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Unemployed Like Me
Blogger extraordinaire (a.k.a. film critic extraordinaire) and Hit & Run regular Alan Vanneman takes issue with a Wash Post story on long-term unemployment among the people who really matter, i.e., those more likely to read the Wash Post:
"The problem [long-term unemployment] is ensnaring a broader swath of workers than before. Once concentrated among manufacturing workers and those with little work history, education or skills, long-term unemployment is growing most rapidly among white-collar and college-educated workers with long work experience, studies have found, making the problem difficult for policymakers to address even as it grows more urgent."
OK, so far, so good. But what evidence does Mike have to prove that "long-term unemployment is growing most rapidly among white-collar and college-educated workers with long work experience"? He refers to "studies" but provides no data from them. He provides anecdotal evidence for a grand total of two workers-two! two!-both of whom departed from their last employer under less than ideal circumstances. One felt the job was a "bad fit," which could mean anything from "my boss was an idiot" to "they told me that if I didn't quit they'd fire me." Mike's other hapless victim had a "sleeping disorder," which resulted in his, well, in his not showing up for work very much. Some swath!
jimmydageek|1.22.08 @ 9:04AM|#
I'll admit that it's tough finding a job sometimes. However, it's not so bad if you treat finding a job as a job in itself. Many people sit back and hope for something to come along. Many people also won't "settle" for something less than their dream job. I know people like this and I get tired of hearing them complain about not finding a job.
BakedPenguin|1.22.08 @ 9:05AM|#
Did the guy who writes headlines get fired? If so, how long has he been out of work?
|1.22.08 @ 9:07AM|#
I was the one writing the headlines, but the job was a "bad
fit."
Take a look at the last dozen or so posts... I've been mailing it
in for a while now.
Episiarch|1.22.08 @ 9:10AM|#
I know some people with education and experience who don't have jobs. I call them "lazy". Because they are.
|1.22.08 @ 9:12AM|#
Could any potential uptick in the number of college-educated people who are unemployed have anything to do with the rapid increase in number of people with college educations?
Unevirsitey of Pheenix gradyou|1.22.08 @ 9:14AM|#
Could any potential uptick in the number of college-educated people who are unemployed have anything to do with the rapid increase in number of people with college educations?
In my opion, your full of shit!!!11!!
BakedPenguin|1.22.08 @ 9:20AM|#
joe - from 30 million in 1993 to 40 million in 2003. That's a lot steeper than population growth in general.
|1.22.08 @ 9:26AM|#
He provides anecdotal evidence for a grand total of two
workers-two! two!
TWO! TWO! TWO! TWO!
Let's sing a song of twooooo
How many is two?
One... Two
TWO BUMS!
|1.22.08 @ 9:38AM|#
Has there been a rapid uptick in the number of people with
college degrees?
Only if you count BA English as a college degree. I'd kill for a
breakdown of which degrees the people losing their jobs tend to
have. Somehow I doubt it's math or engineering....
T|1.22.08 @ 9:40AM|#
Many people also won't "settle" for something less than
their dream job. I know people like this and I get tired of hearing
them complain about not finding a job.
Yeah,the I won't do x, y, or z for less than $$$ crowd. I guess the
whole concept that some money coming in is better than no money
coming in baffles them.
Of course, I haven't been unemployed since I got my undergraduate
degree.
|1.22.08 @ 9:49AM|#
Well, it looks like there's going to be a lot more unemployed people as the world markets are crashing... No wait, it's OK, the FED is giving away money. That'll fix it.
Alice Bowie|1.22.08 @ 9:52AM|#
I'm an IT Professional in NYC...been 1 4 over 23 years....
I make now what I made 12 years ago...and my salary will ONLY go
down.
No, I'm not talking about an inflation-adjusted comparison voer the
last 12 years...I'm talking actual $$$s.
Luckly 4 me ... i'm in my 40s...I saved up a penny or two...and the
roof is paid.
If and when i end up unemployable...(due to outsourcing) I will
have 2 send the Mrs back 2 work...and settle 4 a lesser paying
job...and even move out of NYC 2 a place w/lower cost of
livin'.
I think that we r the 1st generation in recent AMERICA that
sees NO UPSIDE...just DOWNSIDE
|1.22.08 @ 9:55AM|#
I'd kill for a breakdown of which degrees the people losing
their jobs tend to have. Somehow I doubt it's math or
engineering....
Haven't you heard? There are NO engineering or technical jobs in
this country anymore. The Hindoos have gutted our economy.
|1.22.08 @ 9:58AM|#
The NYT will run this story every few years. They will find some Yuppie in Broklyn Heights who has been out of work for so many years but can't find any new work in any meaningful public interest NGO type stuff. Faced with the prospect of taking a job with the evil private sector and maybe having to move to Texas or somewhere west of the Hudson River or do nothing and whine, they chose to do nothing and whine and get an NYT piece written about them. I think this kind of piece is a template on file at most big city newspapers.
