{ KECSSMs. Murren Outcome: SWBAT distinguish between the different types of workers who comprise the civilian workforce

Initial Activity What do you believe is being represented in this cartoon?

 How are workers categorized?  How are wages determined?  Why employers need to pay more to get and keep good workers Objectives

 What is the civilian labor force?  The total number of people 16 years and older who are either employed or actively seeking work. This does not include: the disabled, prisoners or the mentally handicapped. Mini Lesson

 Who are blue-collar workers?  A category of workers employed in crafts, manufacturing, and nonfarm labor  Who are white collar workers?  A category of workers employed in offices, sales, or professional positions.  Who are service workers?  People who provide services directly to individuals Mini Lesson

 Who are unskilled workers?  People whose jobs require no specialized training. Ex waitresses, custodial work, assembly line  Who are semi-skilled workers?  People whose jobs require some training, often using modern technology. Ex nurse’s aide  Who are skilled workers?  People who have learned a trade or craft either through a vocational school or as an apprentice to an experienced worker. Ex police officers, electricians  Who are professionals?  Highly educated individuals with college degrees and usually additional education or training. Ex doctors, architects, accountants, teachers Mini Lesson

 The labor market, like other markets, is affected by supply and demand. Suppliers are the workers who offer their services to employers, while demand comes from the employers who require workers.  The demand and supply process is influenced by the process of wage negotiations of labor unions  What are the factors that affect how the price of labor (wage) is determined?  Skill  Type of job  Location Mini Lesson

 Skill  People who have special talents, initiatives, education/ training or experience are in high demand relative to supply. Ex. Alex Rodriguez, third baseman and power hitter for the New York Yankees, signed a $252 million 10 year contract.  Type of Job  People with dangerous jobs such as firefighters receive higher wages than others who do not have life-threatening occupations. Ex coal mining demands a higher salary than occupations of a similar skill  Location  Where people live has a significant impact on wages. Ex People in the Northeast tend to earn more than workers in the South Mini Lesson

 What is the minimum wage law?  The federal law that sets the lowest legal hourly wage rate that may be paid to certain types of workers. The minimum wage law is designed to help workers, some studies show that the opposite has occurred. An increase in the minimum wage causes some firms to hire fewer skilled laborers. Mini Lesson

 What is the difference between a professional and a skilled worker?  What are the factors that restrict the influence of supply and demand o n wages? Summary Activity