Clues From the Recession

The current economic recession is giving some clues on how employees can best deal with future downturns.

I do have this penchant for making business plans. It’s my safety net. Some people that do seasonal work year round have the option of going home for awhile if things don’t quite work out. I do not have that option available. If I have problems, I’ll soon find myself among the ranks of the homeless. A plan in place is not quite a security blanket...it still has a lot of holes. So I’m always making adjustments, tightening some areas, patchwork, discovering weaknesses.

My original Seven Year Plan was based purely on numbers. There are more places that I’m interested in going than years I have left...and that’s considering I plan on doing this until I’m 75. The plan outlined a way to get the most variety. There are more concerns than just numbers, however, and adjustments need to be made.

Economics must be considered. Yes, there is some crossover with personal financial planning. In my blog, Ketchup on Waffles, I rated myself as being in the not very important in the financial reward category. I’ll still place myself there. What I’m concerned about in my plan adjustment is making sure there is a job there.

There have been cuts made, as in a recent forum topic. I also know of at least one person, a sister of a co-worker, that when she arrived at her job this summer was told that the position has been eliminated. It’s similar to the economic realities of working at ski resorts, or other weather influenced jobs. If Mother Nature is a bit fickle, hours can drop dramatically.

The current recession isn’t a freak of nature though. Anyone who is even somewhat aware of current events knew the recession was forecast to last longer than this summer. The best forecasts indicated a bottom and leveling. Are there clues in what’s happening now that might help employees plan for future recessions?

I’ve done some researching through various reports in as many areas as I could. I’m trying to remember how I ever did research before the internet!

Many places were inconclusive or the numbers just weren’t in yet. For example, Acadia National Park was down a little in June. But June is normally a slower month there, and the weather was not very nice in Maine...a little might not be significant.

There are some areas of the country not affected as badly as others during this recession. The plains states did not have much of a housing boom as most other states. The housing bubble burst also did not affect many of these areas. A recent news report, Custer State Park On Pace to Record Year, may indicate that seasonals benefit from the overall areas lack of distress. I didn’t find any numbers yet for Mount Rushmore.

I am still convinced that seasonal work is not as affected as “real world” jobs in any case. Isle Royale’s numbers are somewhat lower this season, but considering Michigan’s problems, they are doing well. California’s overall situation is dire. But a recent article, Mountain Area Businesses Wade Through Recession, shows that the businesses surrounding Yosemite are not nearly as bad as the rest of the state and some are actually growing.

All of the national parks in the western states of the lower 48 are all doing well, as noted in the reports: Tourists Visits to Montana Are Heating Up and National Parks Propping Up Utah’s Tourism. Alaska is not doing nearly as well, Unemployment Rises As Tourism Falls.

I'll be watching the rest of this summer to see if I get any more clues.