Unemployment grows to 26 year high

[FutureAmerican 2]

I lost my job as a Trainee Oil Field Engineer here in Colorado after just 2 months employment...unfortunately I'd already signed into a lease on a house and the landlord wouldn't budge, so I wound up living off Ramen Noodles for several months. I've had zero luck getting any kind of Engineering work despite hundreds of job applications (and 2 and a half years experience)...which is why it aggravates me when I see news articles about how "Engineering is a guaranteed job"...yeah that worked out real well for me! I got a new job in Hospital Security about a month after I lost that one.

I initially took my current job in Hospital Security as a "fill in", but I've really enjoyed it despite the low pay and managed to get promoted to supervisor after 4 months. Am now getting ready for another promotion to either a Shift Supervisor at a bigger hospital, or a Facility Supervisor at a smaller one...although it would be nice to get back into Engineering at some point, it's been over a year now since I was last in industry and so I'm not too hopeful. Will see how things work out in the next year or so and once I get my US Citizenship, maybe look at a government job of some kind.

[Nikita2Charles 32]

Almost a year since my wife got laid off from the IT sector, at the same time where i work at we've been having furlough, force time off, which end up in severe reduction of pay. To make matter worse we bought our house at the peak of time in 06. now with all the mess with the economy the bank most of then are not willing to work something out with the home owner. They always say to try have a 6 months back up saving, with the current crisis it has already eaten up that 6 months and more. It comes down to this point, The house is now worth 50% of its current value, it will take years before you can break even to recove your downpayment. At what point do you decide to tell the bank, you can have the house since they are not willing to work with you. under current financial situation there's no way to keep this mortgage as is without going bankrupt. And you wouldn't beleive the kind of advice the banks are giving people out there when you call them for help trying to get a loan modification, plainly CRIMINAL i would say to tell someone

You are already down, they are asking you to go take a loan to pay the mortgage

Cash out your 401K to pay the bank

Therefore people who were doing the right thing by putting a huge downpayment to keep their monthly payment as low as possible are getting screwed by the banks whereare rewarding those who were irresponsible but now i would say WERE SMART not too put much down because now they can just walk out of the loan.

As one of the loan officer told me, right now forget about credit score, stop making your payment, upgrade you status ONLY then the bank will help you, now you are wondering why we are all in this mess.

[pedroh 21]

yeah I don't understand why companies still do credit checks, right now most people's credit has turned to #######..

[Dan J 277]

I did actually get time reduced at my previous job back in April. However, it didn't take long to find a new job I am making a bit more than I did before. Although it did take a little bit longer than when i switched jobs in 2006.

[rebeccajo 14]

Back in the 80s there were only three major TV networks and no Internet. We've got far more info but less on the plight of the unemployed. Think about it. The people are pissed off about health care but little obvious anger among the unemployed now.

What? Who do you think are part of the 46 million without coverage?

I guess it depends on what you are reading on the internet. I certainly haven't found it hard to find pageafterpageafterpageafterpage of articles about unemployed persons with no insurance who are scared to death right now.

[sara535 15]

I was laid off and unemployed for a year - finally got a new job in June. The funny thing is, when I took the job I got laid off from it was with a Fortune 500 company, and part of my motivation was the job security I was sure I would have after working for small businesses for several years. Now I am back with a smallish company and its so far so good except for the fact that my health insurance is almost 800 bucks a month for the family - but thats another thread!

I live in California and we've seen a lot of the 'human interest' stories on the news out here....

Edited September 7, 2009 by sara535

[rebeccajo 14]

I was laid off and unemployed for a year - finally got a new job in June. The funny thing is, when I took the job I got laid off from it was with a Fortune 500 company, and part of my motivation was the job security I was sure I would have after working for small businesses for several years. Now I am back with a smallish company and its so far so good except for the fact that my health insurance is almost 800 bucks a month for the family - but thats another thread!

I live in California and we've seen a lot of the 'human interest' stories on the news out here....

Well you know, sara, in the world of alienlovechild and his peers, there's no recession and there's no crisis as long as it doesn't affect THEM.

