Workers in 50s face steep climb from layoff's depths

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 9/19/10 | Patrick May

[Nachum]

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- In this bloody free-for-all of a recession, Americans in their 50s are really taking it hard on the chin. Their 401(k)s have been cut down to 201(k)s. Their pensions have been frozen, or worse. Their home equity has evaporated just as their kids' college bills come due. And while younger workers may have been hit harder by unemployment, 50-something Americans who get laid off are stuck in jobless limbo longer than any other age group.

[Logic n' Reason]

If being "in the 50s" is a tough climb....try being in the early 60s.

50s, my ass.

[dalebert]

hahaha. you should be 60 and see how steep it is.

[Nachum]

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[FlingWingFlyer]

Isn't this the "change" we said we wanted?

sarc/

Change isn't always a good thing. If fact...

[grania]

I've met former corporate executives who are working as teacher aides for the insurance, former business owners who are serving lattes at coffee shops, people who used to have great jobs now working as cashiers. The thing is, the people from age 50 to 62 can't prepare for retirement that way.

It's even hitting people in their late 30s and early 40s, with young children. There's over a decade of underemployed or unemployed workers who've just loaded up on more education, waiting for the job market to improve who will likely be hired before them.

Just applying logic and looking around makes it obvious to average people that the problem might be way past a solution. So what does the gov want to do? Make it legal for invaders who get educated for free in the US to take those jobs that citizens so desperately need.

[Thebaddog]

You still have to fight, every friggin day. At least at fifty we have a good curve ball even if we can’t bring the heat any more. The thirty year old dopes never had a heater to begin with, IMHO.

[Eye of Unk]

Kinda makes a person wonder if the Obama agenda is trying to make anyone over 50 just...disappear.

Obama wants control over the youth, he knows the elderly cannot be taught new tricks nor will they forget the past, in other words they are expendable. To Obama they are using resources and not contributing, he cannot use them for his agenda.

[mywholebodyisaweapon]

I know of a guy -— he’ll be in his early 50s in a few years -— that I’d really like to see unemployed.

I’d crawl over broken glass to vote that so-and-so out of office.

[behzinlea]

The Obamassiah and his Marxist shills' are hell-bent on strangling the economy and destroying lives.

It is hard for me to believe let alone understand how bad things have gotten since Democrats took over control of Congress in 1996 and the presidency in 2008.

I myself am doing okay, but with greatly diminished expectations. There is no joy and little hope among the ordinary Americans I know.

[behzinlea]

The Obamassiah and his Marxist shills' are hell-bent on strangling the economy and destroying lives.

It is hard for me to believe let alone understand how bad things have gotten since Democrats took over control of Congress in 2006 and the presidency in 2008.

I myself am doing okay, but with greatly diminished expectations. There is no joy and little hope among the ordinary Americans I know.

[Texas Fossil]

Yep, I am 62 and this is the 2nd time in my life that I have had to look for a job.

At this point I am convinced I will have to start a business to be able to work again.

35 years in the same industry with 2 privately held companies have no value at this point. Most of that career in outside sales and management, very broad current technical skills and no health issues.

But age is still an unspoken issue.

[smokingfrog]

Tell me about it...

But right now, I’m just grateful to have a job.

[freespirited]

Just wishing you better luck in days ahead.

— FS

[ntmxx]

Let’s see…ya got your clocks cleaned in the:

1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s

When-ya-gona-geta-clue, while you have to keep remaking your wealth, your just paying for the benefits of the political class and ‘friends of government’ through these Ponzi Schemes which go by the names of;

The Great Society,
Social Security,
Keynesian Economic Models,
IMF and World Bank,
Foreign Aid,
Feed-this Feed-that Schemes,
Poverty Programs,
NGOs,
World-this World-that Orgs,
‘War on this-War on that’,
Resource Embargos,
Banking/Financial Scandals,
International Peace,
Socio-political Tax Programs,
Margin Investing,
International Loan Defaults,
Investment Speculation,
Government Earmarks,
Corporate & Accounting Fraud,
Save this –Save that,
Education Gap Funding,
Fannie-Mae/Freddie Mac,
Corporate Lending/Banking/Credit Scams…

[buccaneer81]

since Democrats took over control of Congress in 1996

You mean 2006.

[1066AD]

Exactly. This is news ?

[Texas Fossil]

Thanks for your concern, but we are OK.

Recently most of my time has been spent taking care of my 87 year old mother-in-law. It is a 24-7 job with no monitary pay. She can no longer walk, even with a walker. Wife and I moved her in with us about 4-5 months ago as an alternative to the nursing home. (We lost my father-in-law in December).

My mother has lymphoma and finished her chemo about 2 months ago. We chased a diagnosis for her in October 2009-January 2010. Finally got one after 4 trips to Scott & White in Temple. She is responding well to the treatment.

There are some things that must be done.

Men often think they plan their future, but if you live a while you learn that God is in control, not us.

The same is true with the fate of the U.S. He knows those who love him, but we often do not understand his reasons. He is always in charge.

[central_va]

It is hard for me to believe let alone understand how bad things have gotten since Democrats took over control of Congress in 2006 and the presidency in 2008.

People, it can only get so bad. There is a limit.

[GailA]

From 50 up regardless of experience few employers want to hire some one this age or older...insurance use is higher, wages would also be higher because you are PAYING for that experience the 50+ have.