DU employment/Unemployment poll

[radfringe]

Poll question: DU employment/Unemployment poll

regarding this post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1226415

we know that the numbers are skewed, people no longer eligible for unemployment are not counted even though they haven't found a job...

although the DU is a comparitively small community of like minded people - employment and unemployment crosses all boundries...


so are you:

[radfringe]

1. I've had the same job since 1999

am looking for a new one, because I can't stand my current job..

not much out there in my area...

However, my partner has been laid off from 3 jobs since 2001

she is now working for a small law firm with about as much job security that can be expected - but at considerably less pay

[onethatcares]

4. one part time, another self employed

no benefits in either one.

[Bob3]

2. I was lucky

I was laid off in October of 2002 and managed to get a Job at pretty much the same pay (1K less actually) In Jan 2003. very very lucky. I know a lot of folks out of work for months and months.

[Ladyhawk]

3. SSI Disability

It isn't enough.

[izzie]

5. Retired but still selling my goods.

May set business up on PC but not sure yet. Never fit under any programs as I was self employed.

[daveskilt]

6. after being underemployed 2 years ago

and taking a 50% paycut I went back to school and am finishing an MBA in May - THEN I'll be unemployed.
(unless anyone knows somewhere that is hiring? :) )

[acmavm]

7. Working temp jobs for over a year (since I got a degree as a paralegal).

None of them in the law field. I just have to take whatever I can get. I've been at the current one since November. NO insurance, no sick days, no vacation, no anything. But I am lucky enough to say I have a paycheck coming in.

[comsymp]

8. Same here- temping for CONSIDERABLY less $

But at least the agency I'm working for offers benefits-

[Mairead]

9. SS retirement, because I couldn't find a job

once the computer industry collapsed and was shipped abroad.

SS retirement isn't enough, either.

[Skywalker]

10. 2nd Loss

The second job I've lost since July 2001. I hope I'm close to a new job, interview this Tuesday.

Mark

[murielm99]

11. I went back to school, because I was underemployed.

Now I am unemployed. I sub, because that is the only thing I can find.

Than God my husband has a job, and benefits.

[Jim__]

12. Same job since Jan 2001

But, my company had a major layoff in March 2002, about 50% of my department went. Since then, rumors abound, we're being bought, another layoff is coming down ... I'm glad to be working; but no one feels secure.

[camero]

13. applying for SSDI

Didn't get any unemployment or any kind of gov't help for that matter. It's Florida for you.

[Fla_Democrat]

14. Had the same job since

June of 1989.

Guess that falls under "have had same job since Jan 20, 2001", or is that a specific date, and I should have voted "other"? :shrug:

[duhneece]

15. Was earning $16.50/hr fulltime

But I just started a part-time job at $10/hr.

[rogerashton]

16. Had the same job since Sept., 1988

Since I negotiated academic tenure at appointment (no tenure, fellas, you don't get me) and since universities are survivers (despite some really rotten times in the early 1990's), my case his hardly representative.

To misquote the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, tenure will get you through times of no cost-of-living raises better than raises will get you through times of no tenure.

[supernova]

17. Laid off 19 mos and counting

I don't know what I'm going to do....

I'll have to get a temp job I suppose and pretty quickly. I'm running out of cash. :-(

I was technical writer, but I haven't been able to get another job in that field around here. Plus I'm not married or in a relationship so there's no one to rely on.

I'll have to think of something else to do, but what I don't know.

I really feel so alone with all this and it's hard. :cry: :cry:

[dweller]

25. You are not alone here SN

bunch of us seem to be in the same boat, and yeah it's crummy.

Saw a tech writing position open just recently in the area, in the advocate. Of course you could submit your app along with the hundreds+ others that will...

hang in there.
dp

[hang a left]

18. Homemaker with school age children.

Husband and family own insurance business.

[ThomWV]

19. I'm Working, but Not My Wife

[TOhioLiberal]

20. Unemployed

second time since 3/2002. Outsourced this time.....

[Kathy in Cambridge]

21. I've been laid off three times since June '02

the companies were financially insolvent and mismanaged. i have a great network and a stellar performance record, and I've had ONE interview since December.

