A while ago I stared a thread about how bad things are looking for business, and jobs alike.

As is often the case, I was shot down with most suggesting I look at the great shape we are in compared to the rest of the world.

With the most recent casualties being WOW and shortly, Dick Smiths, It's been brewing for some time, you just need to be on the ground to see it.

So, who out there still believes all is well and we have nothing to worry about.

Henny Penny stuff Rechtub.
Knew who it was first word.
Both my hands are up.

Butch is at it again, Retail is changing and will get worse before it gets better. That is well known, and we are not relying on you to tell us. Employment is down 15,000 in feb; and there are 190,000 advertised jobs in AU. WOW must be a state store. Dick smith has been for sale for some time. Try and keep your kool butch, and steady as she goes.

Yes we have a problem, Rehctub. We need less people trained as
shop keepers or burger flippers and more trained as mechanics etc.

So its not unemployment that is the problem, but skills training.

If retail has a problem it's because the consumer has had enough of several years of bingeing on the credit card and is more interested in mortgages, clearing debt and what's happening overseas. The lust for electronic gadgetry has also probably peaked.

The spending party had to stop one day and Gerry Harvey's strategy of loading us up with "nothing to pay for two years" debts has run its course.

If the retail sector want to grow they need to change their model and adapt.

If you're looking at blaming somebody its more the retailers themselves than the consumer and certainly not the result of some sort of legislation.

So its not unemployment that is the problem, but skills training.
Yabby,
And what is the root of that problem ? A mindless consumer mentality that's what !
The Jerry Harvey buy now, pay in two years mentality is what's causing it. There's no sense of responsibility out there anymore thanks to watering down of educational standards & no national service.