Listen to an Unemployed Person Today
In 2013, we published a 40-week series of true stories of unemployment. When it concluded, I still had dozens of unpublished stories. Here are a few.
Whatever You Do, Don't Lose Your Job When You're Old
If you read any of our "Unemployment Stories" series a few years ago, you heard dozens of tales of older Americans who lost their jobs and were unable to get back on their feet. New survey data shows just how bad unemployment in later life can be.
Strong new employment figures for June have pushed the rate of long-term unemployment—those out of work more than six months—down to 33% of all unemployed Americans, its lowest rate in five years. (It is still much too high.)
"The number of Americans who would qualify for federal long-term unemployment benefits — a program Congress allowed to expire in December — has now hit 3 million."
The "Black Tunnel" of Long Term Unemployment
Long term unemployment is a twofold curse. Not only does it rob a person of their livelihood; it also makes them less likely to be hired again. That should not be the case. Here's a good reminder of why.
Man Sends Dick Pic Along With His Job Application
A Dallas man who sent a resume, job application, and photograph of his penis to a Texas company didn't get the job offer, but he did get a misdemeanor charge for his trouble.
Men Talk About Being Unemployed in Their Prime
"More than one in six men ages 25 to 54, prime working years, don't have jobs—a total of 10.4 million." That portion of the male population has almost tripled in the past 40 years. What is life like for these unemployed men? Let's hear from a few of them.
And Now, a Few Words From the Long-Term Unemployed
Almost four million Americans officially suffer from long-term unemployment. Unable to secure any meaningful legislation to help them, President Obama is reduced to begging corporations to pledge not to discriminate against them. What is long term unemployment like?
Bring Back the WPA
The 50th anniversary of Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" has prompted a bout of national soul-searching about how much progress we've really made. If we're actually interested in helping the poor, we should look even farther back in history, and resurrect the WPA.
Republicans Have Accidentally Solved Unemployment
Analysts say that America's unemployment rate could soon drop by a full half point, representing many hundreds of thouands of people off the official unemployment rolls. It's all thanks to one neat policy trick.
Approximately 1.3 million unemployed Americans lost their jobless benefits Saturday as the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired. "I don't know what we're going to do," said unemployed case manager Richard Mattos, 59, of Salem, Ore. "We could end up homeless because of this."
The Year in Hard Times
In 2013, we heard true stories from lots of people who were, to varying degrees, going through hard times. Military veterans. Workers at various low-wage jobs. Unemployed people. Let's remember a few of the year's most memorable true stories.
Bad Credit? This Bill Could Help You Get a Job Anyway
A bill to ban credit checks in the hiring process was introduced today by Elizabeth Warren and six Senate colleagues. Over 40 other groups also back the bill, which has plenty of support and even mirrors a similar bill introduced in the House two years ago.
Let's Give Our Veterans the Only Thing They Want: A Mission
We know what's wrong with Veteran's Day. We know this country is crawling with jobless, homeless veterans of America's constant occupations and invasions. We know there aren't enough jobs for these people already burdened with so much, and no labor market demand for the "skill set" of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder…
Robots Now Replacing Chinese Factory Workers and U.S. Fighter Pilots
Tom Cruise in that Top Gun movie, Han Solo, and that U.S. Airways pilot who landed a busted passenger jet in the Hudson River are some of the many dashing heroes we think of when we consider the heroic American pilot. But human pilots just aren't necessary anymore.
What's the Best Way To Get a Drink At a Busy Bar?
An empty bar is best. You just pick a seat where there's light enough to read, and the bartender comes right over. Then there are the busy nights, when people crush around the bar three deep and getting a drink seems impossible. What kind of supernatural skills are necessary for getting a cocktail on a Saturday night?
U.S. Unemployment Applications Nearing Five-Year Low
This morning, the Associated Press reports that the number of unemployment applications filed last week dropped by 9,000, which is only 1,000 more than the lowest level since June 2008. So while the Labor Department's figures haven't actually hit a five-year low, they're coming pretty close.
Labor Day Is a Scam To Keep You Poor and Miserable Forever
Labor Day is a complete rip-off. Labor isn't celebrated at all—instead, a single day's break from labor is celebrated. You might think this is a stupid thing to care about, because Labor Day is really just about getting drunk in your yard, again. But that's actually evidence of this very successful con job pulled on…
Post-Recession, Millions More Kids Have an Unemployed Parent
Since the Great Recession, America has become a harder place to live for people with kids. And for the kids themselves.
Someone Please Hire All the Teenagers
Just as "high school" was invented as a way to keep teenagers off the streets most of the year, "summer jobs" were invented as a way to keep them off the streets for the remainder of the year. But even five years after the Great Recession struck, summer jobs are as scarce as [reference to some teen-specific buzzword…