[revcarol]

22. Collected SS retirement early because no income.

No unemployment from church closing.

Desperate for work.

[shrike]

23. self-employed, thankfully

Been on my own for nine years. Only employment stability I've ever known, since my field is a volatile one.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

24. Employed since May 2001

but at a lower wage rate and no benefits.

[Samurai_Writer]

26. Telecom bust affected me

In spring of 2001 (BEFORE 9/11, hello?!? Anyone listening out there?), my company closed the technical writing and QA departments here in the states and yep, shipped the work to their office in India. Was unemployed for 5 months, found a contract position for 3 months, then finally got the job I have now in February 2002. Had to move 1100 miles away from everyone I know and take a huge cut in salary, but hey, it was a job in my field. My company recently went through their first lay-off and I lost 40% of my staff. Things have calmed down a bit now and they are actually starting to hire people again (but not in my department). I'll hold on as long as I can, but I highly doubt the job's going to last a whole lot longer. I have started a second, part-time career as a BBW model, and that is pulling in some extra cash, so if worse comes to worse I will do that full-time and hopefully make enough to live on.

[NJmaverick]

27. Out of work for 10 months

Victim of bush's exporting of IT jobs. Found a job in November though working for Bioterrorism defense.

[stopbush]

28. Out of work for 34 months.

But hope springs eternal - I have an interview for a Dir of Marketing position with a local arts organization this Tuesday that looks very encouraging. If it happens, it will be at a salary that is a full 70% BELOW the salary of the position I held back in May, 2001. But at this point, I'll take anything.

It's really, really REALLY discouraging out there. If you have ANY experience at all, you're overqualified. Just try convincing a potential employer that you'll accept a lower-level position. They don't want to hear it. Most employers want to bring in a person that they can throw a small "promotion/wage increase" bone to 9 months down the road. They do not want to bring someone in at a huge pay cut because they believe - and rightly so - that such a person will bolt at the first better opportunity that comes along.

The thing I find extraordinary is that repigs somehow believe that a guy like me will vote for bush simply because I got a shit job right before the election. It's as if I'm going to forgive and forget being out of work for 3 years, going through my savings, my 401k, having to sell my home and relocate to stave off losing everything, and now, living off the profit from the home sale and scrounging for ANYTHING in the job market. Oh, yeah! I'll vote for bush alright! Thank you, Mr bush, for a wonderful 3 years!!

Oh, and BTW - the real miracle of the bushies comes in the out years, that is, 10-15 years down the road when I need to worry about my two kids coming of age for the draft that will be in full and perpetual swing to provide cannon fodder for bushco's ongoing illegal oil/Xtain right-inspired/corporate welfare/unilateral wars.

[Trajan]

29. Unemployed - Laid Off ...

After over 22 years of service ...

So much for an Aerospace Career ... what a waste ...

'Outsourcing' didnt begin in Asia or Mexico: It began by moving high paying jobs to 'right to work' states, like Alabama (Boeing Aerospace production: MUCH McDonnell Douglas/Rockwell International space hardware now produced by low wage workforce) ... Texas (MY job specifically went to El Paso, to the Autonetics plant founded there in the 80's for the express purpose of moving production work to this low wage state) ...

These moves effectively wiped out the decent jobs that used to exist in California .... Aerospace is essentially DEAD in CA now ....

Sold our house in CA, made a ton, and now starting a women's gym in Missouri ...

Anyone know a good Accountant/Tax Lawyer ???

[ashling]

30. Unemployment numbers are all over the place

This poll is an example. I do not mean to imply that it is purposely skewed - like the misinformation that comes out of the unwhite house or the media, but the categories are misleading and overlap.

I have found some job since Dumbo has been in office, several, in fact.a job in retail for the holidays, and a couple of temp jobs (one of which was as staff in my congressman's reelection campaign last time)

Lower paying job? Sure, when I can get work at all?

Unemployment? I went through state, state extended, and federal extended. Since I no longer file with them every week I guess I am "officially" "no longer looking for work -what a crock!!!!!

