Dear All, Here is a NY Times article about the hidden unemployed, those who have stopped looking for jobs out of frustration (they have looked long & hard, to no avail).  Yours in Him, Deb  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/us/07worker.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

Its a tough situation to be in but the longer this recession lasts, the more people will re-think their priorities which may not be easy. I have to wonder how military (active duty and reserves) recruitment rates are fairing these days as a result of unemployment. I do believe the age requirements are different for both.

there are so many people in such a bad way .. we seem they are so sad .. people who have lived here all life and now have to some where to work .. its tearing framilies apart and  there are people losing every thing .

 Unfortunately, some people stop looking because the jobs just aren't there. We have friends in MI who are educated, ambitious, intelligent, and have tons of work experience. They were laid off, and some have been actively looking for jobs for 2-3 years (others as little as several weeks, of course). Unfortunately, there's literally nothing for them in that state, and this is where it gets sticky. Most of them own homes that they cannot sell, and jobs aren't paying enough to pay a mortgage in MI and rent/mortgage/long-term hotel in another state, nor are the jobs willing to pay to relocate, etc. The economy is bad, and therefore employers have their pick of candidates for very low costs and benefits--in most cases, they're not willing to give much to one person when they can get another person for much less.

  These people are trying to save their credit and not let the banks foreclose, but some of them have recently mentioned this may be their only option in the very near future. These people do not live above their means. Indeed, most of them lived well below their means and built up tidy nest eggs, which are now running out. Most cannot reasonably do things like join the military (they're all over 35, which makes getting in darn near impossible, and several have some minor health issues that preclude it). Several are re-training, because the state will pay for it; but, there aren't really jobs in the area even for "re-trained" people. My brother is one of these people. He'd worked in a paper mill in the Upper Peninsula since he was 17, and is now 50. He got laid off about almost two years ago, and can find no work. He's retrained as a truck driver & heavy equipment operator, and can still find no work, inside the state or out. He's willing to relocate, since he owns his house and can just close it up and return on vacations, but no one wants a 50-year-old, inexperienced truck driver or heavy equipment guy.

It's a conundrum, and it's really hard to watch our friends and family go through this. I am so glad we didn't own property, and that we moved out of that state when we did! 

 I struggle with this myself- have been unemployed since February.  Luckily I had been busy...moved out of the Midwest, got married, dealt with all the issues of cross-country move and combining households.  And have been filling out applications and going on interviews all this time.

In many ways I am lucky- I'm still young and cute, but have a few years of experience so I'm not brushed off as "some idiot college kid."  I am in an area of the country where the job market is least bad, and my husband has a good and very stable job.  I still have unemployment benefits.  I won't be hungry or homeless, but it still hurts my pride!  I'm even looking for part time jobs but my husband will whine if I work retail- because it means evenings and weekends and we wouldn't see each other.  This area has a cost of living much higher than the Midwest but many of the jobs offered are trying to get away with Midwestern wages now.  I fill my time by keeping house and working out (so I don't have to go back on depression meds).  My husband has been very good and understanding on it (as long as a good dinner is on the table he's happy!)  Heck, I can't even go back to school yet since I don't qualify for in-state tuition for a while yet.

 In this economy,  hiring managers will look for any excuse not to hire you.  Too young/inexperienced.  Too old or overqualified.  Someone my age with some experience can be dismissed by thinking "she'll just start having kids soon."  So many of us stake our pride on earning our own way, but when there is NOTHING out there (as is the case where I came from) what do you do?

 

 

Toni B.:

Its a tough situation to be in but the longer this recession lasts, the more people will re-think their priorities which may not be easy. I have to wonder how military (active duty and reserves) recruitment rates are fairing these days as a result of unemployment. I do believe the age requirements are different for both.

 

I don't know how it is for everyone in the military, but my brother is in the reserves after being in the army for 20 years and they don't have enough qualified people.  He is going to Afghanistan this year and then home for two months, then to Iraq because of the people shortage.  I think I remember him saying that they have raised the age requirments, because before he would have been too old.

Toni B.:

have to wonder how military (active duty and reserves) recruitment rates are fairing these days as a result of unemployment.

It's interesting you mention this. I saw a news report last night that stated the recruitment goals for ALL branches of the military have been met. This is the first time it's happened since America went to an all-volunteer military 30 years ago.