Have the long term unemployed become the lepers of the 21st century?
Some friends asked me about the title of this blog, they thought it was a bit harsh, even inappropriate. Nope, I feel this is the attitude that many have toward the long term unemployed. Why the leper metaphor? Well everyone would prefer the long term unemployed to just go away and be invisible somewhere, they don't want to help them, and would rather not talk about it. But this must be discussed and attitudes must change.
42% of the unemployed today are "long term unemployed" (defined as over 26 weeks), today that figure is 6 million people. This is not unique to the US, in Europe 50% of the unemployed are long term unemployed. Current estimates, which I believe are very conservative, put the underemployment rate at 17% in the US and while in October 2010 159,000 jobs were added, the unemployment rate remains at 9.6%. The bottom line is that the recession left a hole 11 million jobs deep.
Why is it that no one wants to hire them or help the long term unemployed? Even congress begrudgingly extends unemployment benefits (only after they have expired for weeks) acting as if the unemployed have "other choices". What on earth do they think the unemployed are going to do - go out and magically get a job because unemployment benefits just ran out? Few people want to be unemployed and let's face it the pay isn't great, it is humiliating to most, and demoralizing to professionals. It sucks to be unemployed, especially if you were a professional or working in a good paying job.
There have been countless articles about the plight of the long term unemployed and how the longer they remain unemployed, the less likely it is that they will get a job... ever. Many have tossed around the hypothesis that this group are the hardest hit casualties from the "lost decade" and they may never recover financially or professionally.
I haven't seen anyone openly defend the practice of passing over a candidate that has been unemployed for say over a year, even two years, just because they are unemployed; yet everyone concedes that it is indeed happening. Now that is interesting, everyone is publicly outraged. Yet when it comes to hiring someone at their company or in their department; well that's different, we need someone with "fresh skills" or "current with technology" etc. or even secretly, "we want someone younger and cheaper" - yeah, silent discrimination still goes on and the most prevalent is age discrimination and that is a tough one to prove or change.
What is absolutely crazy about this is that highly qualified people are being passed over just because they have been unemployed during the worst job market in easily 50 years, and probably since the Great Depression, and somehow this is a reflection on their skills, capabilities, mojo, hustle, drive, whatever. Somehow this is their fault. This not only defies logic, it is cruel, short sighted, arrogant (to think that it won't or couldn't happen to you), and just outright a crappy thing to do (sorry could not think a better way to say that cleanly).
Here' what I suggest, ask, even plead with HR, Recruiters (I know it the clients making you do it, blah, blah, have some courage and do the right thing), and hiring managers to do:
- Don't pass over highly qualified candidates because they are "over qualified" - give them a break, meet with them, take that extra time and you might find a great new employee!
- Ignore the employment "gap" being unemployed anytime between 2007 and 2011 is normal, ask 15% to 20% of the population that are either unemployed or underemployed! That's 1 out of 5 people.
- If you are working, be a good contact and be a good referral source for people that contact you looking for a job. It is amazing to me how many people are "too busy" to help friends when they are looking for a job.
- Big companies - why not establish programs specifically to hire this group of people? Sound crazy? Not really. Think about all of the programs for interns and training. There is a HUGE pool of eager talent hungry for a good job - this is an opportunity.
And a couple for the government...
- Tax credits for hiring unemployed - this has been discussed ad infinitum. I truly don't know why this is so hard to pass and why ANYONE would oppose it. Better to get people off unemployment and back to work PAYING taxes instead of collecting unemployment. Seems simple enough to me.
- Tax outsourcing - end of story. Outsourcing is a great way for businesses to reduce overhead and save money. True and that's fine, their choice and may be a good business decision. But it is not necessarily good for the country, our economy, and it actually costs our country money in the form of lost taxes from payroll and spending from the employees - and let's face it, corporate taxes do not plug that gap! So tax outsourcing and use that to pay for the hiring tax credits - for my conservative friends
- Preferential hiring for Gov jobs - give people that are qualified and have been unemployed for over 6 months a preference for government jobs. We need to break this cycle and get these people back to work. This almost sounds like affirmative action and maybe it is. But we need to break this cycle.
Sadly here is the reality of this. Even if hiring managers starting doing all of the above we are simply in a job market where there are a lot less jobs than there were a few years ago. It is like a game of musical chairs and 8 million chairs have been removed. So even if the long term unemployed do get a job, for now they are just trading places with someone else. There will still be 11 million chairs missing and that is truly a tragedy.
