Millions of unemployed face years without jobs.

A story from NYT:

Economists fear recovery will leave more behind than in past recessions.

BUENA PARK, Calif. - Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.

Economists fear that the nascent recovery will leave more people behind than in past recessions, failing to create jobs in sufficient numbers to absorb the record-setting ranks of the long-term unemployed.

Call them the new poor: people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.

Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administration’s proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.

Here in Southern California, Jean Eisen has been without work since she lost her job selling beauty salon equipment more than two years ago. In the several months she has endured with neither a paycheck nor an unemployment check, she has relied on local food banks for her groceries.

She has learned to live without the prescription medications she is supposed to take for high blood pressure and cholesterol. She has become effusively religious — an unexpected turn for this onetime standup comic with X-rated material — finding in Christianity her only form of health insurance.

“I pray for healing,” says Ms. Eisen, 57. “When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got to go with what you know.”

Warm, outgoing and prone to the positive, Ms. Eisen has worked much of her life. Now, she is one of 6.3 million Americans who have been unemployed for six months or longer, the largest number since the government began keeping track in 1948. That is more than double the toll in the next-worst period, in the early 1980s.

Men have suffered the largest numbers of job losses in this recession. But Ms. Eisen has the unfortunate distinction of being among a group — women from 45 to 64 years of age — whose long-term unemployment rate has grown rapidly.

In 1983, after a deep recession, women in that range made up only 7 percent of those who had been out of work for six months or longer, according to the Labor Department. Last year, they made up 14 percent.

Twice, Ms. Eisen exhausted her unemployment benefits before her check was restored by a federal extension. Last week, her check ran out again. She and her husband now settle their bills with only his $1,595 monthly disability check. The rent on their apartment is $1,380.

“We’re looking at the very real possibility of being homeless,” she said.

Every downturn pushes some people out of the middle class before the economy resumes expanding. Most recover. Many prosper. But some economists worry that this time could be different. An unusual constellation of forces — some embedded in the modern-day economy, others unique to this wrenching recession — might make it especially difficult for those out of work to find their way back to their middle-class lives.

Labor experts say the economy needs 100,000 new jobs a month just to absorb entrants to the labor force. With more than 15 million people officially jobless, even a vigorous recovery is likely to leave an enormous number out of work for years.

It's a 4 page article, the rest of which can be read here.

Well this is a pretty stark reality for some americans. To think that you'd be unemployed for years is just mind boggling to me.

What are your thoughts ATS?

~Keeper

That if my dad's going to be unemployed for a couple more years, they sure as hell better increase my financial aid.

He has extended unemployment right now, but probably not for much longer.

Originally posted by ravenshadow13
That if my dad's going to be unemployed for a couple more years, they sure as hell better increase my financial aid.

He has extended unemployment right now, but probably not for much longer.

I feel for you Raven, especially considering your Dad is VERY well qualified to work in his field. I'm amazed that there are even less jobs for highly qualified individuals with years of on the job training.

~Keeper

Sounds like a real pickle.

Call them the new poor: people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.

Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administration’s proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.

What happens to people who can't be absorbed into the mainstream economy?

...Oh yeah. They create alternate economies.

Japan dealt with this problem decades ago. ...The main alternate economy in Japan is criminal, run by the Yakuza. Japan's government is three-fold: the elected president represents mainstream economic interests; the Emperor represents 'the people'; and the Yakuza represents the alternate criminal economy. ...And yes, it's a formal structure.

All of you have to face the fact that some jobs will never return home. Move on, find a different job, create new opportunity.

Even in a Recovery, Some Jobs Won't Return

Even when the U.S. labor market finally starts adding more workers than it loses, many of the unemployed will find that the types of jobs they once had simply don't exist anymore.

As for the number of unemployment. It could be sooner than 2012, if you want to be optimistic about it.

Lost jobs will not return until 2012 - economist poll

It is critical to clamp down on outsourcing to foreign countrys...make it not worthwhile.

Alternatively, give mega tax breaks to companys that employ locally...enough to make a difference.

