The Many, the Doomed, the Long-Term Unemployed

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I do not have a college degree. I have been to college to study computer science for about 2 years. I have worked in my field for about 25 years. I am the long term unemployed, Latino, no college degree, over fifty years old and male. I have educated myself to new technologies using the net to gain insight into object oriented technologies and methodologies for for abstraction (model creation as it pertain to domains or subject areas of interest). I have had to create my own business so that others would contract me on a short term basis. This is no way to survive long term, and is risky to my family as I have no way to guarantee them any future income to support them. As I am not a college degreed person, I guess I wanted to much in life, such as, a family, a home and a job to support us. Perhaps it would be easier for all if people like me just disappeared and there would be no crisis of the unemployed. I do not think the the needs of the few should outweigh the needs of the many. This world started out equal for all and ended up with the few owning all of the resources. There has to be a better way for all of humanity.

BobSan of CO 7:36PM May 09, 2012

My experience with this is, for the most part, females only get hired. I have seen it all now, I learned to investigate who they hired, I have caught most employers, they only hire females. I am so isolated and damaged of a man from unemployment. I feel I am the only one in the world who is this way

Columbine of AL 7:12PM February 27, 2012

Eat the rich!

Hungry of FL 1:14AM February 16, 2012

A lot of the problem does not come from wishy washy garbage from someone who has not had to look for a job in 30 years. They don't know anything!
Most job boards have huge scams on jobs that don't exist, but are marketing to you for education, products and services. They are very prevalent. The real number of real jobs available are much, much lower than what is reported.
There is a race to the bottom. Age discrimination is alive and well. A lot of companies push the limits of treatment of their employees and no baby boomer is going to take that. Plus they figure these people will cost too much. The companies now have selection of vast numbers of people with few jobs, and pick those most likely to go along with poor wages, no future and tolerate to being treated like crap.

Bob of CO 3:05PM February 06, 2012

Does anyone know of any groups that are trying to get some extension of benefits for these longterm unemployed? I'd like to join at least one of them, as I now feel that NOBODY in government cares about the older worker and wouldn't care if they all died. I need some financial backup for the period during which I am continuing to TRY TO FIND WORK. I've lived in my apt for 45 years (reared our kids here, don't have anywhere to move) and am now behind in my rent for the first time ever. What is it the Republicans don't get about the FACT that unemployment checks go immediately BACK into the economy in the form of food, medical payments, etc. I'm despondent. And really tired of being called a "slacker" or similar name. In my state, you have to prove to the state with detailed documentation what jobs you've applied for, who the contact names were at the job, the address and phone number, or you won't get a check. Yes HELP! PLEEZ

anna of NY 7:59AM February 05, 2012

Congress has no clue of the reality for millions of American families. They refer to the unemployed as lazy and believe the long term unemployed are druggies that are just milking the system. I have been unemployed for two years and am 52 years old. Today, I have no money for gasoline in my 12 year old car. I also applied and will receive $204 in food stamps. It is welfare or unemployment benefits for so many of the long term unemployed.
I also get free health care now. My home was stolen from me by by Fannie Mae (the government HAMP program was not enforced and is a joke.) I have nothing left to sell and am living in the basement of a friends small house. Congress needs to wake up! Unemployment benefits do not allow the unemployed to take vacations and or not used to buy drugs. We are law abiding citizens that simply cannot find a job. All the unemployed should vote the Republicans out of office in the next elections.

Peggy of MO 9:45AM February 03, 2012

Anyone with an employment gap is going to be "scored" as undesirable by third-party screening companies. If you haven't worked in a few months - your application will probably be filtered out. Employers will never see that carefully written cover letter and resume if you apply on-line. The EEOC needs to wipe these companies off the face of the earth, and put "humans" back in Human Resource departments. The biggest one, EmployeeScreenIQ in Cleveland, Ohio has application scoring practices which have dropped a huge section of the population into the trash. These job applicants are completely in the dark and defenseless. There are almost six million people who deserve representation in a massive class-action lawsuit.

Cynthia of OR 12:07AM January 13, 2012

I absolutely agree that something must be done. My spouse has been unemployed for more than 4 YEARS. Yes, YEARS! I think age discrimination is taking a toll. He is 58 and non-degreed but has 25 years of experience in manufacturing and management. He is sober, clean, never been to prison, never convicted of anything, excellent references and the list goes on and on and on. Meanwhile, I am supporting us and trying to help my adult child and significant other who lost their family business, a sister-in-law who lost her home and job in the Nashville flood, an ill mother-in-law and, again, the list goes on and on and on because damned near everyone I know has lost their job. HELP!

Nancy K. Gentry, CPA, MBA of VA 1:36PM January 10, 2012

Once a person has been unemployed long enough
personal references are hard and professional references are impossible. Without professional references even low end jobs like WalMart become beyond reach. Therefore, if you are unemployed you better run for the next job. The safety net for many is made of barbed wire. Many of the longer term unemployed would settle for a small roof, shoes, three squares and some basic primary care. They've shipped the jobs to China such the starting rungs of the ladder are gone. If you live were you have the above mentioned, I say avoid the USA. It promises but it does not deliver the jobs.

Dwight Hooper of NV 1:55AM January 09, 2012