I wish I could end this on a more positive note. I suppose the bright side is that perhaps I can influence some to be more open to hiring people with employment gaps or to consider people that appear to be "over qualified" or maybe someone in congress will read my blog and have the courage to do something (I know, I am optimistic on that one).
As always I wish you the best and brightest future,
Bill Grunau, @own_your_future
Posted by Bill Grunau at 11/22/2010 6:18 PM 
Categories: Job Search Discussion, Career and Job Search, Politics Economy Job Market
Tags: career how to find a job
Categories: Job Search Discussion, Career and Job Search, Politics Economy Job Market
Tags: career how to find a job
The reason, I think, that some are worried about continuing to pay out unemployment is the vast majority that aren't looking for work and are expecting to have an easy ride. Some would say that the knowledge that you will be paid and taken care of, even though at minimum, gives less incentive to find a new job.
It's kind of like the kid who got used to mom and dad providing and doesn't feel he needs to move out of the house anytime soon.
This does not apply to the vast majority of unemployed professionals, but to many general workers, laborers, etc. I hate to be the one playing devil's advocate, but there are so many that would abuse the system its not really surprising to me that government officials would hesitate to give out "free money" (though we all pay in the end) to a large amount individuals that WONT work, because they are mixed with those who can't find work.
Although, it's not like many people aren't already abusing the system, welfare, etc. Although there are many good and legitimate uses for these systems, it makes me wonder what % of our social programs are used righteously and how much is just waste. Maybe that analysis can help clear up our deficit...
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I understand how one can conclude that if a person is unemployed for a year or more it must be because they don't want a job, aren't qualified, or they aren't looking all that hard. I would have agreed with this thinking when the job market was hot. With over 8 million jobs lost, the job market has become hyper-competitive, and many well qualified people have just been squeezed out and left out.
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Thank you a million times for saying this.
I feel like a leper and am so tired of hearing people complain that people on unemployment are just lazy and if they really wanted a job, they could find one.
You know why? I'm not even ON unemployment. As a recent college graduate who was never employed full time, I don't even qualify for unemployment! I have survived for the past year and a half by living with family and friends, taking unpaid or barely paying internships, and tutoring a few hours here and there to pay for groceries. I am thrilled that Christmas is coming soon because I can ask my mom to gift me a new pair of sneakers which I desperately need.
I sometimes do feel like I will never actually get to have a career, and that I will spend the rest of my life like this. It absolutely SUCKS (pardon the indelicate language) and I am tired of everyone and especially politicians glossing over it or blaming the victim.
Ignoring the problem is a really, really stupid policy. It's a great way to breed an entire generation of angry, bitter citizens. I try hard to stay positive and not wallow in bitterness but some days it is oh so tempting...
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Thanks for sharing your experience. I wish your story was unique and sadly it is not. There are many new grads in your situation and I have heard numerous stories of new grads doing "internships" to add experience to their resume in hopes of getting a job. Likewise there are millions of Boomers that are unemployed and are now becoming "long term unemployed" that are in serious danger of becoming unemployable or having to accept much lower level positions and becoming long term underemployed just to get any job.
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I came to your blog instantly and amazed to see that its full of info what i was searching for your post is so good. You discuss good points in this post. Thanks for this post.
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Dear Mr. Bill Grunau,
Your comments need to be at the forefront of our political discussions right now, you wrote about the "unemployed = lepers" issue back in November 2010, it is now October 2011.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED!
I was good enough to do the US Census after applying while living in a homeless shelter while my daughter was in her senior year of high school. Guess what still unemployed, it is not only employers who are behaving this way, I am now losing my friends because lets face it, without money to survive, no one can stand me, of course I'm upset, of course I am sad all the time, it is the same as when the suicide hotline puts you on hold! (true story by the way)
I have wracked my brains trying to stand out among the throngs just for a minimum wage clerical job, really, not qualified? I have been tested numerous times by employers, "Wow, your the highest we have test so far, you did better than I did when I took the test...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH" and still no offer of employment, what gives?
Cain is out there telling the news reporters that if people really wanted to work, they would be, what a bunch of malarkey, I have applied for more than 600 positions, none I was unqualified to do, and I generated less than 1% interviews and those were now 2 years ago.
Being unemployed and broke, losing everything, NO HOME, NO CAR, NOTHING, NOT EVEN FOODSTAMPS OR UNEMPLOYMENT WAGES, including friends...oh yea this is how I thought I would be doing at age 50.
Thanks for the chance to vent.
SIGNED,
FORGOTTEN LEPER
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