DISQUS

John · 8 months ago

That's a really sad figure and in a few months we may well be losing 1 million jobs per month. But not to worry. Our manipulated markets just went up over 160 points today. Everything is just wonderful. don't worry, be happy as the great minds at the G-20 will have a plan and it will probably consist of shaking down tax payers even more. Taxes are going up and if you smoke and live in NY your lucky enough to pay $9 for a pack.

anastasjoy · 8 months ago

The bad news is that George Bush wasn't laid off in 2004.

Idlehands · 8 months ago

Idlehands are the Devil's playthings. 1930 what? Industrial revolution, public anger, etc.

Older_Wiser · 8 months ago

There is no good news about jobs. Unemployment is 12.7% in this county (where many people work in Charlotte), and over 13% in adjacent counties where textiles and furniture (what's left of them) predominate. All of it is having an effect on small businesses, restaurants, etc., some of which are already closing or closed, with strip malls empty of tenants, some of which have been built in the last year (dumbasses). Everyone is going totally discount, with a year-old Wally World down the road, not well staffed, and the dollar stores and grocery stores doing ok. The "European Grocery" and other trendy stores are shuttering after a year. I'm making my own bread now, no need to pay $5/loaf in some trendy store.

AM1309 · 8 months ago

I lost my job in January, and my husband lost his two days ago. Our combined household income has gone from roughly 120k a year to my $300wk unemployment. The Georgia labor offices are overwhelmed, and told my husband on Monday that it could take 21 working days to process his claim. (Up from the 19 they told me.) Of course, then there's the additional 5-10 working days needed to implement the decision. (And if the company disputes the claim, it could take twice as long.)
When I filed in January, I asked, pointedly, if the GA Labor department was actually telling me it could take 3 months to receive benefits. Without blinking, the official said yes. In reality, it took about 6 weeks, but there's no telling how long it's going to take now. (Neither my company, nor my husband's, disputed benefits. His actually told him where to go and what to bring.)
My husband and I planned for this to happen. We played it smart with our mortgage, didn't buy more house than we could afford- bought less, actually, and had a fixed rate from the beginning. We have savings for 6 months to a year, so neither of us is too worried. Pissed off, but not worried.
What I keep thinking about are the people who aren't ready. Who have to wait 6 weeks to 3 months for benefits when they can't afford to wait two days. We're angry because we might have to move to another city. But at least we could buy another house, and aren't in danger of loosing this one. I'm clipping coupons, canceling vacations and cutting out significant purchases for the year. In my mind, that's not much of a sacrifice. Our main worry is insurance. I had us under my company's policy until I was let go. Now that my husband is also unemployed, all we can do is pray nothing happens. At least we have enough money for basic medical care. And we can pay our bills.
But when the right-wing noise machine starts squawking about teleprompters, or if Michelle is showing too much arm, or if Obama is actually a communist-loving Kenyan Muslim, in the last two days I've gone from rolling my eyes to pulling-my-hair-out screaming. I can't imagine how the people in those tent cities, especially families with children who have been literally ripped away from their friends and schools, think and say to each other at night.

Bubbles · 7 months ago

You don't know how good you've got it. I couldn't find a job in my old field after 2005 (I was an Info Tech data analyst with over 15 years experience - as a consultant) - during the height of the Bush boom (most likely because of a spike of H1B visas courtesy of Mr. Bush). I couldn't get a job at McDonalds or grocery stores.

I went through all my unemployment, all my savings. Then started eating into my credit as I frantically searched in vain to find some way to just feed myself and pay rent. Finally I ended up teaching English in Korea (a field I am not trained in) for $2000 a month. I send $1500 home to pay various bills and college loans.

I turn 50 next February. I've got nothing. I'm sleep walking through life. And I should say I saw this coming from a long way off - I was trying to prepare, and had saved up money. The specific timing cought me between positions.

Anyway, I'm jealous of you and your husband. If you get any work, I mean any work, please take it. Work in a store, anything. Don't end up where I am.