We should already be rioting in the streets but Americans are trained to be docile and stupid.
Raise the import tariffs and put Americans back to work.
But, hey, Obama’s stopped walking on water long enough to put the economy right, all praise to Obama.
All talk of unemployment is thus rendered null and void by the magic of media indifference.
>>Friendly and candid, the 61-year-old Mr. Sullivan worked in the travel hospitality industry<<
Is that code for “Travel Agent?”
That avocation has been on its way out since Orbitz came into existence.
In the past managers made hiring decisions based on who can best do the job. Now it is about minimum labor cost factoring in the elements. Hence the over 55 crowd gets nailed. Nature of the beast, I can speak from experience.
And don't give me the old dated skills argument, it is largely crap.
Many if not most of the over 55 who do find work are either contract labor or work for themselves. I had to do the latter.
I am one of those “older” workers. Went on an interview about two months ago (accounting position) and was told to my face that “we don’t want anyone at the end of their career” - sounds like age discrimination, however, because I didn’t record the conversation nothing can be done about it. Also, due to “sequestration” unemployment benefits here in MA are being cut 12.8%, not sure what the cut % is in other states.
Wonder how much a “Metro North ticket collector in New York City” pays. That’s the job Mr. Greeney got according to the article.
So 42% are men, and 41% are women. And the missing13%?
It’d be interesting to see those numbers including the “out-of-the-workforce” group. Maybe the 55-and-over group are just to stubborn to quit looking like Obama wants ‘em to, so they’re overrepresented in the long-term unemployed.
I’d bet 16-24 and African Americans are likely underrepresented in that chart ... because many have switched from long-term to out-of-the-workforce and living with momma.
SnakeDoc
>> almost half of the 3.5 million currently out of work for over a year at 45 or older
In other words, SLIGHTLY OVER half of the unemployed are BELOW 45...
Shouldn’t those percentages add up to 100? Or is this some of that “damned lies and statistics” thing?
Isn’t there a moral hazard in 99 weeks’ unemployment compensation? Having the 12 or 18 month cushion (from the previous 6-month benefit) lowers the sense of urgency. It’s taking far longer for job recovery and many sectors will never regain the workforce levels of the past. Obamacare is scaring employers from adding to payrolls.
Except for many of our Baby Boomer peers (and older) in administrative and government jobs. They’ll try to hook up like the Borg and suck the life out of real production (manufacturing, agricultural, energy and mining) forever.
The real unemployment rate is probably between 15-20%. This is a depression. I have never known so many unemployed people, including some who have been looking for years.
Bump
The best bet for fast employment once a new president and hopefully Republican congress are in place would be a Small Business Entrepreneurial Act, which would give start ups with under 10 employees a huge boost.
1) Regulation cessation. That is, find out exactly how many regulations are imposed on each different type of small business, and seriously try to abate all but the critical ones.
2) Create tax simplification for small business. Think of it as flat rate for small business. If they make enough profit they pay the rate, if they don’t, they don’t pay federal tax. Somewhat like today, they should have three years of not enough profit before they *have* to earn enough to pay the tax, or move to ordinary type taxes.
3) Provide to small businesses hundreds of potential formerly successful business models to base their new business on. Basically recipes for what to do, and what not to do. Likewise provide competition research, so for example, they don’t open their restaurant where there are already 10 restaurants on that block. That is, location, location, location research.
4) Provide hiring preferences for older employees, such as reduced FICA for both business and employee, and other exemptions.
Since small businesses provide far more jobs in a nation than big businesses, this should hopefully slash unemployment.
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