Outsourcing is Good for US Workers

Filed in archive Outsourcing Pros and Cons on March 22, 2004

Amongst the controversial issues arising from outsourcing trend, there are strong positive aspects that would increase the value of U.S. workers.

As it goes without saying, technical jobs are ideal for outsourcing. This leaves U.S. workers with the following options, which require a lot more than technical skills:

- Value-added activities (such as product designs)
- Original innovations (such as new inventions, patents)
- Artistic activities (such as animations, arts, intellectual properties)
- Intellectual activities (such as speaking, writing, training)
- Communication activities (such as mediating, lobbying)

Optimistically speaking, this urges U.S. workers to reach beyond vocational trainings and be better managers (of organizations and themselves). This would translate into one or a few steps further in the "job chain" and, eventually, improve their living standards.