Issue Position: Jobs

Issue Position

Missouri, like the rest of the country, is suffering huge job losses. By June of 2009, 9.3% of our workforce was unemployed and the number of jobless is rising. We must provide long-term solutions that are sustainable and fair to business and workers.

Provide an attractive environment for new industries.

We all understand that some industries suffering in the current world market are forever changed. The key to providing sustainable new jobs is to introduce new and growing industries into the local economy that are socially and environmentally responsible. To provide secure employment for our community, we must attract cutting edge companies by providing the necessary improvements to infrastructure that will support continued growth.

Help small business succeed.

Small and new businesses are a major source of growing and innovative industry. Small businesses employ about half of the national private workforce and are responsible for 60% to 80% of new jobs each year, yet nearly half of start-up businesses fail within the first two years. We must provide programs that maintain a flow of credit and grants to new business instead of spending our money on overgrown and mismanaged businesses.

Provide fairness in labor and business.

There is no doubt that Missourians are dedicated hardworking individuals, but many of us work for low pay with no benefits. Between 2001 and 2007, Missouri had the second largest drop in per capita income in the 50 states. We need to enforce and maintain the rights that Organized Labor has achieved. The partnership of labor and management must continue to work together to protect the wages, safety and productivity of our workforce.
Promote environmentally responsible growth.

Embracing green technology is a critical part of maintaining a safe environment for our children, saving energy, and providing jobs. We can generate jobs by developing clean and renewable energy locally, implementing programs that encourage energy efficiency in existing and new construction and transportation, and establishing options for recycling and composting.

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