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Outsourcing's long-term effects on U.S. jobs at issue

By JOHN COOK AND PAUL NYHAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTERS

Outsourcing.

That single word has evoked far-reaching emotions in the past year, prompting presidential candidates and labor groups to decry its practice and economists and chief executives to defend it as a natural progression of the economy.

But what is outsourcing?

As a concept it's not new. Companies have chased cheap labor around the globe for decades, making cars in Mexico, plastic toys in Taiwan and shirts in Malaysia.

But in recent years, the effort has crept into higher gear and income brackets, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The latest outcry is fueled by the fact that some service professionals, once insulated from outsourcing, are watching their jobs head overseas during a largely jobless recovery.

It is unclear how many accounting, engineering, technical support and other professional jobs have moved offshore in recent years. But some industry watchers believe as many as 200,000 service jobs could be lost each year for the next 11 years.

That has some American job seekers concerned. But others view it as an opportunity.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/164018_outsource10.asp
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