Jobs (Not Steve)

The biggest story in Washington now, of course, is the debate over the debt limit. Telecommunications policy plays a role in this debate -- specifically on a decision to include spectrum auctions as a way to raise revenues for the federal government. But this debate remains very fluid, so we'll hold off for now on a full update. Instead this week we'll focus on jobs.

On July 18, the Wall Street Journal reported that the wireless industry is booming as more consumers and businesses snap up smartphones, tablet computers and billions of wireless applications. But for the industry's workers, the story is less rosy. Employment at U.S. wireless carriers hit a 12-year low of 166,600 in May -- about 20,000 fewer jobs than when the recession ended in June 2009 and 2,000 fewer than a year ago. While the industry's revenue has grown 28% since 2006, when wireless employment peaked at 207,000 workers, its mostly nonunion work force has shrunk about 20%. "The disconnect between employment and industry growth reflects the broader head winds lashing the U.S. job market, as consolidation, outsourcing and productivity gains from new technology and business methods combine to undermine job growth.," writes WSJ's Anton Troianovski.