summers, President Obama’s top economic advisor, predicted on Sunday that by the spring the ranks of working Americans will start to grow once again.
via Summers Predicts Job Growth by Spring - NYTimes.com.
Jobs should continue to be lost, but at fewer rates, and at some point, the “leaner” firms will have to refill the spots that they lost due to the shrinking economy. When that happens, as simple logic tells us, job growth will hit the “zero point” and be positive thereafter.
It may not be much consolation for those who have lost their jobs, or those that have not been able to find work after graduation or being unemployed, but the economic situation has forced forward thinking firms to focus on sustained competitive advantage and ensuring costs are in line with their offerings. Peter Drucker would have recommended firms focus on innovation and investment in the future within these “uncertain times,” and those that have, will be poised for growth and ultimately the creation of jobs.
I would expect, as might seem like common sense, to see larger more innovative firms already starting to hire, and more staid industry leaders to follow suit when economic indicators are more favorable.
And this should come as welcome news to many.
In a survey released in September 2008 by KPMG, the audit, tax and advisory firm, two-thirds of those polled said that green technology investment is sustainable. Almost all said they expected venture capital for start-ups producing these technologies to continue to increase in 2009. Half predicted an increase of 20 percent or more over 2008 levels. [via NYTimes]
I wonder what the current statistics look like for the first half of 2009? I have a feeling they were very close. Green is not only trendy right now, but it’s the way of the future. Green is sustainable, and makes good business sense. Message to firms out there: get in before you’re toast.
IBM has brought Cisco Systems and a host of the world’s biggest energy services companies into partnership with its flagship energy efficiency and carbon reduction consulting service, Greentech Media reports.
Last year, IBM launched a consulting practice, called “Green Sigma,” based on taking sensor data and analysis software and applying them toward reducing an enterprise’s overall carbon footprint and energy and water use.
On Tuesday, it announced an industry partnership that pretty much brings every major energy services company out there – as well as new energy efficiency entrant Cisco Systems – into the fold.
The coalition’s charter members – Johnson Controls, Honeywell, ABB, Eaton, ESS, Siemens and Schneider Electric, along with Cisco – plan to make their equipment and services work with IBM’s Green Sigma offering, which is aimed at using sensors and controls to fine-tune corporate energy use.
This really shows IBM’s commitment to the green business strategy, and I’m glad to see a major corporation is leading the way in building a better future. For one, I think it is incredibly smart business sense, and two, I believe it will make a difference for our planet. Corporations should be better global citizens, if not for any other reason, than it will help maintain their viability in our changing economy.
