| All the indicators show an improving economy | | | | At least until they return to active job search and |
| and, finally, the start of job growth. More than | | | | encounter the real, not the hypothetical/political, |
| eight million unemployed workers see hope around | | | | labor market. That is when the true economic |
| the corner and re-enter the nightmare of job | | | | progression of twenty-first Century America |
| search with increased enthusiasm and the positive | | | | emerges: an increasing number of millionaires, an |
| outlook they lost six months ago when they | | | | increasing number of entry-level, low paid |
| virtually gave up on ever finding a good | | | | workers, and a great middle class vacuum.The |
| position.What do they find?Service jobs: customer | | | | displaced worker is confronted with the choice of |
| service, hospitality, tourism, food, travel, | | | | working at a level far below his/her skills, |
| entry-level healthcare, retail. What are these jobs | | | | education, and abilities warrant, or staying |
| offering? 30%, 50%, 75% less income than the | | | | unemployed. When the government reports that |
| old manufacturing jobs which have moved to | | | | in the near future "Every one who wants a job |
| foreign countries. Where are the benefits, the | | | | will get one," the connotation of unemployment is |
| insurance, the paid holidays, retirement plans? | | | | that jobless workers do not WANT to work. This |
| Where have the stability, seniority system and | | | | political myth leads to increased depression, |
| regular raises gone?It is a new world, an evolving | | | | diminished self-esteem, and the final conclusion by |
| economy, a changed future. Everything will work | | | | the legions of the unemployed that their personal |
| out, government forecasters confidently predict. | | | | fears turned out to be true: they are worthless, |
| With tax reductions continuing, the economy will | | | | unwanted, redundant. The universal anxiety about |
| expand and thousands of high-tech, highly | | | | not being quite good enough, not measuring up, |
| compensated positions will be created. Keep the | | | | not able to run with the big dogs has been |
| faith, job seekers are advised -- this is the United | | | | validated and the mental health of the |
| States where innovation and entrepreneurship | | | | unemployed deteriorates further.Virginia Bola |
| always prevail and life gets better and | | | | operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, |
| better.Keep mouthing the platitudes and perhaps | | | | developing innovative job search techniques for |
| the 50 year-old former auto worker with an | | | | disabled workers, while serving as a respected |
| eleventh grade education or the 60 year-old | | | | Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and |
| dislocated engineer with outdated job skills and | | | | Workers' Compensation Courts. |
| high blood pressure will actually start to believe it. | | | | |