The Unemployed

[sparks]

I must be a bit isolated. I know 2 people that are laid off/unemployed. And both of them are making a little cash on the side.

According to the Govt figures I should know anywhere from 9 to 14 percent of all my acquaintences as on the unemployed list.

Guess I have a small circle of friends and relatives.




sparks

[StinkerBell]

I only know personally about 2. My neighbor said it best.

When your neighbor is unemployed is is a recession but when you are unemployed it is a depression.

[sparks]

Most of my neighbors are retired business folk or professional types.


I believe that myself and about three other guys are still working.


Yep, paying taxes, contributing to social security, medicare, etc


Great life.......If you don't weaken.







sparks

[NM_Shooter]

I know too many.  The company that I used to work for just closed and kicked 51 people to the curb.  I think 15 of them have found employment.  These are high functioning / well compensated engineer types, and I suspect that some will either have to move or will face a bit of an extended unemployment. 

[TheWire]

NM_Shooter what kind of engineers?  We have a hard time finding good electrical/control engineers.

[muldoon]

I think it depends on the demographics of the people you know. 

Take a look at the employment report done in March 2011, specifically the chart on page 2. 
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/ppi/econ-sec/fs220-employment.pdf

For the age group of 16-24, the unemployment rate is 17% while for the age group of 25-54 it is just under 8% with 55+ being 6.5%. 

If you are surrounded by people not hardest hit you might not see the problem as others do.  Everything in life is about perspective.