[Desertrose]

31. other - self employed....

struggling to sell my art.....was really fantastic before 9/11...ever since...:thumbsdown:


Peace
DR

[mbee]

33. I've worked for the same place close to 10 years, but my spouse

was laid off in May of 2001. As soon as jackass stole the election the pug company all of a sudden wasn't concerned about the sales. I think it had something to do with the chimps promise to refund a bunch of past tax money. I think that plan fell through and then after the first quarter of 2001 they started complaining about the low sales and my husband got laid off. Since then he's gotten a couple of jobs where he was worked in some cases 7 days a week and then let go when the work load went down. I think the pugs are trying to mask the real unemployment numbers by hiring people for short amounts of time and then letting them go. Has anyone heard anything like this on pug discussion boards?

[LDS Jock]

32. I've been lucky in ways.

I got laid off from two jobs since Bush took over, but my latest job pays more than the others did. Thats just luck though. So far anyway. My job could go to India just as easily as so many others.

[Robin Hood]

34. Kick.

n/t

[Shopaholic]

36. One of the Lucky Ones but it's all because of Shrub's incompetence

I left a government job in June of 2001 and went to work in the private sector and now make twice as much as I previously did, doing the same thing. So I'm one of the rare ones whose actually doing better since * took office, but it's only because I write federal and state grants for a living and our primary clients are school districts who are desperate to get funding since Bush has cut them off and their tax revenues are all down thanks to our sinking economy.

[kdmorris]

35. I said same job since 2001, but..

I've had 3 different owners (yes owners! I refuse to call these new guys employers). The new guys are real bitches. I get less vacation, no sick time now, worse retirement benefits, pay more for my health benefits, and generally have no morale anymore. But I'm still sitting at the same desk and truthfully happy that I was able to do that. In total, 4000 others didn't even get the chance to get screwed over by the new company. Most of my friends that were laid off have still not found a job after a year. :cry:

The new guys thought it would be just fine to rename our Human Resources Dept (like that isn't bad enough) to the Human Capital Management Dept. I don't know why that makes me feel more like a cow than HR, but it does. :puke:

[mhr]

37. Unemployed 45 Months, BSEE, MBA, Commercial Pilot, Veteran

No job in sight!

[stevedeshazer]

38. Lost my job in December 2002

I was a supervisor making ~ 42k.

Now I'm reduced to showing up early on Monday mornings looking to see if I can get a part-time delivery job for 8-9 bucks an hour.

My wife still has a good job, but who knows for how long. She's a public employee.

Yeah, the unemployment rate in my state dropped from 7.7% to 7.1% from January to February. That's because there are 30,000 long-term unemployed people like me who dropped off the screen. No benefits, no shit.

My state has 1% of the total US population. 30,000 here probably is 3 million nationwide who onlt JUST NOW have dropped off the count.

And the number of underemployed, to which I now aspire to become, must be huge.

To all of you who have posted like-minded stories here, you are far from alone. :grr:

[Nikia]

39. Working at a job I hate for 2.5 years

I have a potential new job but I have to go through one more round of interviewing so I hope that it works out. In the first part of 2001, I was underemployed, temping and part time for a few months but did have a couple of options when I made the mistake of choosing my current job.
My husband has had some employment problems. He was laid off from two companies within a few months in the first part of 2001. His current company he works for is rapidly falling apart with the owner not being able to pay him anymore.

[Gulf Coast J]

40. Graduated college May 2002, happily employed since September 2002

n/m

[juajen]

41. Took early SS

My hubbie on SSDisability for last twenty years. I guess you might call us lucky, for we do have a good base income, but neither of us is able to work except occasionally. We are both artists and when able, can produce some beautiful things. Problem is, the economy is so bad, the purchasers are few and far between. Also, though there are many, many years of higher education between us, we are over the age of 55 and our age is against us even in part time work, as there are so many people looking for full or part time work. Also, there is some guilt involved, as we know we have some income and do not want to take jobs from people who have none.

All in all, it is a sad time for this country. All of my five children are employed, though two do not make enough money because they live in a right to work state, Florida, and their benefits suck.

Things could be a lot worse, so, I am grateful. Just totally saddened by the daily horror stories I hear. I mean, what the hell do you do when employment benefits end and you have no job? How do you live?