RECESSION WATCH: BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD COULD BE SENDING JOBS TO INDIA

(11/23/2010)

It looks like more West Virginia jobs will be globalized, joining the millions of jobs that have already been exported to foreign counties. Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield's business affiliate Highmark is considering outsourcing jobs in Parkersburg to India. BC/BS says the change would be made in an effort to reduce administrative costs and overall health care costs to its insurance customers. BC/BS administrator Fred Earley says IBM consultants from India have been in Parkersburg this week evaluating their systems for the possibility of outsourcing positions. Some of 350 positions are at risk in Parkersburg out of BC/BS's workforce of 900 statewide. Early said the change is in the analysis stage. Early said outsourcing jobs abroad is a trend within the industry. WV, not unlike other states, have lost tens of thousands of jobs to the globalization movement, from low-end minimum wage jobs linked to manufacturing shoes, garments, and household implements to higher end jobs in steel and technical support.

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