Why the Marginally Attached are Misunderstood

first direct release

start articles time increasing away york

smythelemi of KS @ Dec 14, 2009 05:40:06 AM

Obama

Saw that Obama just released 200 billion bucks for unemploment measures, will be interesting to see what that can actually achieve - other than increasing the tax for the people with jobs that is!

My latest post: http://www.theundercoverrecruiter.com/content/what-everybody-ought-know-about-linkedin

Jorgen Sundberg @ Dec 09, 2009 12:17:43 PM

Hard work? Right attitude? Right...

Well, I find all the commentary quite entertaining as I have been unemployed since May of '08...yep, that was the month that I graduated from my second Masters degree. Since then...I have had exactly two interviews and no second round interviews. I've applied for positions requiring considerably less experience and education than I have as well as the preferred, higher paying positions, but each time I end up getting responses such as "too much experience/too little experience, not enough education/too much education, won't stay when things improve, this is an entry level position/this position requires experience", etc., etc., etc.. I have a hard time facing my wife each day as there was never a possibility while I was going to graduate school that prolonged unemployment would be the reward for getting advanced degrees. I wonder what young people getting out of college are doing? I really wonder what people who once had an established career to support their families are doing. ...and I'd sure like to learn what these folks who are unemployed, but whom have $$$ are doing to get their funding! I'm almost at the point where I'm going to scratch out a cardboard sign and start begging...

Ray Cone of TX @ Dec 08, 2009 16:45:17 PM

marginally attached, under-employed?

There seems to be a certain naiveté among the generel public about the real numbers, unless you are living thru being unemployed/discouraged, marginally attached/under-employed or in the household or circle of one or more of those folks.

Jobs markets differ regionally, and that can be a radical difference. The "off-the-books" or "under-the-table" economy is thriving--and has been for years. Whether or not that translates to a sustainable job or career will vary by skills and the general job market. Looking in newspaper ads isn't sufficient. Our local metro paper has almost all employment ads only on the website. The "big" Sunday jobs section has gone from 20 pages or so to about 4 on average. You have to have Internet access, and you have to have adequate to above average computer skills. Virtually 50% of the jobs (almost all retail sector jobs) require you do an on-line application (time consuming for a min. wage position) AND a personality test to boot.

As to the unemployment insurance and WC insurance: those programs were created in an earlier era as a social safety net because employees were treated as disposable individuals. I'm not sure where the statistical evidence is that with the advent of those programs individuals stopped trying to be the best they could be and show a statistical preference to "take all they can"

In corporate circles the CEOs hire lobbyists to the same effect with Congress...

A small number of people will milk any system; that includes employed persons too. Depression and mental health issues exist in the general population, among employed persons, too. There are those who would prefer to see those HEALTH issues as personal character flaws.

What I observe is that in the US we have a schizophrenic approach: on the one hand it is all about and up to the individual, on their own merits and skills and work ethic and if they cannot make it they have a poor character; and on the other hand our primarily Judeo-Christian ethos underscores our responsibility to our fellow human beings, to offer support and encouragement and a hand-up, with a social safety net. Perhaps we cannot ever resolve that dichotomy.

TM of CO @ Nov 27, 2009 11:35:05 AM

this is an interesting group

Many of them are doing odd jobs and self employment work but are not reporting to so as to skate under a lot of taxes.

I am always shocked to learn how many people are somehow able to stay unemployed and yet have money. I keep wondering where they are getting their money in that I know many of them are not wealthy.

The U.S Government stopped counting them too because I believe as a group they are hard to understand in that, where are they getting money to live on?

How are they able to just do a full stop on work and yet report that they are not financially independent.

As a country we need to stop looking to Government for more welfare and hand outs. In some states we now have unemployment that will last over a year some 1.5 years. Where is the drive and innovation to work when you look at the fact that you can stay unemployed for 1.5 years and have income coming in. It is a proven fact that with the advent of Workers Compensation as well as Unemployment insurance, people stop trying to be the best they can be and move back into being productive citizens and instead prefer to 'take all they can' while sitting back and living a life that only increases depression, medical illnesses, and frustration.

Yet, as a counselor when I work with these individuals they have every excuse in the world as to why they cannot apply for certain jobs. As a counselor I am deeply emotionally affected when I see a fellow human chose depression, neglect, and desperation over being successful.

This is one reason why I have always kept a private practice that worked with individuals that were wanting to achieve success at higher levels. Coaching these individuals helps me create balance. I want to help people to be the best they can be. But with more social programs on the rise and an increase in the terms of these programs not only drags on tax payers and business owners it also creates more depression and medical costs to our citizens and allows us to fall further behind as a nation. http://www.powercareernow.com/

Allan of GA @ Nov 22, 2009 04:12:40 AM