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If you are unlucky enough to be among the 14.8 million unemployed Americans, here’s a slight bit of cold comfort: Your job search may be a bit shorter than in months past.
The average number of weeks a person is unemployed has been trending down slightly, to 33.3 weeks in September, since hitting a high of 35.2 weeks in June, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday.
Of course, this isn’t exactly great news. Prior to this economic downturn the average had never risen above even 30 weeks - and the BLS has been keeping records since 1948.
In addition, many people are finding that it takes even longer than 33 weeks to find a job.
In general, the older you get the longer you can expect your job search to take.
Some people, dubbed '99ers,' are even exhausting their maximum 99 weeks of unemployment without finding work.
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If you believe this article then you will believe the moon is still made of green cheese
If you are over 50 - maybe even 40!! You might as well hang it up and resort to poverty - under the table stuff, or whatever. I am just 60 and incredibly lucky to work a minimum wage job. This is NOT , I repeat NOT!!! a living wage.
Whoever wrote this itty-bitty article needs to get out of the rich end of the biggest cities and into the areas where the serfs are being re-created, thanks in large to left-over Republican concepts and laws.
And yes, Ellie, the moon is really made of green cheese - HAH!
Sorry but its the Democrat (Clinton) policies of giving loans to those who couldn't afford them that started all this mess, sped up the housing bubble, and the Dems who were in control of Congress for years when Bush was still in the White House. No one's finances are fixed by spending more and its not going to work now either.
Deear ArtGal24:
The problem wasn't the bad mortgage loans. The problem were the deregulated banks that packaged the subprime loans into securities that got rated A++ like if they had no risk involved. If it wasn't because of that, people defaulting on their loans wouldn’t have taken down the whole financial system.
Another problem of deregulation, pushed by the banks with the help of republicans in the name of the “free market”, was the fact that banks made loans with variable rates where a family that might have had a $1,000 monthly mortgage payment ended up with a variable rate that made that payment go up to $3,000 when the economy went sour. These families didn't even understand what they were signing, most of us can't read a mortgage contract, but the banks KNEW what they were selling, but they were free to do it in the name of chasing profits and the “free market”.
And after they made all of their money and gave it to their employees and stockholders, then we were left with no choice to bail them out lest they take the whole country down with them. And after they got our money, and this gave them artificial “profits” with our money, they went back to the same behavior giving out bonuses to the people who created this mess.
Yeha, it’s all Clinton’s fault all right! …and the Dem’s were at fault for anything that happened during the 8 Bush years, yeha right! Get your head out of a rock and read the news for crying out loud!
If you are 50, or even 40, you might as well fuggetaboutit. Companies are hiring only the youngest, most energetic [morons] who can be had for cheap. Experience counts for next to nothing.
As a new 60-year-old, I am incredibly fortunate to still have my minimum-wage job - this is not, I repeat NOT a living wage!! - but it still contributes to my spouse's disability and the unemployment he will soon lose. I have no clue how we will survive. and I know we are far from alone.
I also see that this happened because of policies the Republicans have touted for decades, and which Mr. Obama has so far been unable to budge. Makes me sad, because our country used to be better than this.
Not only is the moon made of green cheese, Ellie, bit "they" want you to believe they care about us!!!
I agree 100% I am 48 can only find part time work. I have no idea how we are to survive.
I'm 50+ and have been looking for over 18 months, an experienced IT Manager with 30 + years experience and I have had 3 interviews in that period of time. Extended unemployment just got shut off so when the savings runs out who knows. Things looking better - I DON'T THINK SO. The company that layed me off still owes TARP money and currently has a EVP in India looking to outsource more American jobs.
The Fed must go!
Class legislation created the Fed.
Yeah, I'm over 40 and after 8 months felt "lucky" to find a job that was less than half of what I was making, even less that what I drew on unemployment. $20500 yearly for a adult and 2 children...below federal poverty levels. Yeah, I'm really feeling the hope and change.
I am one of those "99ers", I'm over 50 with an impressive resume, but rarely receive even a response to the jobs I apply for. If the republicans get back in, I know I'm screwed for good. Our once great country was the "land of opportunity" for anyone who had a dream and was willing to work hard. Now it seems that the only people making money are those who have money. Where has the middle class disappeared to?