Jobless and hopeless in America

[Liberal_in_LA]

Jobless and hopeless in America

Joblessness not only leaves deep scars on people -- financially and psychologically -- but also has enduring effects on families, communities and societies. Beyond the personal suffering, the despair of unemployed workers undermines their trust of employers, the economy and government.

These are among the main findings from "The Shattered American Dream: Unemployed Workers Lose Ground, Hope, and Faith in their Futures," a research report prepared by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.

The Heldrich Center first interviewed a national sample of more than 1,200 unemployed workers who lost their jobs during the recession in August 2009. More than 900 were re-interviewed in March, and 764 were contacted again in November.

One-quarter of those first interviewed in August 2009 had found full-time jobs some 15 months later. Most of the "fortunate" re-employed accepted jobs for less pay and/or less benefits. Four in 10 had to change careers to gain employment.

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America's unemployed voice little confidence in the government's ability to help them. The survey, conducted after the national election in November, found that only 30% of the unemployed are more hopeful about an economic recovery because of the election. When the survey group was asked to choose between President Barack Obama and the Republicans in Congress about whom they trust to do a better job handling the economy, "neither" won at 41%. One third (32%) chose the president and far fewer -- just 17% -- picked congressional Republicans. Less than one in 10 trust "both."



http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/07/vanhorn.unemployment.jobs.study/index.html?hpt=Sbin

[Quantess]

1. Sure, but it's good for huge corporations.

People who have been brought to their knees will suddenly be grateful to work harder for a lot less money and no benefits.

[unkachuck]

2. troubled times?

"America's unemployed voice little confidence in the government's ability to help them."

....do you have a nervousness or an unease about you? Do you see yourself swinging from the poor-house gate or sleeping under a viaduct in a cardboard box?

....don't be discouraged. We'll help you select the finest in cardboard boxes and the most pristine of underpass locations. We are here to help YOU with leftover corporate welfare money if we can find any in the treasury. But even if we can't find any leftover corporate welfare money we want you to remember, that unlike our Republican friends, we still feel your pain.

[Skittles]

3. worthy of its own thread

I, too, am tired of hearing that Dems know our pain but fail to relieve it

[emilyg]

4. I'd like this on front page. k/r