Swine Flu: Potential Pandemic Has Many People Working Harder

Swine flu has arrived in the US and has most people either a little more cautious in public spaces or very scared of any public contact. I’ve spoken with more than one friend who is washing their hands more often or thinks twice about what that tickle in their throat might mean.

From the Salary Reporter’s perspective, it’s interesting to take a moment to consider the vast number of workers who are going to be involved in controlling this health threat. What are some of these jobs and what can PayScale’s data tell us about them? 

Online Degrees: For Baby Boomers, They Could Be Essential

The job market is tough. Real tough. Darn tough. Only the most skilled, educated and savvy shall thrive. And, if you’re older than 45, your age can work for or against you. Offering exceptional skills based upon years of experience is a plus. Being closer to your retirement age without more skills to offer than your younger counterparts, isn’t.

When baby boomers, those folks born between 1946 and 1964, look for employment in this down economy, they may need to work harder to prove themselves than ever before. As a result, many are considering going back to school, especially online. Online courses can fit into a schedule filled with work, family and other responsibilities – like grandkids and aging parents.

Furthering your education with an online degree not only improves your skill set, it also shows that you care about staying engaged and successful in your career. This drive will be attractive to possible employers. 

Compensation gap between government and private workers widens

Benefits for government workers are on the rise despite the recession, and the gap between government worker benefits and private worker benefits continues to widen. According to USA Today, "For every $1-an-hour pay increase, public employees have gotten $1.17 in new benefits. Private workers have gotten just 58 cents in benefits for every $1 raise. The difference: Companies have ended most traditional pension plans and increased workers' share of health care costs. Government paid an average of $8,800 annually toward employee medical insurance. Private companies paid $4,100."

It might be time to jump into a government job. Get tips on how to do it in this PayScale article: "How to Get U.S. Government Jobs."

USA Today source: Benefits widen public, private workers' pay gap