The Current Job Situation In America
A funny thing has been happening in the United States. President Barack Obama and Congress have worked for the last two years to get as many jobs available to Americans as they can.
For nearly a year, every month has seen a notable growth in job creation. However, the unemployment rate has remained stagnant.
When the rate fell from 9.6% to 9.4% last month, the reason was not that more jobs were taken, but that citizens exhausted their benefits and simply were no longer counted due to no longer searching for work.
And THAT is the problem with the unemployment situation in the United States.
The jobs are there. Over one million jobs have been added in the last year in various industries in the United States. Jobs have been created from high-level corporate jobs to working for minimum wage and in factories. Regardless of education level, there is a job out there that would accept you if you’re smart about it.
For every American that has taken advantage of the opportunities created by President Obama and Congress, there are a few who have just sat at home and waited on the unemployment benefit checks to come in the mail.
The System Is Fine
The system should not be knocked, as it is as good as it can be. It’s unreasonable to demand that every single person on unemployment be thoroughly inspected often enough and closely enough to make sure they are not abusing the system. The unfortunate fact is that while some are truly thankful for the assistance from the government and are using it as an opportunity to get back in the workforce, there are those who realized they could just sit at home, reduce their standard of living a little bit, and just collect a check.
The truth of the matter is that jobs are out there and they are abundant. At the end of 2010, areas like the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington DC, Baltimore, San Jose, Cleveland, Boston, Seattle, Austin, Denver, Charlotte, Atlanta, and other big cities had around 100 job listings for every 1,000 people in the area. San Jose topped the list with 162 job openings for every 1,000 people. Other cities like New York, Chicago, and Pittsburgh had just under 50 job openings for every 1,000 people. (See job map.)
How can people possibly claim that there simply are no jobs for them when over one million jobs were created in the last year on top of the job openings that were already there? Especially the 99ers who have already collected 99 weeks of unemployment and recently held a candlelight vigil because they didn’t get an additional 13 months. Boohoo! Fix up your resumes, improve your skillset, read some books, learn proper punctuation and get a job like everyone else.
If the 99ers want to continue collecting money for over 99 weeks, guess what? It’s no longer called unemployment. It’s called welfare.
How Hard Are 99ers Really Trying?
The truth of the matter is while it is reasonable that in smaller cities and less populated areas, jobs are scarce and the need for unemployment benefits are really there. But for most of the men and women collecting unemployment benefits, there’s a good chance they’re abusing the system.
A reasonable amount of unemployment time is understandable but where do these brash 99ers get off feeling a sense of entitlement that everyone should pool their tax dollars and just hand them to a 99er while they sit at home feeling sorry for themselves while making little effort to improve their own situation.
Now, maybe someone who used to make $200,000 a year can’t find a job paying quite as much, but at a time of true desperation, what’s stopping that person from working at the local mall or restaurant?
Then there are those who are simply going about things wrong.
Mistakes The Unemployed Make
One common mistake is sending the wrong message with a poorly constructed resume. Many 99er’s are aiming for jobs and turning in resumes with spelling and grammar errors (yes I’ve talked to many 99ers and about 99% of them don’t know how to spell or use proper punctuation). This brings up the question, “would you hire someone like that?” And better yet “how much do you really want this job if you won’t even go over your resume?”
Other issues include people sending out generic resumes and not targeting their resume towards the company they are applying for. This is common sense and all part of trying to present yourself in the best possible light to get a job. Some people also choose to lie on their resumes and are simply unprofessional by being informal and not being punctual.
In short, many who are currently collecting unemployment benefits and are complaining that they can’t find a job are the ones to blame.
There are simply too many 99er’s who are either abusing the system or just doing a bad job of applying for jobs.
One year ago it was understandable that it was difficult to find a job, but over the course of 99 weeks, which is just under two years, how can one explain not being able to find a job?
While some of the 99er’s may have legitimate reasons, for most, can they honestly say that after almost two years of government assistance during which they did not work that they honestly need another 13 months because they truly cannot land one of the over one million jobs out there?
