US College Graduates and Job Prospects

us college graduates and job prospects

Like elsewhere globally, the US job market was considerably jolted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the current college graduates potentially face the worst job market prospect in over a decade. No wonder-many industries have suffered immensely. Many businesses have closed because of the pandemic, with massive layoffs becoming the order of the day. As the economy begins to reopen, some college graduates might have difficulty trying to secure jobs.

In some instances, the institution that gives the certification often plays a massive role in the job seeker's prospects. Of course, the alumni network can also be a significant factor in the graduate's job prospects. In many colleges, the alumni provide a lifeline for graduates of the respective colleges by giving references and securing employment. Further, these alumni networks offer fresh graduates practical advice on how best to secure a job that pays well for their degree or other certification.

The reputation of a college also plays a vital role in the kind of job a graduate secures. According to a Georgetown University study, graduates from colleges with well-known names are likely to get jobs that pay higher than those who come from colleges whose names are not so well known. This revelation goes to show just how much of an advantage it is to attend a high-profile college.

Significantly, the phenomenon of student debt has risen in recent years. Currently, the average student debt is as high as $30,000, which is a new record. Paying these loans can be hectic since recent graduates must juggle between earning a living and servicing them. Many graduates in the US have ended up venturing into fields that are not their specialties. Such graduates will partake in any money-making activity to repay their loans. Ultimately, this ends up taking a toll on industries. Why? Many sectors continue to face a lack of much-sought-after expertise since many college graduates cannot afford to go job- hunting in the right sectors with a student debt dragging them down.

As the US economy begins to come alive, the job market may become more favorable for college graduates. Many businesses were closed down because of the pandemic. With the government putting in place measures to revive the economy, many companies will resume operations. Sectors such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and health care will require much-needed expertise. The economic upsurge may present opportunities for graduates, especially those who recently graduated. On the other hand, competition for these jobs may become stiff since many people got laid off because of Covid-19.

The job market's competitive nature might result in many graduates opting to start their own businesses in self-employment. This can help many graduates have a sustainable income source, even as others seek seemingly steady jobs. Some colleges have a high number of graduates who own their startup businesses. Such a reputation generally boosts the credibility of these institution's graduates in the job market. The ripple effect is: More graduates from these universities (like the University of California, UCLA, and The University of Michigan) may find it easier to locate jobs within their sphere of specialization.

For a fact, job hunting continues to be a tedious process for many graduates in the US; many graduates may apply for more than fifteen jobs in a month. Most of these graduates settle for internships at various firms as they look to add experience to their resumes. We know that lack of employment can have a devastating effect on graduates; depression may even set in. Significantly, new national research has shown that more US college graduates( just like a significant part of the general population) are now faced with a raging mental health problem. Of course, going forward, the government must put in place measures to deal with what's threatening t be a new pandemic.

Truly, COVID -19 has changed how we do things, and the corporate world is no different. Working from home has become essential since many firms look to reduce the virus's spread and make their employees productive. Paradoxically, this new way of conducting business might present new opportunities to college graduates. How? Companies will now be able to hire graduates remotely after conducting interviews remotely. With many graduates being Millenials, technology deployment for carrying out tasks will be a certain undertaking. Ultimately, this will help more college graduates to earn a living.

US Federal Reserve under The Biden Administration

us federal reserve under the biden administration

With the COVID 19 effects still being felt, the Federal Reserve has been pivotal in stabilizing the US economy. The new US administration came into office faced with an enormous task: to contain the pandemic's effect and revive the economy. The Federal Reserve is a vital element in these efforts as it controls the country's monetary sector. Because of the pandemic, the Federal Reserve put measures into place to ensure the economy survived these challenging times.

Under President Biden's administration, the Federal Reserve is set to enjoy a fruitful and cordial relationship with the government. This change will be most welcome after the institution suffered a rocky relationship with the former President, Donald Trump. A good working relationship will go a long way in executing monetary policies and implementing strategies for the economy's good. Even as the pandemic is still affecting the country's economy, collaborative efforts between the administration and the Feds will be crucial. Certainly, a good relationship between the two will ensure the economy is revived, and the unemployment rate goes down.

To combat the Covid -19 effects, President Biden recently proposed a bill to congress to provide Americans with a relief package, mainly the $1400 stimulus disbursement. The Federal Reserve has spent over $2.3 trillion since the pandemic struck, and this number might continue rising depending on how long the pandemic will last. President Biden's administration knows just how important the Federal Reserve is, especially during these turbulent times. Incumbent presidents often overlook key Federal Reserve appointments; however, this is not the case with President Biden. Why? Because one of the most impactful functions of the Federal Reserve is determining interest rates at which banks borrow money. The new President is alive to this fact.

