Many of the jobs lost during the recession are not coming back.
Period.
For the last two years, the weak economy has provided an opportunity for employers to do what they would have done anyway: dismiss millions of people ”” like file clerks, ticket agents and autoworkers ”” who were displaced by technological advances and international trade.
The phasing out of these positions might have been accomplished through less painful means like attrition, buyouts or more incremental layoffs. But because of the recession, winter came early.
The tough environment has been especially disorienting for older and more experienced workers like Cynthia Norton, 52, an unemployed administrative assistant in Jacksonville.
“I know I’m good at this,” says Ms. Norton. “So how the hell did I end up here?”
A very poignant article that helps put a face on the millions of people stuck in this frustrating position of being unlikely to ever be rehired to do the old jobs they were good at. Alas, there are lots of Ms. Norton’s out there.
I was startled, and appalled, by the grim statistic on the huge number of people that have been unemployed and seeking work for over 6 months, i.e., virtually 46% of those unemployed have been stuck in that miserable quagmire. Almost half of those out of work.
For example, I know a couple (in their mid 50s) who are both in that horrible predicament, and they are both bright, hardworking people with impressive resumes, used to a family income well over $100K. The wife has been out of work for three years, the husband for one year. The husband (the main breadwinner) had run his own business in the telecom industry (which has been especially hardhit). Fortunately, their mortgage is paid off, or they’d be in an even worse plight.
With millions of very unhappy, frustrated people out there, this would appear to be a golden opportunity for churches to offer a ministry of support for those trapped in this depressing situation. But I know very few churches that do anything of the sort.
David Handy+