Are we next? Are you serious? Aren’t we the victims not the cause? What is really going on? It is not Wall Street, it is only a symbol. Everyone is feeling the relentless pressure of the economic slowdown. Another year with a skinny Christmas and no bonus. A helpless feeling of just holding on and not being able to do anything about it. Savings dwindling, if you still have any, and forget about retirement money. Everyone knows a recent grad that can’t find a job or someone a little older who lost theirs. Throw in student loans that promise a lifetime obligation and you add gasoline to the fire.

That’s what the movement is all about and it is not going away soon. Less than 10 % of the people are happy with their current government and there is worse to come. Perhaps as soon as next week when the US Congress puts on another demonstration in a dysfunctional system when they are forced to vote on more budget cuts that will lead to more layoffs and contractions which will undoubtedly lead to further stagnation. Next year does not look particularly good and the lack of leadership is appalling.

So don’t take this movement lightly. There are legitimate deep-seated grievances and hostility is looking for an escape hatch. We are at almost 15 % unemployment in this community and only 25 years ago we had serious race riots. These are not just fringe movements. People are angry, frustrated, disappointed and want change. We likely won’t see it in an invasion of Brickell Avenue but it is not just Wall Street they are angry at.

All the publications are forecasting talent shortages. Articles are focusing on the pent up demand for linchpin employees – those who can make a difference. Talent flow is world wide and getting to the talent is eased by the World Wide Web. And it is flowing but rather than from the underdeveloped world to the developed it is the reverse. This is partly because the developed world is snubbing the talent from abroad. In addition to immigration restrictions US corporations are beginning to feel the effects of the mass boomer exodus and educational shortfalls. And we could add the unwillingness to invest money and time into training.

The result is that over half of US companies report difficulty in filling jobs and nearly half state the lack of hard skills and experience. Yet it appears as though in looking for the perfect superstar, companies are neglecting the talent they do have. US companies would be well served to get back to basics. They have lost the ability to motivate their employees and create a positive environment and culture. This is an area in which corporate America excelled just a few years ago.

Survey after survey emphasizes a vast number of workers are frustrated and disengaged with their jobs. As many as 85% of mid to high level managers and top performers at companies today would like to change jobs as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Experts believe that when the economy finally starts to rev up, there will be the most massive turnover of positions in the country’s history as disgruntled workers will bolt from their current employer and find work elsewhere. It comes as a result of how employees today are feeling overworked, unmotivated and under-appreciated by their current companies, yet they are hanging on to their jobs for dear life. Is there a shortage of talent? Maybe the flood gates are about to open.

A major turning point in the history of mankind will be upon us in 2050 when the world population will start to shrink. We have just been hit with the estimate that the world population has reached seven billion and we can expect another two billion over the next twenty years. But this growth will stop and our species will no longer be expanding. This will be a turning point in the human race. Maybe there will be space on this planet for all of us after all. This is almost half a century sooner than expected according to research by Deutsche Bank.

Birth rates have been low in developed countries and they are now plunging in the developing world as well. The Chinese, Russians and Brazilians are no longer replacing themselves while Indians are having fewer children. India will still enjoy workforce growth well into the 2040’s on the other hand East Asian countries like Japan, China and South Korea will suffer sharp declines.

Aging society will respond with longer working lives and for many this has already begun- and more will be working at the age of seventy. Reassessment of economic geography will have some surprising shifts in the future work force and it is not what many expected.