R C Dean|1.22.08 @ 10:00AM|#
I think that we r the 1st generation in recent AMERICA that
sees NO UPSIDE...just DOWNSIDE
Not me. I'm in my mid-40s, and by willing to move I have increased
my take-home and my position twice in 4 years. Total bump - @$50K
not including benefits.
Episiarch|1.22.08 @ 10:05AM|#
I'm an IT Professional in NYC...been 1 4 over 23
years....
I make now what I made 12 years ago...and my salary will ONLY go
down.
Maybe you just suck, Alice? I was an IT professional in NYC too.
There was tons of work and most of it paid well. Consulting paid
big bucks.
yoshi|1.22.08 @ 10:10AM|#
@alice
Perhaps the reason for your income going down is the overuse of
"numbers" in place of real words.
This IT professional is making more then he did 12 years ago. I
also had my contract cut the week before christmas. In cases like
this it takes me three weeks to sign up a new engagement but in
this awful economy that is destroying good hard working highly
educated men - it took me ... oh ... three weeks. And I spent half
that time leveling up a new character in WoW. And I am not worried
about outsourcing since for two reasons - I take the time to keep
my skills up to date and in areas that are difficult to outsource
and my company is the organization they would outsource your job
to.
Alice Bowie|1.22.08 @ 10:19AM|#
Hey guys...don't get me wrong
I'm pretty employable...and make great money.
I've spent 20 of the last 23 years as a consultant on the
STREET.
Recently, i've converted full time...and make the same $$$ plus
bene's. Know many people on the STREET...and can get a JOB
easily.
As good as it seems 4 me...I think things will change...4
the worst
Alice Bowie|1.22.08 @ 10:21AM|#
LOve ur comment Elitist Scumbag...But jobs don't get real-er
than this one.
I'm afraid i'm in the mist of my "PROFESSIONAL mid-life crisis"
Eltist Scumbag|1.22.08 @ 10:24AM|#
I'm afraid i'm in the mist of my "PROFESSIONAL mid-life
crisis"
Been there; Done that
jimmydageek|1.22.08 @ 10:39AM|#
I'm afraid i'm in the mist of my "PROFESSIONAL mid-life
crisis"
Meh. I'm in the dew of my "professional crisis".
Blueberry|1.22.08 @ 10:52AM|#
I graduated recently with math and hard sci degree, but since I'm on my dad's health insurance until I'm 25, I'm gonna go ahead and try my luck at the entrepreneurial game. I'm not too worried about finding a job if my LLCing all goes bust.
Alice Bowie|1.22.08 @ 10:55AM|#
U know what Blueberry...GO 4 it
I graduated in 1986 with EE degree...and there were NO EE jobs
paying what CONSULTING IT was paying...so I went into CONSULTING
IT...and never looked back for 20 years.
At the time, we had a similar recession as now. Many engineers lost
their jobs to outsourcing...particularly, chemical and petro
engineers. The Housing market SUCKED....BLACK Monday in 1987 was NO
PICNIC...yet i got thru it.
Best of luck 2 u
KenK|1.22.08 @ 11:49AM|#
"his not showing up for work very much"
Clearly a disabilty that should be addressed by government action
to force someone to give this guy a salary and benefits for doing
nothing.
PS. Did Kramer have a college degree?
atrevete|1.22.08 @ 11:54AM|#
I can't tell if Alice has tongue firmly in cheek or not. I still
need my morning coffee.
Because people who can't be bothered to spell out "one" or "to",
and can't tell "midst" from "mist" are very lucky to be able to
make enough money to have a house with heat and drive a car.
sv|1.22.08 @ 1:28PM|#
the american way: stop bitching, learn some new skills to compete with the injuns etc?
Brandybuck|1.22.08 @ 1:36PM|#
During the Great Dot Boom, my neighbor moved next door from
Wisconsin. This was in the heart of Silicon Valley, the epicenter
of the Boom. Two months later he quit his job. For the next year he
would stay home, and bitch that the US was a horrible place because
he couldn't get a job. He never submitted resumes, never left his
apartment, never tried learning new skills. Other than a listing on
job search engine, he did nothing to secure new employment. But he
whined about his unemployment constantly.
This was not after the bomb, but during the boom. Even kindergarten
dropouts were getting
Brandybuck|1.22.08 @ 1:37PM|#
[aargh, his submit too soon!}
This was not after the bomb, but during the boom. Even kindergarten
dropouts were getting job offers.
Alice Bowie|1.22.08 @ 1:44PM|#
Yes atrevete ... u r right
I can't spell one or to
I'm actually a girl-friday working for k-mart.
Alice Bowie|1.22.08 @ 1:45PM|#
I can't tell if Alice has tongue firmly in cheek or not. I
still need my morning coffee.
I was goin' 4 da BUTT-Hole
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