When it comes to jobs, the developed world's loss is increasingly East Asia's gain. From computer programming to call centres to accounting, thousands of positions are being created in the region each week, alleviating unemployment and poverty and creating new consumer markets.
In the US, where more than two million people have lost their jobs since President George W. Bush took office in January 2001, the trend, known variously as outsourcing or offshoring, is rapidly becoming a central issue of November's presidential election.
But that is not a concern of the recruits in China, the Philippines, Malaysia and other nations, most of whom have never had such good salaries and working conditions.
For companies in the US, Japan, Australia and Europe, pressure to generate profits has meant moving labour-intensive work to countries with cheaper workforces. For the past few years, India has been the premier location because of its burgeoning computer sector and proficiency in English. But a desire by foreign companies to spread risk, have closer outsourcing bases and combat costs has meant the rapid rise of competitors in southern Africa, eastern Europe and East Asia.
High education standards and strong work ethics have made the latter a popular choice for American and Japanese companies. Analysts predict China will catch up to India in IT outsourcing in 2007, while the Philippines is rapidly increasing its share of the lucrative call-centre industry.
The trend is based on economics. Most governments in the developed world have minimum conditions and wages to protect workers' rights, but such regulations rarely exist in developing nations. In the US, where the minimum wage is US$5.15 an hour, call-centre workers are generally paid an hourly rate of US$6, while their counterparts in the Philippines take home US$5 a day.
