This editorial was originally published on May 3, 2006. Steve is traveling in the UK this week and we are reprinting older pieces.

It seems like career week in the editorial department, but I found a bunch of articles recently on careers. According to the Department of Labor employees whose jobs are outsourced should be treated the same as laid off workers. Maybe we shouldn't be helping factory workers if their industry moves, though I think I'd argue that point, but if we treat the guy rolling steel or sewing fabric this way, why not software developers?

Losing your job just stinks. I've had it happen and it's a horrible feeling and really can impact your family, emotionally and financially. As the economy moves more globally, corporations increasingly look for ways to become more competitive. The price of moving goods, once way to keep things slightly more level, has fallen so low in the software business that on straight a dollar comparison, everything should move to India or any other country where the wages are lower.

But it's not that simple. As many companies have learned, the savings have costs that are not worth it.

I think providing more benefits for the relatively few people that get outsourced is a good thing. It helps to keep the economy going here because those people have assistance to keep buying food, paying their rent, keeping their car, etc. All things that benefit this country locally.

However if you are out of work for over a year in the IT field. Perhaps you should change the type of job you are looking for or move to a new field.