The issue is corporate greed mixed with a cheap world. Any employer will send a job that can be done anywhere overseas and pay 5 bucks an hour verses keep it in state and pay for the same job at 15 bucks an hour..thats just good business.

Got to either take the incentive away to ship away jobs, or give incentive to stay here to begin with.

I think most people will gladly pay an extra 10% for a product if the economy is booming and unemployment is almost flatlined...

Look for a new Term in the Webster's Dictionary soon.

Jobless Recovery.

Originally posted by Sean48


Look for a new Term in the Webster's Dictionary soon.

Jobless Recovery.

It is already on its way there.
en.wikipedia.org...

I ask how can you have recovery without jobs? I just do not get it. As to the statement that some jobs will not come back that is true but some kind of job has to take its place and there is the problem. I heard there was thought of lowering the minimum wage to try and make more jobs but I think that could backfire.

[edit on 2/21/2010 by fixer1967]

Originally posted by SaturnFX

The issue is corporate greed mixed with a cheap world. Any employer will send a job that can be done anywhere overseas and pay 5 bucks an hour verses keep it in state and pay for the same job at 15 bucks an hour..thats just good business.


I think most people will gladly pay an extra 10% for a product if the economy is booming and unemployment is almost flatlined...

Where have you been?

Pay rate in China is about 30 cents an hour.
Bangladesh 7 cents an hour
www.guardian.co.uk...

Prices would go way up if they were paid US wages.

When CEOs and upper management execs make 500 times more than the average worker you have a real problem in America. You can talk about outsourcing, insourcing, illegals, blah blah blah........bottomline is the rich are getting richer, the poor poorer and the middle class dissolving into either or. There is PLENTY of wealth in the US to absorb all the injustice in our economy if you skimmed a little more off the top and put a little more back at the bottom. It's a paradox for most corporations because they are beholden to share holders. Well that's funny because the "shareholders" they are beholden to are not the middle class shareholders who own thousands of dollars in a company......it's the mega rich shareholders who they care about. Hence why the stock market doesn't even trickle down anymore. Government used to be the stop gap in the rich getting richer along with a free market. Both of these no longer exist. All wealth and assets/capital continue to trickle up and everyone else is drying out and drying up. Tax the crap out of people making millions of dollars, put a cap on CEO pay..........quit bailing out these companies. Let them go belly up. End the FED......yadda yadda yadda. The US economy is EASILY salvageable. Problem is everyone has their hand in the next guy's pocket...........unwilling to sacrifice what needs to happen for the greater good.

[edit on 21-2-2010 by Zosynspiracy]

Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound

IN TRUTH there is no REBOUND, all these stories behind the so called recovery is false, in truth there is no recovery non, not in eupore not in north america,

Where does the media pick up these days stories about a false recovery?
is it just to cover the bad news stories?


May i ask you amercains if you haven't noticed that On ABC,NBC, FOX CNN non of these news networks are showing you what is happening in eupore! not a single story, sure they talked about greece, but not one single word of other countries,


I guess the media dogs, might fear there downfall if they talked about the bad press.

reply to post by Agent_USA_Supporter


Well Americans for the most part live in a bubble, always have and always will. How many can even point out Iran or Iraq on a map let alone realize the difference within European countries.

Anyways, I can't say I feel too sorry for Europeans anyways. They been dyed in the wool socialists for a long time. That's why everyone over there lives in apartments and drives smart cars. No thanks! Being American is about owning land and owning a house and relying on no one but yourself for your livelihood and prosperity. Europeans, especially those in urban areas seem to forget that. America used to be a country of agriculturalists and farmers, rural people who made their own way..........and we inherited that from our European ancestry...........but you guys have lost that aspect of your society a long time ago.

[edit on 21-2-2010 by Zosynspiracy]

What I say every time it comes up.

Stop corporations to get international..
It takes away their power.

At the same time see to the rebuilding of a self sufficient economy.

Just like Iraq had. And Iran.

Stop kapitilisme in it's recent form.
It's plane stupid to use a system based on growth on a limited amount of rescourses.

Go green but not for klimate just for saving rescourses.

And prosecute all thoese evil ****** who were leading us for so long.
We will ask Ahmehinidad to exuecute the punishment.