Dear Mark and Sebastian:
We know that you are ONE person and on UE you have multiple personalities also. Hey, mobs, you are the friendly one, but we also know the dark side of you. You are one sick fuck with many personalities.
Mark and Sebastian,
Get more creative with your threats. “We will break you” is from Rocky 4. Didn’t the Russian who got his butt kicked say it?
See ya’ll later on UF, mobs and company!
Dear MOBS, aka Mark and Sebastian:
We can see your reflection in the picture you have on the wall when you posted your cat. We know what you look like. We will break you.
Not going to get you banned yet, this is too much fun.
Mobs? Cat? Banned? Break Me? You are so clueless.
And stop calling me Sebastian. Moron! I stand alone!
I carried on a conversation last night on U.F. Forum. Got a clue yet? Dummy!
Hittin’ a little close to home there “Mark” (mobs)? lmao!
I saw you chatting last night, also know when you left. Don’t underestimate us.
This Quote I read today tells it like it is. And it’s on YOUR side. So, read em and weep!
can you afford to take a job making minimum wage, or even anything close?
At $400 per week (Average U.E. Check), you are making the equivalent of $10 per hour for a 40 hour week. If you were to take a job paying minimum wage, you would be taking a $2.75 per hour pay cut based on the minimum wage at $7.25 per hour. Who can afford to do that?
The rules on collecting unemployment benefits are very confusing. In most instances one can earn one third of the benefit total without effecting the weekly check. But earning over that amount results in a dollar for dollar reduction in benefits (although using the word benefit is a bit awkward in this case).
For example, a person receiving $400 per week can earn $133 per week and still keep the $400 weekly unemployment coming. At minimum wage, that works out to a bit over 18 hours per week. Anything over that and it comes off the top of the unemployment check. So, you are basically working for free – or at least for no additional money over just sitting at home. And what of the travel expenses to the job? All things considered, it does not make economic sense to work more than 18 hours in this example.
Isn’t that a bit counterproductive to the goal of getting people back to work?
And the rules change if you are on the extended benefit portion of unemployment. Work too much and you can lose the benefit entirely, and perhaps end up being forced to re-qualify at a lower pay, lowering the $400 per week, possible considerably lower.
In most cases, the safest thing to do is simply keep the unemployment benefits until they are exhausted rather than face being placed in a potentially worse situation.
Statistics show that approximately one third of unemployment recipients find work within 30 days of receiving their LAST unemployment check. So, are these people just lazy, content to ride the government and taxpayers to the end of the line, or simply forced to take the lesser of two evils to continue the most income possible?
Most likely, any of the three could be true or a combination of any two of the three.
In many cases, the minimum wage job will turn into a higher paying position, perhaps management, for an experienced person who happens to be unemployed.
In normal recessions (and yes, ups and downs are normal), these glaring problems come and go in a relatively short time. But in an extended recession with 10% unemployment (which is actually much higher), the problem becomes like a snowball rolling down hill.
Employers need good people to make a business competitive in a down market. We have millions of unemployed people that could more than earn their keep for a potential employer, but fear being worse off if they take the leap to accepting a lesser job and getting cut of Unemployment. And in this market, the only people willing to work for lower than unemployment “wages” are those unable to draw unemployment checks any longer. While the most capable workers are forced to look for jobs paying far more than $400 per week and remain at the government trough until they find such a job or run out of benefits. But no one had to say it out loud, you already knew all this.
Don’t know who you are talking about “Mobs” but honestly don’t care either. You have no clue!
Have a good day. Got a check book that needs balancing. Bills to pay. Food to order and Movies to watch. Enjoying my days off. Hows the job search working out for ya’ll? TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK!
Mark, aka Sebastian, lies about everything.
Mark,Sebastian, Mobs, TMKLBMT, Mags,Jessica and all of the other sicko personalities you dreamed up:
See you in the music room again tonight!
@ 99r and Proud to be a survivor
Is that where they play the world’s smallest violin?
@ped pink
No, it is where Sebastian/Mark hang out at UF.
I just caught this story. A ue man is told by the judge that he needs to get a job and start making child support payments, or he goes to jail. Guess what? He gets a job.
A ue lady lands in jail because she is held in contempt of court for not making payments that were ordered in a judgement. She claimed she had no money, she was not believed and frankly its didn’t matter. You either start paying or you’ll get picked up . I guess she was the stubborn type, something about she was looking for a specific position.
Are you starting to get the point here? This is real!
#
Are you starting to get the point here? This is real!
Posted by Sebastian on February 5th, 2011 at 9:40 am
No, sorry, I’m not getting the point. Please explain on UF later. How can your story be real when you aren’t? See ya later mobilsystems!
Why don’t you pass it along for me. I’m pretty sure the “friendless” over there are aware of this and it scares the hell out of them. Hows that for some “reality”?
@Sebastian, again, you underestimate us. Your crap is not going to scare anyone. Just log back into UF and share the article.
I believe that article or one similar was posted there awhile back. No one forgot it, but for the ones that did — share it again with them. You think its tough getting a job now, try getting one while on parole.
I’m luv luvin that you’re starting to accuse the other freeloaders on the site of not being who they really are. I’m just waiting for the kitty fights.
@sebastian – what article? where’s the link? Sunrise.
Dear Mark/Sebastian,
Notice my new avatar when you visit UF. I put it up just for you!
You can find it yourself. But here are a couple that were on your little site a few weeks back
t18918-small-claims-court
t19032-creditors-now-knock-at-your-door-for-payment
Good reading for the ones that think they’re going to pull something. Like claiming they have no money.
You people are delusional. I am exhausted from looking for work. I WANT to work (I am a middle aged professional female with an advanced degree). Age-ism? I’ve experienced it. I’ve been down every possible avenue, explored every opportunity. Applied for all types of jobs. No one is hiring in Illinois. Don’t insult those of us who are terrified of what will happen once the unemployment benefits go away. And do not believe for one minute that we do not want to work.
#
You can find it yourself. But here are a couple that were on your little site a few weeks back
t18918-small-claims-court
t19032-creditors-now-knock-at-your-door-for-payment
Good reading for the ones that think they’re going to pull something. Like claiming they have no money.
Posted by Sebastian on February 5th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Sorry, wrong site. Those articles are not there. I DARE you to post them. “We will break you!!”
I am pretty sure no one gives a rats ass about your avatar. So childish.
And your a fool, I lied! I haven’t been on Unemployed Friends Forum for days. DUH! I can’t talk there. Dummy, I told you I was banned! I can go there and read. I also told you that. I don’t want to go there anyway. I got banned purposely! And furthermore I go there only to catch up on some reading that I missed or have yet to find online. Guaranteed that one of them over there surely has the link. haha. Don’t got to be registered to read.
I can in fact get on that site with my IP Proggie. Do I want to? Absolutely NOT! And I find not one reason to verbally associate with any of you losers there!
Now, back to what I was doing before!
they are on your forum. dig a little bit you’ll find them.
They don’t apply to me, but some of the friendless might be interested in reading them again. Bump the thread. Teachable moments.
DesperateInRI
UE Status: Hopeless
and Useless!
Now welcome to OUR FORUM/BLOG 99r and proud to be a survivor.
Now you were saying ????
Thats too bad about Michael. He was passionate. I sparred with him on a couple of sites.
I did help run them out of business though. They lost the ninety whiners due to not being able to take the criticism. RIP.
Mark/Sebastian — GOT YA!!! LOLOLOLOLOL
So you found those stories? I knew you could. I know you’re not qualified to do much, but you did try.
@Sebastian, can’t you read? NO, those articles are not there. You must have posted them on the wrong forum. OOPS! Bless your heart, I hope you don’t get fired for that. I must reiterate, we do know who YOU and your bunch of cronies are. Stop by again, you might learn something from us – like civility! lol!
Dumb ass I am there now!
Any wonder why they’re not working? Its probably too painful to read again…oh is that knock at your door.
BTW! Here is a little FYI for all the Jobless lazy whiners. So for you that are reading this pass it along to your other jobless whiner friends!
Today I took my nephew to McDonald’s to eat. I haven’t been there since before Christmas but it’s the only one in our small little town. Anyway while inside I noticed this little ole elderly lady who looked to be in her 70s she was cleaning and wow, I was shocked. Why, because she was making the UNEMPLOYED look very very very BAD!
So, while at the drink fountain I boldly asked her how long she had been there because I haven’t seen her there before. She replied well I started here right before Christmas.
I said let me ask you a question, why? I mean at your age (assuming) you should be retired and sitting home. She said she was 77 almost 78 and have always worked her entire life and that her SS checks did NOT cover everything. UN freaking believable. I said look I have the utmost respect for my elders. But you Ma’am will forever get more respect from me than anyone else ever will! She smiled and told me she didn’t expect that from anyone that she chooses to work till the day she passes on!
So, for those of you out there that states there is NO JOBS! WRONG! For those of you out there that shiver at the thought of working for fast food such as McDonald’s, think of this lady. I am sure she is someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone’s friend, and she isn’t taking OLD AGE lightly. And she sure isn’t complaining.
Even if you have to take on multiple jobs to get the bills paid, take a lesson from this post! Work for what you consider rightfully YOURS!
My 14 year old nephew told me after listening to our conversation (and it was even more lengthy than I wrote here) that he wants to be just like her. And that he NEVER wants to be like those people I read about on the net. Oh, btw those people are from the UEF. And most here!
I just said NEVER ask for anything you haven’t worked your fingers to the bones to attain.
And I also said if you are friends with someone who has been unemployed for TOO LONG, you need to find a new class of friends!
Work and be rewarded.
Don’t work and the consequences are harsh.
mark2061 2010-06-30 Today at 14:38 28 Send private message
Want more? I can get you a list. I feel bad for your nephew, all you are teaching him is hate.
Here is another one who visited earlier today. “TMKLBMT”
We will get our extensions and there is not a damn thing you can do about it.
See ya’ll later on UF! Watch for the “cat” fight – we are out to provoke tonight, and we will keep at it until every last one of your slithering ignorant trolls are gone!
Provoke? You all do all to well. Cat Fight? Never! We are not the one that is unemployed, and we certainly aren’t complaining about handouts. Slithering Ignorant Trolls? Only in your world. That world would be the Unemployed Lazy Moron World!
As for my nephew he knows right from wrong. And handouts are wrong. If you didn’t work hard for something you surely cannot call it YOURS! Lazy Couch Patatoes never get anything besides FAT and Unhealthy! Look at all the posts on UEF. You, They talk about bad health, needing head medicine, Sleeping problems, etc etc etc. Your creating your own mess. My nephew realizes all the bad things going on right now. He mows yards, shovels snow, babysits some, and understands WORK and the value of a dollar! It’s not getting handed to him, and it shouldn’t be handed to the unemployed any longer. He’s making a pay check every week and he is ONLY 14. Are you?
I see Mark/Sebastian is back on UF. Having some problems with your computer?
I have no idea what your talking about. I’ve not been on UF. Your trying to be comical, it’s not working!
Yeah right about now when I sweated this months rent, I was staring at this machine and thinking, you knew you didn’t need it….for the most part I love this machine, quad core, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD, I upgraded Vid Card/Sound Card, amazing diff on video quality, never had like this on Vista machine.
So all in all Windows 7 is nice, but takes getting used to.
LOOK at this loser!! HAHAHAHA
@Mark, perhaps it was your other personality that was there. Just a coincidence that when a certain member takes a break from UF for a couple of minutes, you post here. Spend daddy’s rent money on a new computer? New IP proggie? You will be gone very soon. Too many people know who you are.
You wanna bet you’re going to get that extension? It will be listed in the left column of your creepy little site forever and go nowhere. They like to get you people stirred up and then I get to see you crash, kind of like little debbie did with you people last fall. Oh you were crushed and your whining was the most I’ve seen in a long time. A lot of whiners disappeared after that. Get ready for more of that. I know I am.
Sebastian/Mark —go chase the raccoons out of your attic.
It might be a coincidence but I can assure you I NEVER post on that site. I am not even registered. Once again your NOT as smart as you think you are! Secondly FUCK YOU! MY DADDY IS DEAD BITCH! I don’t have anyone. But myself!
Now, I’ve not resorted to nastiness but I can. DON’T GO THERE. You leave my family out of this as I don’t bring yours into it!
That is childishness and it does not pay! You wanna fight fire with fire I am right here but you lower yourself and it’s gets ugly. FUCK YOU! I could bring your fucking inbred children into this game but I don’t. So leave well enough alone!
BTW my IP Proggie is SUPER HIDE IP. Check it out for yourself YES, I’ve been banned from there. I use my proggie so what. I paid for it. I have that right! 🙂 That’s the great thing about independence. Oh what’s that word you ask? And your fellow U.E.F friends. Most of them were once like me. Now they are bound to be beggers.
Wow Mark, you are schizo! Where is your buddy Sebastian? Posting on UF that is where. FYI, I don’t have any “inbred” children. You guys are real losers if all you have to do all day is infiltrates sites like UF, get people to trust you, then come here and make fun of them. Sebastian = Mobilsystems. You are Mark2061. I saw you there several times today. You and your buddies are sleazier than peeping toms. Get a life! At least I have a reason not to have one, that’s right, I admit it, I AM UNEMPLOYED AND HATE IT. SCREW YOU SCUMBAGS AND ALL OF YOUR OTHER SLIMY FRIENDS. I PRAY TO GOD YOU ALL LOSE YOUR JOBS. Know how if feels dickface before you come spying and get your rocks off listening to other people pour their hearts out. I am so done with you and your friends. Take my word for it, you will all be banned. Good riddance!
They WILL give up. They have no heart and that is part of the reason they have no jobs. If you notice a lot of their comments are “waiting on a job” or “give me a job” code for ok I’d like to be working, but free money is better. Its just gimme, gimme, gimme with these people. The respectable really looking for work people are not “pouring their hearts out” on freeloader sites such as ue friendless. They go about their business and take care of their families the best they can. I do notice though that many of the ue friendless are loners and shut in types…they can’t adapt in the non-virtual world it seems. Just as well — who needs them. They complain they have no one to cry with — so you people are it.
Sebastian is not my buddy. I don’t even know him. We’ve not even spoke to each other on this blog. Get a life!
Furthermore, I have been in your shoes. I chose NOT to stay there. I chose NOT to take handouts. I chose to get a job and get one fast. That’s why I bring my opinions to the table, just as you do.
Jobs are not plentiful but they do exist. You have to be willing to work for less and willing to get the job done. And by that I mean work 100 X harder doing 100X more at far less pay. That’s what the world is running with right now. You have to run with them or keep digging your hole. I chose to work.
And I guess you read only what you care to read. I DON’T HAVE A NICKNAME/USERNAME THERE. I AM BANNED. I turn on my handy dandy tool and go read the posts. Some are very beneficial and have useful information links. While others have nothing but whining and complaining. I owe taxes now WTF. Pay them. Duh! I have exhausted. Now what? I this and I that. Me me me. For the love of God! Blah Blah Blah.
The best thing I can suggest if your site does not want outsiders even reading the posts there, then it will have to be entirely closed to registered users only. So, get on there real quick and let the admins know. Maybe they will close it down besides to registered users only. That’s what it will take! Banning them/me does NOTHING and never will!
Sometimes I wish I would have never started in on this conversation or that site. But I did. Oh well!
Mark’s last post PERFECTLY summarizes this whole article and this whole conversation. LEARN FROM MARK, WORK HARDER, TAKE LESS MONEY, STOP ACTING LIKE THE WORLD OWES YOU SOMETHING!!! (aka most of you are lazy and have excuses for sitting on the couch, surfing the net and taking our hard earned tax dollars… and then FUNNIEST of all – complaining about it lol)
They’ll even complain that they’re not hearing enough complaining.