OLMIS

Basically it means that the world's economy is now more connected than ever. Things like coffee, computers, and cars were bought and sold between countries for a long time so there has really always been some type of a global economy. However, as the world's labor force has become more educated and more skilled, the number of jobs traded between countries has spiked.

Unlike a few generations ago, jobs that were once performed in one country can now be done in other countries. The exact same job. This has, of course, changed how some companies do business, especially those who have jobs than can easily be moved around and who are looking for less expensive ways to do business. Globalization has become a hot topic in recent years as trading jobs between countries (also known as "outsourcing") became more common here in the United States.

Outsourcing doesn't work for all jobs. Take firefighters for example - it would be impossible to outsource such a position because the job has to be performed at the site where the fire is. If the fire is in Roseburg, Oregon, a worker in Japan could not put the fire out. The jobs which are least likely to be outsourced are those that require the worker to be present, at the scene, to perform a task. Police officer, plumber, carpenter, truck driver, and waiter are all examples of jobs that, for obvious reasons, just can't be outsourced.

There are also many white-collar jobs (office and professional workers whose jobs generally do not involve manual labor or require workers to wear a uniform) that are expected to have a lot of jobs in coming years; CEOs, doctors, pilots, lawyers, sales managers, pharmacists, and educators are just a few examples. These jobs are highly educated and highly skilled, and therefore less likely to be outsourced.

A few jobs are more likely than others to be outsourced, such as call center operators and computer professionals. Any job that focuses on technology or communication and doesn't require hands-on contact with the customer is more likely to see competition from job seekers in other countries, especially as high-speed internet access becomes more and more available around the world.

Increasing your education and expanding your skill set may be the best ways to reduce the chances of seeing your job move overseas. Some studies suggest that outsourcing begins at the bottom of the skills ladder, and slowly moves its way up. In other words, simple assembly work is generally outsourced first, followed by manufacturing positions, and eventually skilled work like computer programming, and research jobs such as scientists and engineers.

Stay ahead of the curve if you want to avoid outsourcing - continue your education, increase your skills, and focus on jobs that require you to be present in the area where you want to work and live.