China gains as U.S. loses jobs
The U.S. lost 1.5 million jobs to China between 1989 and 2003, the labor-backed Economic Policy Institute said in a report released this month.

"Most of those lost opportunities were in the high-wage and job-hemorrhaging manufacturing sector," the EPI said. "The number of job opportunities lost each year grew rapidly during the 1990s, and accelerated after China entered the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001."

The study said where the largest impact for job losses was once felt in labor-intensive, lower-tech manufacturing industries such as apparel and shoes, the fastest growth in job displacement is now occurring in highly skilled and advanced technology areas once considered relatively immune, such as electronics, computers, and communications equipment.

The EPI said the loss of job-supporting production due to growing trade deficits with China has more than doubled since it entered the WTO in 2001. The 1.5 million job opportunities lost are distributed among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the biggest losers, in numeric terms, being California (-81,800), Texas (-36,700), New York (-35,200), Pennsylvania (-26,700), Illinois (-25,700), North Carolina (-24,400), Florida (-22,900), Ohio (-21,200), Michigan (-19,800), and Massachusetts (-18,700).

The report also said that China's exports to the United States of electronics, computers, and communications equipment, along with other products that use more highly skilled labor and advanced technologies, are growing much faster than its exports of low-value, labor-intensive items such as apparel, shoes, and plastic products.

In addition, China is also rapidly gaining advantage in more advanced industries such as autos and aerospace products.

"The assumptions we built our trade relationship with China on have proved to be a house of cards," said EPI senior international trade economist Robert Scott. "Everyone knew we would lose jobs in labor-intensive industries like textiles and apparel, but we thought we could hold our own in the capital-intensive, high-tech arena."

Alliance set for MIOSHA, Mi-AGC
MIOSHA and the Michigan Chapter Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America last month announced the renewal of a strategic alliance to protect the health and safety of Michigan's construction workers.

The key goals of this alliance include: promoting enhanced awareness of worker safety and health to AGC members; promote worker safety through education and training opportunities at job sites; promoting increased implementation of accident prevention programs at members' sites; and promoting regular and unscheduled CET safety and health hazard surveys.

While participation by individual employers is voluntary, MIOSHA anticipates that contractors, who embrace the goals of the partnership and who strive to provide a safe and healthy workplace, will experience a decrease in workplace accidents and illnesses, and a decrease in workers' compensation costs.

"By combining our resources, Michigan AGC and MIOSHA can have a significant impact on safety and health prevention efforts at construction worksites," said MIOSHA Director Kalinowski. "This strategic alliance will give Michigan AGC's contractors the necessary tools to protect their workers and commit to safe and healthy work practices."