Originally posted by soficrow
Sounds like a real pickle.

((Snip Quote))

What happens to people who can't be absorbed into the mainstream economy?

...Oh yeah. They create alternate economies.

Japan dealt with this problem decades ago. ...The main alternate economy in Japan is criminal, run by the Yakuza. Japan's government is three-fold: the elected president represents mainstream economic interests; the Emperor represents 'the people'; and the Yakuza represents the alternate criminal economy. ...And yes, it's a formal structure.

This.

This is what is going to happen, like it or not. There is going to be a huge rise in criminal activity and "alternate" economies, as 'soficrow' said it.

Not only will we see a surge in petty crimes, thefts, day-to-day thugs, etc. We will also see a resurgence in organized crime, new outfits and a bunch of new criminal "philosophies".

It's needed, in my opinion. It's better that crime in the United States find it's rightful place, stays organized and overtly respectable to a degree.

reply to post by SyphonX


There's nothing respectable about organized crime. If you believe that you really have no clue what organized crime is all about.

Well sad to say I am in the same boat. I lost my job over 2 years ago and have been attending school because I have not been able to find employment. I am networking and submitting applications/resume's every work day but not even a nible. I have a pretty good work history, great references and lots of experience, so Wal-Mart told me I was over qualified? Well now we know why all the cashiers at Wal-Mart seem a little slow, they make sure they hire people with few qualifications! I am not bashing the good folks at Wal-Mart, I just thought well millions of Americans are over qualified for jobs they are willing to do now that there is nothing else. Also my UI benefits will run out in about 6 weeks, if I have not secured work by that point we are completely screwed and will probably lose our house. At least my dear husband was able to find employment, he makes less than he has in years but he is working with benefits so I feel blessed. He was out of work too for a year. We have been together for 20 years and this was the FIRST time he was ever unemployed. He had only had three jobs in his life. So if it can happen to us it can happen to enyone.

commenting on whether or not there is a recovery happening.

There has been a slight change in the housing market where I live prices have increased 10% in the past two months, and there are more buyers now than in the past 2 years.

I know that might not mean anything but it could be considered a "sign" of a recovery.

reply to post by Zosynspiracy


Say I know how to make a billion $$$ a year. And then you take all that to redistribute (to losers who won't be able to manage it and make it grow, anyway). For the next year, I'll be damned if I'll still let you redistribute my wealth. And how would I stop you from taking my wealth? Simple. I won't bother making it. I'll just plant potatoes.

Redistributin of wealth is stupid and will never work. Just look at communist states. They're trying to redistribute non-existent wealth.

Taxation is also a form of redistribution of wealth. Some areas in socialist Europe have up to 60% income tax rates. No wonder it's a stagnant continent and had to (embarrassingly) "unite" to compete with its direct off-shoot, the United States. Only the Germans and the Dutch can export anything worthwhile (primarily because they make superior goods.)

Originally posted by Zosynspiracy
reply to post by SyphonX

 

There's nothing respectable about organized crime. If you believe that you really have no clue what organized crime is all about.

Hah.

Yeah, I must be an ignorant child because "I don't know what organized crime is".

The biggest organized crime syndicate in the world is the US government, the Justice system and the FBI. Why don't you tally up the body count and financial destruction wrought by both "organized crime" and the US government over the past 50 years and report back to me. Maybe you'll start to "clue in", yourself. You might pick up on who the biggest offenders are if you even decide to open your eyes.

Most average US citizens are fanatical and scared idiots, because they swallow everything their good government and school systems tell them.

reply to post by Melissa101


I don't know your situation of course but maybe you could rent out a room to help pay the mortgage or something.

Maybe you could babysit kids to help make extra money.

I hope things improve.

Wal-mart refused to hire me the other day too. I was called in for an interview. The interviewer apparently frowned upon college and when I started mentioning college work, she started circling ineffective for all of my answers. That store then blackballed me. I dunno if a different Wal-mart will call me or not. I don't have my hopes up though. Wal-mart used to be the only company I applied at that didn't brush me off for having a college degree. Now they're doing it too.