Notes from the General Manager

Safe hands by Diane Jacoutot

This week has been punctuated by economic uncertainty and gloom in many of our home countries.

Europe, for instance, has been affected by the millstone that is the Greek economy dragging them under. Greece's credit rating has slipped to CCC - making it the lowest in the world, even behind Pakistan.  (The daily currency report I received today was humorously though ominously entitled "Deck chairs rearranged in Athens") The Greek citizens for their part, not liking the austerity measures being imposed on their bankrupt country, have taken to rioting in the streets.  Ireland's economy is still shrinking and the unemployment rate is up to a staggering 14% and the UK is facing public sector job losses and pension cuts ...and of course strikes. The US economy has received mixed reviews with the unemployment rate still above 9% with massive local public sector cuts making many teachers unemployed.  Even the previously solid Australian economy contracted in May, due to the natural disasters of floods and cyclones whilst poor New Zealand suffered another earthquake this week, adding insult to injury.  Not a good week at all for many of us in the western world.

And like the Greek rioters, teachers who are suffering job losses in public sector jobs feel outraged, but it should come as no surprise that cuts have to be made. Public sector jobs are reliant on tax roles, and tax revenue lags a year or so behind industry earnings.... so teachers are basically paying now for the sins of the past.  This is the very same pain felt by the private sector in 2009/10, just 1-2 years delayed.  So whilst public sector workers were warm and secure in their jobs during the economic crisis, it was only a matter of time before the chickens came home to roost.  I feel quite sad for the public sector workers affected, but also happy that Teachanywhere can offer teachers an alternative.

This is because in many parts of the world in which we place, the economic outlook is quite a contrast to our own. The UAE economy is still recovering and expected to grow by 4% in 2011 and just announced another 80million dirham investment in Information Technology research and startups, whilst nearby Qatar has been the fastest growing economy in the world at almost 20%, outpacing even Singapore.  And China, one of the huge engines pulling the world into economic recovery, remains very strong and getting stronger. India is solid and projected to grow at 8-10% and even Switzerland, where we have some interesting jobs this week, is stronger than its European neighbours - the Swiss franc has appreciated 15% against the euro in the past year.

It should come as no surprise then, that the international job outlook in many countries is robust. And it should come as no surprise that many teachers are looking with fresh eyes at the greener grass abroad.  Teachers looking for a safe port to weather the economic storms in their home countries could really not pick a safer time to go.  Yes, it means you will have to miss this or that family event, pack your life into a couple of suitcases and jump into the Great Unknown.

But I've not seen a safer pair of hands with which to catch you for quite a long time.