[alienlovechild 75]

I was laid off and unemployed for a year - finally got a new job in June. The funny thing is, when I took the job I got laid off from it was with a Fortune 500 company, and part of my motivation was the job security I was sure I would have after working for small businesses for several years. Now I am back with a smallish company and its so far so good except for the fact that my health insurance is almost 800 bucks a month for the family - but thats another thread!

I live in California and we've seen a lot of the 'human interest' stories on the news out here....

Well you know, sara, in the world of alienlovechild and his peers, there's no recession and there's no crisis as long as it doesn't affect THEM.

Yeah, the recession hasn't affected me at all and you read my previous post. Well, there's two lies for this thread.

Remember the recession doesn't matter because . . .here it comes . . . wait for it. . . IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

[LaL 418]

Remember the recession doesn't matter because . . .here it comes . . . wait for it. . . IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

that doesn't even make sense.

[rebeccajo 14]

I was laid off and unemployed for a year - finally got a new job in June. The funny thing is, when I took the job I got laid off from it was with a Fortune 500 company, and part of my motivation was the job security I was sure I would have after working for small businesses for several years. Now I am back with a smallish company and its so far so good except for the fact that my health insurance is almost 800 bucks a month for the family - but thats another thread!

I live in California and we've seen a lot of the 'human interest' stories on the news out here....

Well you know, sara, in the world of alienlovechild and his peers, there's no recession and there's no crisis as long as it doesn't affect THEM.

Yeah, the recession hasn't affected me at all and you read my previous post. Well, there's two lies for this thread.

Remember the recession doesn't matter because . . .here it comes . . . wait for it. . . IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

Oh what? You lost your employer 401K contribution?

Boo freakin' hoo.

[alienlovechild 75]

Remember the recession doesn't matter because . . .here it comes . . . wait for it. . . IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

that doesn't even make sense.

Ask the people who use that line everyday. They'll fill you in on why it matters.

Oh what? You lost your employer 401K contribution?

Boo freakin' hoo.

Remember when liberals were compassionate? Now they want people to fail to punish them for working an honest job as capitalist tools.

[HAL 9000 96]

[Danno 1,228]

Remember the recession doesn't matter because . . .here it comes . . . wait for it. . . IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

that doesn't even make sense.

Ask the people who use that line everyday. They'll fill you in on why it matters.

Oh what? You lost your employer 401K contribution?

Boo freakin' hoo.

Remember when liberals were compassionate? Now they want people to fail to punish them for working an honest job as capitalist tools.

Thats because we are past he first phase of Liberals. They are now in the bitter phase.

Awe you remember the "first phase" Libs... heck I even admired their principles if their pony-tail did look silly.

Remember such stuff as: "I may not agree with you ...but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

They used to say that on college Campus back in the day!

[Autumnchik 6]

We have definitely been affected too. My husband is a carpenter. In Vancouver, he worked for a large company in a supervisory capacity. They always had numerous jobs on the go (and still do, as my husband has kept in touch with former colleagues). When we moved to a very rural area, my husband was lucky to find work right away. However, much of the construction in this area was luxury second homes, and that market has just shriveled up. My husband was laid off a year ago (with many of his coworkers). All of the local construction companies have laid people off. Another complicating factor in our area was the closing of several mills, which flooded the market with unemployed workers. My husband has not been able to find work (even though he has applied for other jobs outside of his area of expertise, such as retail). He has actually decided to make a career change and just began college, taking prereqs for nursing.

One thing that complicated this financial situation for us was that our son had to have a major emergency surgery when he was 2 months (right before hubby got laid off). At the time, I was on unpaid maternity leave and hubby had to take unapid leave from his job as well. Insurance didn't cover all of the expenses, so we have had whopping medical bills we have been trying to deal with (luckily, many of the doctors offered sone hardship help and cut the bills in half, although it is still a lot).

One good thing is that my job is secure. I am a psychotherapist and it seems like more and more people are coming to therapy to deal with all the stress. Traditionally, summer is a slow time of year for my agency, but this summer, we constantly had referrals.

Edited September 8, 2009 by Autumnchik

[alienlovechild 75]

They are now in the bitter phase.

Now we know how the First Lady felt for most of her adult life.

Remember such stuff as: "I may not agree with you ...but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Now they think you're so well armed so you can defend yourself.