As Oregon's jobs growth crawls, thousands await their shot at recovery

The Oregonian ^ | December 18, 2012 | Molly Young

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hope for finding a job, for paying next month's rent and for keeping the lights on over for the holidays is fading for Brenda Wallis. She lost her job in 2008, at the dawn of a recession that eventually claimed 147,700 Oregon jobs.

She exhausted her unemployment benefits and has applied for cash assistance from the same state agency at which she once worked. And she's filled out hundreds of applications, landing six interviews but no offers.

As the gap in her work history grows, the bills get harder to pay. There's little left to hope for, says the Fairview mother of three, whose oldest celebrates her 17th birthday on Christmas...

[SatinDoll]

Nope. I’ve been looking for a job in southwest Washington for two years. One interview - that’s it.

I’m 60 years old, single, and have no choice as retirement is not an option. I work or starve.

For the past 15 years I took care of my ill, dying parents. They are both dead and left bills I must repay.

The application requirements are strict: must have worked recently or be presently employed; must be “proficient” in the most recent MS Word Office version - tests are required. Since I haven’t had a full-time permanent job since 1993.

Unemployment here is over 25%. For high school graduates it is over 50%.

My nephew is 20 years old and he, too, hasn’t had a job interview during this same time period. He will be 21 yrs. soon.

Normally I would suggest the military for my nephew, but not with BHO2 as CINC.

I’m sure things will get worse.

[ballplayer]

If she and a Lot of others on the West Coast were conservative,she would have a Job, and your question would be Moot

[ottbmare]

Slow learners.

The problem arises when conservatives are surrounded by liberals who vote destruction to them all.