Yes, but you and I know that’s the rate they go by. And I’ll be honest: I don’t know many unemployed people, but my next door neighbor was a mortgage banker seven years ago (as was his wife), they both got laid off, and she got put back on (I’m sure at a reduced salary) and he sells cars now.
So, I think there is a lot in that “under-employed” interpretation they have in the article.
That’s especially true among older Americans. So many 50+ year old Americans have been replaced by younger, lower paid employees. Age discrimination is illegal but nearly impossible to prove.
Seven years ago, I worked as a hospital medical transcriptionist, and my husband worked at Insight. He also worked a couple nights a week at a restaurant as a server. We made over $100k.
My job got sent to India in 2010, and he was fired from Insight 3 years ago (just before he turned 60) due to two bad quarters. Luckily, he became full-time at his restaurant job so we still have benefits. I got unemployment for awhile and now I’m in school, living off loans as well as early retirement. We make 2/3 of what we made when Obama took office.
We got the change all right...but not a lot of hope.