Just consider: If the Federal Reserve hikes the rates at which banks borrow from each other, its effects will be felt throughout the economy since business loans and mortgage interest rates will rise. Therefore, the Federal Reserve must maintain low rates to ensure the country's economy recovers from COVID 19. The Federal Reserve under Biden's administration is pushing to increase the circulation of money in the US economy. It has prioritized purchasing treasury bonds for over $78 billion per month and mortgage-backed securities for some $39 billion per month; this will be the situation for the foreseeable future.

The Biden administration is also pushing hard for the vaccination of Americans against the Covid-19 virus. Through the Federal Reserve, Biden is seeking a $160 billion package to fund a national vaccination drive, expand testing activities, and hire more healthcare professionals. These funds will help in reviving the economy, as the Federal Reserve chair recently stated. To distribute the vaccine more effectively, the Federal Reserve will have to cough up more funds, even as reports of a second strain of COVID 19 around many parts of the world emerge. The government needs to carry out the vaccination exercise faster to accelerate the reopening of the economy.

In addition to the economic revival pressure, other factors such as climate change and racial equity in America are vital challenges for the Biden administration. This challenge has prompted the Federal Reserve to take act on its own. Regarding climate change, the Federal Reserve has given directives to overseas banks to provide climate change provisions during their stress tests. Further, the Fed has joined the Network for Greening the Financial System. Treasury and the Fed have also begun to align their activities to be more efficient; things have mostly become better under the Biden administration. In fact, the two significant institutions are now pooling efforts to ensure the economy recovers from COVID 19.

Overall, President Biden's stimulus bill was passed recently, and it immediately sparked fears – within some quarters-of fueling inflation in the country. However, Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell has disputed these claims. The senior official has stated that the stimulus package's cost would be low for the economy, and inflation is unlikely to occur in the long run. Unemployment rates are currently high, and this aid from the government will help many citizens who lost their jobs ever since the pandemic began. Further, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also stated that the stimulus package aid will not fuel inflation. Economists, too, agree with these projections. Many have noted the national GDP will recover the over 3% lost in 2020 by 2023; Pundits project that the country's GDP will surge ahead by four to six times thanks to the stimulus package.

US-China Relationships Beyond 2020

us china relationships beyond 2020

The US and China's relationship took a significant hit, especially after the COVID 19 eruption. Under President Trump's administration, the two nation's relations faced a tumultuous time. Trump's tariffs ban on China's $360 Billion worth of goods made the two countries further sever ties. The outbreak of the COVID 19 from Wuhan, China, didn't help the situation. Well, the new administration has much work to rebuild the ties.

President Biden's government has a promising outlook on repairing this relationship. Biden's Climate Change envoy John Kerry has stated that the US and China's cooperation remain one of the President's primary goals. The new administration has assumed office and will now deal with a cold war between the US and China; repairing this relationship may not be easy.

The Trump government's leniency on the tariff ban was a crucial instrument that defined the Sino-US relationship. President Biden could do away with the tariff bans, but this might come at an expense-he might be seen as too lenient on China. Under Trump's administration, many American's perceptions of China significantly changed. Further, China itself increasingly became anti-American.

Since the outbreak of COVID 19, China has been reluctant to share information about the virus's outbreak. This secrecy did not go down well with the Trump administration. As a result, Trump withdrew funding from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the government, this withdrawal was caused by the feeling that WHO was being lenient to China regarding the latter's handling of the pandemic. The withdrawal further made US-China ties to become unfavorable. It's, therefore, imperative for Biden's administration to repair this conflict between the US and WHO.

Over the years, China's economy has emerged to become one of the world's largest. Today, it's the world's fastest-growing economy, with a growth rate of over 9% in thirty years. Many businesses worldwide have established their production lines and factories in China; this has made the country an economic superpower. The US has noticed China's rising power; this will continue to be a significant factor in the two countries' relationship into the future.

Think of President Trump's Huawei ban; this was a crucial aspect that will determine future US-China relations. The Trump administration banned the Chinese Huawei Company in May 2019 on accusations of using its smartphones to spy on other countries. This ban sparked a conversation on how China may have been using Huawei to spy on Americans. Even if there was no proof, the ban remains a crucial element in US-China relations beyond 2020. Since Trump has left office, it will be interesting to see how President Biden's administration approaches this and other issues. Of course, even as Huawei pushes for talks with Biden's administration, it will undoubtedly benefit both countries to develop a workable solution for this dispute.

In February 2021, President Biden's phone call with China's President XI Jinping signified a step in the right direction in this slow brewing conflict. Biden raised concerns about China's unfair economic undertakings. Also, he spoke about China's human rights abuse in Xinjiang. Biden's unwavering stance during the conversation underscored the US' conviction on its strict policies on China.

