O.K. so the economy is recovering - let's see (job poll)

[Ugnmoose]

My sense is that the economy is not recovering to any noticeable degree. There are still plenty of qualified people out of work because their employer downsized, outsourced, or just went out of business. So let's take an informal litmus test of the U.S. job market by surveying our DU audience on their current employment situation and that of their spouse/signficant other.

[HFishbine]

1. Can you add

"underemployed"?

[JohnLocke]

2. And "homemaker" and "student"?

[Ugnmoose]

3. I would put that in category 2

Not working in your field would be underemployed. I see lots of this going on right now.

[HFishbine]

13. Okay

But I'm working in my field at less than full-time capacity, ie "underemployed."

[tandot]

4. employed in my field w/ Master's degree making under $20.000

(in OK). I love my job but didn't have any raise since I've started the job 3 years ago.

I have been looking for a better paying job for one year now.

Improving economy? Yeah, right. Organizations and businesses know that as long as there are no other jobs, they don't have to pay us what we deserve.

:mad:

[Ugnmoose]

5. I hear you

Our firm had a job opening for a receptionist and got resumes from people with Masters Degrees.

[tandot]

11. I thought about applying for jobs just because they pay a little more

I frequently have to remind myself that I've invested 6 years of my life for this. But I have to earn more just to make it from month to month.

Whenever they talk about adding "new" jobs and "improving" economy, I just laugh. Of course the economy is improving...for big corporations and wealthy people...

[patrice]

6. My vote goes for my husband also.

That's two of us 50+ yrs., advanced degrees both of us, worked all of our lives, NEVER had ANY trouble getting jobs before, we were making over $100,000. @ yr. combined when we were laid off nearly two years ago.

Unemployed and not receiving unemployment benefits.

[Ugnmoose]

9. Hey there is a job for you at Burger King

Seriously, I just heard a speech from Senator Max Cleland railing against the bogus employment numbers being put out by the Bushcos.
He said that the every new job is paying on average $6 per hour less than the previous job. How the hell are we expecting to grow this economy under this scenario. What a bunch of jackoffs.

[lovedems]

12. I feel for you!

My husbands unemployment ran out before he got his job offer and it was rough! When Clinton was President, my husband changed jobs 3 times for a better paying, better benefits job each time! When smirky took office he lost his job and there weren't any to be found. People would ask him about his job search all the time and the response he would give was that it wasn't about competition and more qualified candidates were applying for the jobs, there were SO FEW jobs to even send a resume to. It was quite depressing.

I am hoping things look up for you and your husband soon. I know what you are going through and it is incredibly difficult.

[Roon]

7. On disability nt

[lovedems]

8. I stay home with our kids, but will tell my hubby's story.

He was laid off from his state job due to budget cuts. He was unemployed for a year. It was ironic because a year to the day later, he was offered another job. In order to survive for the past year we cashed out his 401K and got rid of any stocks we had and spent all of our savings. To make a long story short, just because my husband got a job doesn't mean we can take a deep breath and say, "finally, we are feeling the effects of the growing economy!" On the contrary, since we are basically starting over, we are on a little bit tighter budget trying to save some money and invest all over again. So if the pigs from this administration tell me "go shopping!" I will scream. We are spending more on gas and more at the grocery store so we have to be careful about buying those needless but fun to have items.

Edited to add: Making a little bit less then his previous job, health insurance benefits arent as good but there is room for growth. That is why feel it is imperative that Kerry get elected. My husband says he will feel a greater sense of job security when smirky is gone!

[guitar man]

10. employed in my field

Earning less than half of what I should be. No real options for now though, just have to suck it up and tough it out hoping for better days.

[union_maid]

14. I chose underemployed

I'm actually making what I always was and that's not all that much. The difference is that I have a lot of skills that I know I can't market right now. It's my husband's salary that makes the difference, though. He has a nice job, but it pays a little more than half what his old job did. We're not really making the bills all that well.

[welshTerrier2]

15. the bigger picture

i'm working in my chosen field but my employer has had all kinds of layoffs ... salaries have been lowered where they were a few years ago ... there's absolutely no job security ...

and with this job market, the workers are powerless to negotiate in their own best interests ...