Is the job market *really* that bad?

[Planogirl]

It's bad around here. I see more and more ads for volunteer job which amazes me. Not that I see all that many ads to begin with and I am looking!

Our numbers of unemployed aren't as bad as some areas but from I understand the underemployed numbers are pretty shocking. Our unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in December. They say that the underemployment rate is nearly double the unemployment rate and when you combine the two it's not a good picture.

 

[eliza61]

And no, I'm not trying to underscore the unemployment crisis or any involved...it is bad right now. But is it really as bad as the doom & gloom talking heads suggest on TV? I know news stations such as CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all have to have ratings in order to survive. And in order to survive you need to create the shock & awe factor to get people tuned in. Which during a recession, usually means using the fear factor, so to speak.
But when stations are saying "there are no jobs", yet I am sitting right here looking across the road at a Calhoun's restaurant, which has been hiring line cooks for the past 2 weeks (they need 3..have found one in two weeks, but still seeking the other 2). And no, there is not some massive line forming everyday of people. The sign has been out forever. The same can be said for a Target Superstore less than 25-min from here. They have been needing help since early this year. Not to mention the occaisonal Taco Bells and Best Buy's which have had help wanteds up in the past week or so.

So is it really at catastrophic levels? I know the college grads around here are having it harder due to employers pulling the "over-qualified" card and not wanting to pay the extra $$$ for someone with a degree/certification.

Yes, it's pretty bad and yes, the media is doom and gloom.

1) As a former intern during college at a local abc affiliate station let me say that news makes money on doom and gloom. I know every one thinks we should have "happy" stories but sadly that does not pay the bills. For some reason bad news is interesting to us. That's where the phrase "if it bleeds, it leads" come from. If there is blood, murder and mayhem in the story that's what leads the broadcast.

2)10% unemployment is not good. My target, walmart etc also have the "for help" signs up but I think they have simply been to lazy to take them down. When you go to their websites to apply, usually there are no openings.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

There are definitely jobs out there, the career jobs are the ones not as easy to find. I do the hiring at my position and actually see less applicants now than I did 2 years ago, and the quality of those applicants are pretty poor. Why work for $300-400 a week when you can sit at home and make $11 per hour on unemployment? It's a tough living on that type of money, but it can be done, I've been through it.

My wife is currently teaching as they couldn't find an instructor for the college course. She never applied for the job, nor has she ever taught, it was just a referral from a friend who knew the school was in desparate need of an instructor. After declining the position 4 times, she received a call on New Years Day with the school begging for help, she agreed. This position had been advertised for months.

Network, check the paper ads, surf the net. Don't limit yourself, suck it in and drive 50 miles each way to work if needed. What you do now in a time of crisis will shape your future.

From a number standpoint, my region has unemployment around 8%.

I would be more than happy to work for $300-$400 a week. That was about as much as I was making before I got laid off because state funding was cut at the non-profit where I worked. Although I can't go backwards as far as salary is concerned, I would be open to making the same as I was before as long as I was employed.

I don't like being unemployed. I hate it actually. It makes me feel useless because they decided to get rid of me and not somebody else. But what can I do? I've applied at several places and had one unsolicited interview. Nothing. I wish I didn't to rely on unemployment to pay the rent and the bills.

I do surf the Internet daily, I've been trying to network with old co-workers and have been checking the newspaper. Sadly if there are 2 dozen jobs in the paper on one day it's a miracle. I am willing to drive, but there is just nothing out there.

Just consider yourself lucky that you and you wife have a job, because it really stinks out there.

 

[dicar123]

It's fairly rough here as well. My husband had to fire a number of people last March and about half of them are still not working regularly.

I work in fast food, in a store that opened in October. We started out with crazy huge business, everyone who wanted got full time hours. The newness has worn off, the weather is cold and they are cutting hours like crazy. We just lost one outstanding worker because he can't get enough hours, he's better off on unemployment. And several people have been let go.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

My main motivation for getting through college is so that I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TABLES ANYMORE.

6 months after graduation...i was back. i had to. Even with my degree, it's really the only kind of job i'm qualified for at this point (and i'm darn good at it, ) and the only job i can seem to get. i've sent out HUNDREDS of applications in the last year, and i've had to juggle up to 3 jobs at one time, to make the kind of money i theoretically could with a steady, "normal", 40-hour a week job.

i think you are forgetting that a big part of the "unemployment" crisis is that lots of people are underemployed, meaning they aren't getting enough hours or otherwise aren't filling their productive potential.

i am honestly considering getting a paralegal certification, another $1000 or so on top of the $40,000 it took to get a BA in Political Science/Legal Studies. In this job market, THAT would actually give me the edge.

I know exactly what you mean! I'm still in school but my main drive is that I won't have to wait tables some day! I can't stand some of the d-bags I face anymore... especially now when the economy is bad. Somehow a couple can spend $100 on their meal but only leave a $5 tip.

