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I’ve read several articles documenting that some companies won’t hire anyone whose been unemployed, or isn’t currently employed. That could account for some of the problem.

Another problem...wages have dropped. So some refuse jobs thinking that they’re being “low-balled” by the employer, when the truth is, the job that paid $50,000 a couple years ago, probably pays $40,000 (to a new employee) in today’s economy.

You are on the right track.

I believe the problem is MORE of the former — employers unwilling to hire anyone who has been unemployed for some time. This causes a very bad chain reaction and feedcs on itself. Employers won’t hire while the unemployed become essentially atrophied in their skills.

The so called problem of those who feel they are being low balled is not as prevalent as one might think. I know of MANY who are willing to work on the same job for much lower pay but still no offers.

It’s an employer’s market out there and they can hold out for as long as they want.

I’ve read that too and it’s an asinine policy. You can be out the door before you know what hits you and finding a new job may be extremely difficult. So those 3 or 4 weeks you were in transition blackballs you? Ridiculous.

That forces people to take desperation jobs. Then of course that raises red flags on the resume, especially if it’s not in your field and you’ve been there a short time and are jumping ship. You also screw that employer when you ditch them after two months for the one you really wanted. Talk about a catch-22.

If the business wants them positions filled then it best compromise a bit. They must not want them filled that bad if their aren’t willing to hire a qualified person due to a technicality.

BINGO! The price I personally have paid for continued employment is a roughly 35% salary hit. I’ll be leaving as soon as I find something better, and I’m not afraid to pull up stakes after 30 years living where I do.

BINGO, especially if you are 50+.

Another problem...wages have dropped. So some refuse jobs thinking that they’re being “low-balled” by the employer, when the truth is, the job that paid $50,000 a couple years ago, probably pays $40,000 (to a new employee) in today’s economy.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a very strong, accurate answer in this statement!

And it isn't just a "low-balling" issue; to many it is a quality of life issue! Let me explain. When the dot-com bubble burst, I know many programmers and engineers who simply did not have the college degree to go with their skill sets. At that time, companies started ditching "skills" for sheep-skins (because a newly hired college graduate was a cost-savings when compared to an engineer with eight years seniority)! As such, many of these very smart, knowledgeable persons were making $100K a year - without degrees - but their lifestyle was more like $250K a year (hey "living large" was HUGE back then)! As such, many of them simply refused to find a job paying less than $90-100K!

Their quality of life simply did not let them see the forest for the trees. As such, I know of five personal friends who lost EVERYTHING due to their refusal to simply scale back and get back to the basics in their lives! I see this happening right now! I know people who are praying for (and expecting) a "main street" stimulus, instead of finding a job or two to hold you over until the economy pulls out of this stall which Captain Obama refuses to acknowledge!