Heinz closing

[Mighty AC]

So... who is paying for them ? I feel that these careers have exploded over the last 30 years...

I agree, these positions certainly have exploded especially even more recently (10-15 years). This is all part of the demographic bubble that many people are worried about. The massive boomer generation that lived through the greatest economic expansion in modern history has been living through their peak wealth years. This is a generation whose middle class benefited from massive economic growth, safely insulated behind protectionist trade practices. Unfortunately this is coming to an end right now. The positions you mentioned are likely going to decline but I think the most drastic impact will be felt by home improvement related businesses and automakers.

Edit: Damn, Boges beat me to it.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Mighty AC

[Michael Hardner]

I agree, these positions certainly have exploded especially even more recently (10-15 years). ... Unfortunately this is coming to an end right now. The positions you mentioned are likely going to decline but I think the most drastic impact will be felt by home improvement related businesses and automakers.

Edit: Damn, Boges beat me to it.

Are you saying that these positions are going to decline because the 'rich boomers' will be gone, and therefore so will their money ?

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Shady, you live in London.

Just caught this.

Shady lives the economically depressed region of London, ON and somehow manages to believe that corporations will save us all... Anyways, It was good times for rent there. I paid only $680 a month for a 1 bedroom 7th floor apartment that included parking, pool and utilities.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

A low dollar and taxpayer subsidized healthcare kept US companies operating in Canada for an extended period of time, but the loonie ain't cheap no more. Manufacturing businesses are fleeing the US as well. Partisans will always find BS ways to blame various parties, but with open trade regulations the loss of secondary industry in the first world is inevitable.

And with it will go all of the R&D and white collar jobs... Conservatives keep trying to paint it like we are going to keep our high tech jobs... When everything is made in China, they will become the top innovators.

Death by China is a good documentary... the first step of the solution is to somehow get China to float it's currency.

[Mighty AC]

Are you saying that these positions are going to decline because the 'rich boomers' will be gone, and therefore so will their money ?

No, but when people stop earning they tend to be quite a bit more frugal. As a generation boomers have just passed their peak earning years. Unfortunately, stats showed that they have (as a generation) not adequately prepared for their retirement years. A lot of Canadian boomer wealth is tied up in their homes. I suspect we will see a drop off in luxury spending, a massive drop off in home improvement spending and sagging suburban housing prices as they extract their money.

[Mighty AC]

And with it will go all of the R&D and white collar jobs... Conservatives keep trying to paint it like we are going to keep our high tech jobs... When everything is made in China, they will become the top innovators.

Death by China is a good documentary... the first step of the solution is to somehow get China to float it's currency.

The outsourcing of tech jobs to India and other countries is already accelerating. Very fast and reliable internet connections make it unnecessary to do any data work in North America.

Places like China will certainly lead the innovation charge going forward. Every year they are graduating more engineers of every type than we have in total.

[Michael Hardner]

The outsourcing of tech jobs to India and other countries is already accelerating.

That's absolutely incorrect. You're behind the times. It was accelerating when I lost my career in 1999.

Now, it's at a MINIMUM decelerating. Forbes magazine in fact considers it 'dead' in 2013.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/12/28/the-death-of-outsourcing-and-other-it-management-trends/

[bush_cheney2004]

....Places like China will certainly lead the innovation charge going forward. Every year they are graduating more engineers of every type than we have in total.

Why would anyone expect otherwise ? China's population is much larger than Canada's.

[TimG]

Places like China will certainly lead the innovation charge going forward. Every year they are graduating more engineers of every type than we have in total.

Foxconn seeks to move high-end device production from China to US

For Gou’s part, he pointed out that there are “too many software developers” and not enough hardware designers in the US as compared to other countries. He said his company’s investments would help balance the discrepancy. He also expressed an opinion that “innovation is more likely to come from the United States than Taiwan,” Unwired View reported.

Companies find that many top notch engineers in China or India want to move to the US if they can. Edited November 25, 2013 by TimG

[Mighty AC]

That's absolutely incorrect. You're behind the times. It was accelerating when I lost my career in 1999.

Now, it's at a MINIMUM decelerating. Forbes magazine in fact considers it 'dead' in 2013.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/12/28/the-death-of-outsourcing-and-other-it-management-trends/

The same process happens when companies first move manufacturing and processing overseas. The initial move creates quality and supply pipeline headaches so a bit of a pull back follows, while policies and management systems are put in place to solve them. In my area I am starting to see targeted outsourcing of development again.

[Mighty AC]

Companies find that many top notch engineers in China or India want to move to the US if they can.

Understandably so...right now. However, people go where the work is and that is increasingly becoming southeast Asia.

[Michael Hardner]

In my area I am starting to see targeted outsourcing of development again.

What kind of development, and where do you live ?

[Wayne McQ.]

This is the end result of pure corporate greed, thousands unemployed, while the corporate executives and their bought and sold politicians make out like bandits all the way to the bank, or the nearest offshore tax-haven.

[Wayne McQ.]

Oh please Heinz is not going under, they are just moving their manufacturing to another location. How immature of McDonalds to decide to stop using Heinz Ketchup just because Warren Buffet now owns Burger King. A & W also uses Heinz Ketchup, but they didn't have a childish temper tantrum and announce to the world they are going to start using inferior ketchup, when everyone know Heinz is the best, Period! IT's thicker, richer and generally better tasting especially with fries. I once purchased Campbell's Tomato Juice in the US, because I like Tomato Juice with beer, but Campbell's is not and never will be able to compare with Heinz for consistency and quality, therefore, I will no longer be stopping at the Golden Arches for any food products!

[Michael Hardner]

This is the end result of pure corporate greed, thousands unemployed, while the corporate executives and their bought and sold politicians make out like bandits all the way to the bank, or the nearest offshore tax-haven.

They always have been greedy - the idea is that we have to find ways for the benefits to extend beyond just shareholders.

[Topaz]

On TVO's "The Agenda" a spoken said that the community is looking to other processors and that a German processor wants to setup in Ontario. So if Ontario is so bad for a business why would any business look to Ontario. Farmer's in the area, had to spend money for new machinery to harvest the tomatoes and they want the government to cover that expense, which I'm sure a taxpayer would go along with.

[TimG]

On TVO's "The Agenda" a spoken said that the community is looking to other processors and that a German processor wants to setup in Ontario.

Germany is one of the few countries where there energy is more expensive than Ontario. But one company coming does not make up for 10 leaving because of energy costs that are completely out of synch with its neighbors. Green delusions and political opportunism have seriously damaged Ontario's economy and shows why messing with the energy system is a dangerous thing to do. Edited November 27, 2013 by TimG

[PIK]

As someone that works with industry, the 2 clients the I have lost in the last 2 months left for one reason and one reason only. Energy costs and no it is not mike harris fault it is dalton and his gang. Oh well some quebecers will get some work.