There has been much coverage over the past year on the health care debate. Most of the debate has been over the level of the government's role in providing accessible health care to Americans. The Obama administration has made health care reform a top priority, and this topic seems to have polarized Americans over just how the health care system should be overhauled. Should health care be mandated? Should the government provide an alternative to private health care coverage? Should benefits be extended to all residents, or only citizens? This is a complicated topic that includes many layers of delicate material and reaches many different industries, special interest groups, and populations.
Besides the obvious political implications, the decisions politicians make have, and will continue to have an effect on the job market now, and for years to come. One argument for universal government sponsored health care is that employers will have more options to provide health care benefits to employees. More options may mean lower costs to small to mid-size companies, that are currently getting hammered with rising costs. This also has implications on unemployment, and how quickly the job market improves. With so much uncertainty surrounding not only the economy, but the future of health care, there is a feeling that employers are waiting on the sidelines before they make decisions on whether to hire more employees. The data show that there is an increasing number of companies that are ready to hire, yet the actual number of new jobs does not match this information. In other words, employers are cautious, and waiting for more certainty before hiring again.
The moral of this story? Health care reform will have an impact on the job market.
No comments:
Post a Comment