On the other hand, The Global Times, a Chinese newspaper, provided a different stance. The newspaper expressed the strategic implications the US might face if it continued with its tough stance on China, as signified by the call. The two countries are not backing down from this conflict, but the good news is that President Biden and Xi Jinping have begun a dialogue; this is certainly essential.

As the year progresses, experts are optimistic that US-China relations will improve. President Biden may not use his predecessor's aggressive stance, but it does not mean he'll allow China to have the upper hand against the US. In fact, the ban on China's tariffs might be used for strategic purposes by the new administration. The new President might use it to renegotiate terms of trade between the two countries. Biden's administration has clearly expressed how the tariff ban was flawed, and this will be the basis of the renegotiations with China in the future.

Further, the Chinese government's treatment of the Uighur people has become a bone of contention in US-China relations. The US State Department even expressed its concerns on China's treatment of the Uighur community, a minority in China. President Biden's administration will have to factor in these genocide reports from China, even as the two countries try to repair their stormy relationship. Overall, the Sino-US future relationship seems bright.

Wall Street and the Dynamics of US Banking

wall street and the dynamics of us banking

Located in the famous financial district of Manhattan, Wall Street is a renowned collection of investment banks, hedge fund institutions, and security traders who dictate the financial industry in America and the world. Today, Wall Street and the banking industry go hand in hand as they involve the financial sector's ABCs. Moreover, Wall Street and banking provide complementary services to each other, especially in investment banking. Investment banking describes a situation where an organization offers consultancy services and capital mobilization for individuals and companies.

Generally, many businesses often want to issue new securities to the public or raise capital for Wall Street's business. Investment bankers make this possible by offering the services. Many investment banks have headquarters in Wall Street, making the two become part and parcel of each other. Usually, investment banks profit by buying securities using their own resources and then selling them to other businesses.

Investment banks in Wall Street also provide other businesses with services such as corporate strategy and risk management.JP Morgan Stanley is one of the biggest investment banks in the US. The bank offers risk management to other Wall Street stakeholders, such as banks and hedge funds. Generally, Hedge fund companies are a significant component of Wall Street; they rely much on banks for their operations. Hedge funds collect investors' pools of funds and then use financial strategies to profit off the fund investments. To store vast amounts of cash, hedge funds rely on banking institutions to own numerous bank accounts in several banks. This mutual benefit of the banks and Wall Street institutions is essential since it fosters both industries' growth.

The New York Stock Exchange is found within Wallstreet; hence many banking institutions have moved their headquarters near this location. Companies looking to enlist in the New York Stock Exchange will deploy the services of banks near Wall Street, as such banks have the technical know-how needed to push businesses into the stock exchange platform. Wall Street is a critical location landmark for banks as well as companies since they mutually benefit.

Interestingly, the new Cryptocurrency wave has also hit Wall Street with a boom. More firms have begun investing in the latest technological ingenuity.JP Morgan Stanley bank has gone further to develop its digital currency. The digital currency development will have a long-lasting effect on Wall Street and the banking industry at large. Further, more banks have begun to fund initial coin offerings (ICO) to Wall Street firms; this is only the beginning. Hedge funds are always looking for methods to make significant returns on their investments. The invention of JP Morgan Stanley's digital currency will make this more common among Wallstreet institutions. Notably, more banks will be inclined to lend investment banks the necessary cash to invest in digital currencies.

Wall Street also provides essential financial advice to the banking industry; the opposite is also true. Generally, banks consult widely from Wall Street heavyweights on the state of the market, promising companies, and potential new markets for the future. Of course, such advice enables banks to know which industries are viable for investment and the best companies that will offer superb lending returns. Banks can also provide business evaluation advice to companies, mainly involving mergers and acquisitions. After a certified business evaluator does an evaluation, the banks' secondary opinion is crucial since the institutions often deduce different outcomes than those of an outside evaluator.

The banking industry has developed technological solutions which have made businesses in Wall Street more efficient. Innovations such as mobile banking have made life more comfortable. Wall Street companies have been able to adopt these new technologies for their operations. Also, online banking has been a crucial tool, especially for hedge funds. Certainly, hedge funds can now make instant transactions with their banks, and things have never been easier. Moreover, Banking as a service (Baas) tool has enabled Wall Street firms enter the fintech space and provide their services under ordinary banks' regulations.

Wallstreet provides the banking industry with business, primarily through the raising of capital. Tech companies during the tech burst enabled banks to make a lot of money. Wallstreet made this possible through the trading of shares and stocks. There's no doubt that Wall Street's financial insurance services have become a booming business for most banks. As banks become more innovative in their portfolios, Wallstreet companies will be the most significant customers of such innovative products. Overall, insurance covers such as composite insurance (that protect hedge funds) are essential since they help secure these businesses.