Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The odds you’ll join the ranks of the long-term unemployed
Washington Post ^ | 05/18/2014 | Matt O'Brien

Posted on 05/18/2014 6:48:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Long-term unemployment is a terrifying trap that, even in the best of times, is difficult to escape. And it's a trap that you can get stuck in for no reason other than bad luck.

Today, there are still almost 3.5 million people who have been out of work for six months or longer and are looking for work. There isn't a more urgent crisis, and there are three things you should keep in mind about it.

1. As former CEA Chair Alan Krueger found, the long-term unemployed aren't much different from the short-term unemployed. They're a little older and more of them are African-Americans, but they're just about as educated and work in the same industries as everyone else who's trying to find a job.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: jobs; unemployment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last

1 posted on 05/18/2014 6:48:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The really striking thing about having a black, very liberal prez is that stories of hunger, homelessness, etc. are suddenly much less popular.

The caterwauling will re-start a single microsecond after a real conservative (or even a liberal one) is elected Prez.


2 posted on 05/18/2014 6:52:41 PM PDT by gaijin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

3 posted on 05/18/2014 6:54:54 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Fegelein! Fegelein! Fegelein!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

In before the ‘DEADBEATS’ crowd.


4 posted on 05/18/2014 6:55:51 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

I don’t see the problem. they just continue voting democratic, and the benefits continue ad infinitum.


5 posted on 05/18/2014 6:56:13 PM PDT by willywill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Long-term unemployment is a terrifying trap that, even in the best of times, is difficult to escape.

First sentence has obvious victim-mentality, pawn-in-the-game-of life, Uncle Sugar, Free Crap Army, "I am owed a job" overtones.

Stopped reading right there.

6 posted on 05/18/2014 6:58:26 PM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Blog: www.BackwoodsEngineer.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

This seems to be a combination of things all coming together to cause this.

Automation
Free Immigration
Cheaper overseas labor costs
High Corporate taxes
Poor Education (no it is NOT money)
Poor Work Ethics (Bad Education here)

We are either going to have to overcome this or be just another third world country. Yes, Government is responsible for 90% of this but the folks keep voting for it without understanding why.


7 posted on 05/18/2014 7:02:45 PM PDT by Deagle (ues)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gaijin

I’m white, over 50, and have been unemployed for six of the last twelve months. And I’d like to thank that black, very liberal prez and his minions for nurturing that situation.


8 posted on 05/18/2014 7:03:29 PM PDT by Viking2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Why is this a surprise?

USA has higher corporate tax rate than all other industrialized countries with perhaps 1 exception.
And to make matters worse, the EPA is a huge anchor
especially on small & new businesses.

No wonder US corporations keep expanding abroad and
shrink operations in US.


9 posted on 05/18/2014 7:05:11 PM PDT by entropy12 (Some thought Obama would be no worse than Romney. So we have less jobs and more food stamps people.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: backwoods-engineer
First sentence has obvious victim-mentality.. Stopped reading right there.

I went slightly further, but then stopped as well:

the long-term unemployed aren't much different from the short-term unemployed...

Hogwash. Those that make the best effort to utilize whatever education is presented to them, and go the extra 100 miles to absorb it and then some, learn by their mistakes, and are go-getters, thinkers, and movers... have no problem with landing a job. Whereas, short-term employed includes many of those in that frame of mind, and those will find something within short order. Those missing those qualities will not. If they are employed, they will at some point find themselves unemployed at some point and then have difficulties.

10 posted on 05/18/2014 7:09:22 PM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: backwoods-engineer

Gosh, how pithy! I sure don’t feel I’m owed a job, but funny thing is no matter how qualified, or not, I come out being too old, too White, not qualified enough or over qualified. But I guess I’ll just start that business with no savings, no income no home, but what the hell I just a friggin deadbeast that feels the I am owed something and was just leeching off the government I payed friggin taxes into for over forty years!


11 posted on 05/18/2014 7:09:54 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“They’re a little older and more of them are African-Americans, but they’re just about as educated and work in the same industries as everyone else who’s trying to find a job.”

Really? I thought we were all past this “racial divide”. The South lost the war. Blacks won “equal rights” in the 60’s. “Protected classes” all over the place. Handouts. Bailouts. Section 8 housing. Free abortion. Free healthcare. Free Obama phones. Preferential treatment for small businesses. Free EBT cards. Etc.

How many damned training wheels do these under-producing “victims” need? Maybe these folks will do better in countries more aligned ethnically and ethically with their own culture.


12 posted on 05/18/2014 7:12:53 PM PDT by Up Yours Marxists
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
is difficult to escape. And it's a trap

Here I Thank God, I'm going to retire. There is nothing left to strive for. I'm going to surrender. 2008 beat me like a tied puppy.

13 posted on 05/18/2014 7:14:21 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

> I’m white, over 50, and have been unemployed for six of the last twelve months. And I’d like to thank that black, very liberal prez and his minions for nurturing that situation.

Trust me you’re not alone. Obamacare is killing small (and some large) businesses on a daily basis. I now know more unemployed people than employed people for the first time in my life. Jarrett and her buddy, 0, are trying hard to make times hard on the usually more productive of society, particularly the less pigmented...


14 posted on 05/18/2014 7:14:34 PM PDT by jsanders2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Viking2002

I’m not sure it’s just Obama’s problem.

He’s not helping, but neither did Bush.

Neither party is doing one spit, about American jobs.

Nobody.


15 posted on 05/18/2014 7:16:56 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#2013)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network; jsanders2001

Nope. The traditional Left/Right paradigm doesn’t exist anymore. I’ve come to look at the denizens of both parties with a jaundiced eye these days.


16 posted on 05/18/2014 7:24:23 PM PDT by Viking2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Deagle
There's one more factor that is driving a lot of this: Downward price/cost pressure from customers.

Everything you hear about unemployment and stagnant wages can be summed up in one simple fact:

There is an enormous difference between what people expect to get paid for a job, and what they're willing to pay someone else to do the same job.

17 posted on 05/18/2014 7:25:53 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("What in the wide, wide world of sports is goin' on here?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network

Regulation, taxation, immigration.

All are problems that have existed a lot longer than Obama has been in office.


18 posted on 05/18/2014 7:28:31 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Mastador1

Bravo! It is not that easy! The jobs out there won’t hire those they believe will leave if a better opportunity arrives. Not everyone on UI is a deadbeat.


19 posted on 05/18/2014 7:30:22 PM PDT by ozaukeemom (Is there even a republic left?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer; All

“And it’s a trap that you can get stuck in for no reason other than bad luck.”

Um, no. There ARE a huge percentage of Americans that ARE Deadbeats; no denying that! Why ELSE would we be in this pickle? They vote their own interests for free stuff!

Have marketable skills, no matter how ‘menial’ you may perceive them to be. Always, ALWAYS have multiple streams of income (I have three), and roll up your feckin’ sleeves and Git ‘er done! :)


20 posted on 05/18/2014 7:36:39 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson