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Lots of Job Hunting, but No Job, Despite Low Unemployment

nytimes.com

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Re: Lots of Job Hunting, but No Job, Despite Low Unemployment

#4
In my early (okay... mid) thirties now. I have been laid off once and left on my own will from three jobs through the last 12 years of my career.

Being laid off puts kind of a stink on you, even if slight, that requires a bit of interview time be spent clarifying WHY you got laid off instead of entirely being able to focus on experience, accomplishments etc. When I was moving from one place to another, there seemed to be a noticeable sense of urgency on the new company's part to recruit me away.

However, as long as you get your story straight I think it’s easier to explain a stretch of unemployment more now than it used to be. I can appreciate that I'm probably saying this from a place of privilege working in tech-orbit. I bet my tone changes if I suffer a layoff in my older age.

Re: Lots of Job Hunting, but No Job, Despite Low Unemployment

#9
>say they cannot find jobs that provide a middle-class income and don’t come with an expiration date.

Unemployment numbers don't measure quality. We have tons of available jobs, but low quality. And/or the people looking for jobs don't have the skills required for high quality jobs.

Edit: Here's an income quintile graph from 2016 that shows quality of jobs (scroll down):

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/55413

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