And it's never the nice people who pull that s**t either, it's always those who ask for everything under the sun, want 100% of your attention when you have 8 other tables, who complain about the price, who send food back for stupid reasons, who sit at their table for 3 hours, who come in 2 minutes until closing, etc. I had to switch with one of the guys because I was about to punch one of the customers. And I'm not a violent person.

I just can't wait until I don't have to do this anymore. I used to love it but people are becoming so angry and so cheap in the wrong places anymore it's really wearing on me.

 

[jillyb]

i am honestly considering getting a paralegal certification, another $1000 or so on top of the $40,000 it took to get a BA in Political Science/Legal Studies. In this job market, THAT would actually give me the edge.

It's not any better in the legal field. I've got an Associates Degree in Paralegal Technology and have 17 years experience. For the past 8 years I worked as an in house paralegal. In April of last year the company eliminated the position. I'm still looking for a job. I've sent out resumes, had interviews and had people tell me I've got lots of great experience. But somehow, with all that great experience I'm not getting the jobs.

I could have had a job working as a hostess at a local restaurant making $4/hour plus tip share and working less than 40 hours a week. I get more in unemployment than I would have made at that job. I started out waiting tables and I wouldn't mind going back to that but, again, I get more in unemployment. As PPs have said, I've even applied for jobs at Target and Wal-Mart but they're not going to hire me because they know if I was offered a job in my field I'd be gone.

So, to the OP, yes it is that bad. In NC, if I remember correctly, the unemployment rate is something like 12%.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I always say it depends if it is bad or not on if it's you who has a job or not.
Central FL is still in the double digits. And like many I suspect it s higher with those who first were laid off probably no longer on the unemployment figure radar. Very tough times.
Has anyone noticed how easy it is to get a doctor or dentist appt on short notice now? What does that say alone?

 

[PatriciaH]

I think we are at 11.8% unemployment in Central Florida right now but they say it is honestly over 20% with people who have given up looking, are working part time and struggling, etc. DH and I have been looking for full time, non contract or temp work with benefits for over 5 years now. TG we have some side businesses we do. Even the demo-ing at local stores was great a year ago ($15/hour or so.) Remember that long thread! Now very few stores do that any longer or it is in house. We are trying to move back north again. DH may have an interview soon because of networking. I pray he gets it-it is a good company.

 

[arminnie]

These stories are heartbreaking.

Really sorry to hear, and please please please do not let the title of this thread mislead. I was not at all trying to pull the "it ain't bad...stop complaining" deal. Not in the least bit. I know it's bad...we're all impacted by this. Just wondering what the outlook is in other parts of the country.

I hope things do turn around for the better soon.

Hi Erik - I'm a couple of hours away from you in Little Rock. Things really aren't bad here either. There are "hiring" signs up everywhere. One of our hospitals is doing a major, major expansion after buying a huge tract of land on the western edge of the city.

It's not exactly a "boom" time. I do know people who have lost their jobs, but they have been able to find other employment without having to go the fast food route.

I bought a condo in October. Places were literally selling in a day or two. Probably because of the housing credit. The real expensive houses aren't moving that fast though.

I have friends in the real estate business (appraisal, contruction, sales, etc). They all say things are slow - but not desperate.

I know desperate - I lived through the Texas debacle in the 80s. I truly do feel sorry for those going through it now.

My second home is in New Orleans. I'd been taking care of my elderly father in Arkansas for the past decade. He recently died. I probably would not have bought this condo had I known he wasn't going to be around.

I may go back to work. I noticed several openings in New Orleans that I am qualified for. There's a tremendous energy in New Orleans right now. Lots of younger people choosing to be part of the rebuilding process. Tulane University had 39,000 applications for the freshman class last year (compared to 30,000 for Stanford).

I wish I knew the answer on how to fix the rest of the economy.

For the aspiring teachers - there are quite a few vacancies in Louisiana.

 

[padams]

Real unemployment is around 17% nationally. The 10% figure does not include those who have used up their unemployment and are still unemployed or those who have taken part-time work or work well below their previous pay level.

 

[AshleyW]

It's not too bad here. Iowa's unemployment rate for December was 6.6%.. our hospitals were under a hiring freeze for a while in regards to RN's, but they've lifted that now. DF graduated at the end of October with his BS in Finance, and he had got offered a very nice job the first week of January. He only spent about a month and a half looking before he started interviewing for that job.

My parents moved to Florida in February 09, and they took my 19 year old brother with them. He's really regretting moving.. he's been submitted applications since BEFORE they moved, and never got any calls or anything. He has a PT job now, but only because his girlfriends' dad owns a shipping store and is letting him work a few hours.

Good luck to everyone out there looking for jobs.

 

[daughtersrus]

Things are pretty bad here in the Chicago area especially for those in Union trades. The average wait time for an electrician right now is about 12 months. The wait for elevator repairmen/inspectors is longer than that. Construction has pretty much come to a halt. It's usually pretty slow because of winter weather but it's really bad now.

Most of our school districts announced last week that there will be major cuts next year in order to balance the budgets. The sad part of this is that it will be the kids that suffer. Almost of all of them are making the cuts in certified (teaching) positions and not in the higher paid administration positions.