Jobs are the lifeblood for national economies and family budgets. The search for economic opportunity often drives people to move around the globe. The most educated and highly skilled workers are in demand, and immigration policies often reflect that priority. Less skilled would-be immigrants, however, are often subject to tighter restrictions – even in nations where native citizens refuse to take on harvesting, construction, cleaning or other difficult tasks. Advanced technology reduces the need for labor; employers also rely on outsourcing, contract workers and the internet for digital work, including tax preparation, X-ray analysis or graphic design. Nations fiercely compete for jobs while multinational corporations reduce labor costs to increase profits.

Global Outsourcing on Wane

The number of total outsourcing contracts increases, but the overall value of those contracts declines
Ashley Seager
October 24, 2006

Skills Gap Hurts Technology Boom in India

Demand exceeds supply when it comes to qualified engineering graduates trained in India
Somini Sengupta
October 23, 2006

As Jobs Leave America's Shores... The New Face of Class War

US abandonment of manufacturing jobs translates into a loss of engineering, science and innovation
Paul Craig Roberts
October 30, 2006

Africa’s World of Forced Labor, in a 6-Year-Old’s Eyes

Brutal poverty robs millions of their childhood
Sharon LaFraniere
November 2, 2006

Apple Finds No Forced Labor at iPod Factory in South China

Investigators do, however, discover violations of company’s code of conduct
John Markoff
August 19, 2006