I can't understand all this talk and all these articles and headlines about work shortages. Half the people I know are unemployed but can't find jobs.

Thank you for the BC.

@dancingtongue This all is exactly right!

It's only going to get worse.

@Peapod Yep. The problem is that there are no more middle class jobs -- or I should say, jobs with middle class pay and benefits. The corporations have shifted all the pay and benefits to the top 1% while stripping the lower level jobs of benefits any way they could and essentially freezing pay levels, with less than cost-of-living increases at best. So the competition for truly "middle class jobs" is intense among over qualified candidates, and people cannot survive in their current life style on the jobs open to them, leaving them the option of taking entry level pay and going homeless or punting. Single quickest and biggest fix? Make Affordable Care Act work so everyone has benefits, can thus survive on the lower pay, and employers have both cost-certainity and less pressure on the benefits side. But instead we have all these people fighting to revoke it. Second and less effective fix, because it will affect consumer prices more, is raise the minimum wage to a livable wage forcing employers to deal with their inability to hire. What should be the third fix, and only for truly entry level jobs no one else wants, is immigration reform. It is where we always have gotten entry level workers, who produce second generations that revitalize us and build us.

@dancingtongue If only.

I was laid off a decade ago and did backflips to get another job. I was turning 50, but I was hardly old and incapacitated. I had a solid resume with many current skills that could qualify me for many good jobs. I applied to countless companies and finally got a few interviews. Most of those interviews were for jobs that were "internal positions". I actually started to ask about that after a while. I gave up after 2 years of actively looking. I was fortunate that my husband could support us on his income alone. But it still shook me up because I always could find employment quite easily before this.

I too completely understand the gross problem we have with healthcare. Long before I was ever laid off (and remarried), I was painfully aware that any job loss would have been disastrous since I always [i]had[/i] to work to live, support my family, and be able to go to a doctor. There was a time I even supported my ex while he was out of work.

It's a stress that I wish on no one.

Healthcare should be a right, not a luxury.

If our economy keeps going this way with corporate greed unabated, we all will pay the price.

@bookerdana I like to pride myself as a no nonsense no excuses person but the truth is that unfortunately. I wish it was the latter

@DeluxedEdition you're fine,nobody is perfect

@bookerdana except me 🙂

@BlueMetalChick many Fortune 500 companies pay better wages.
I worked for a family owned business and got no where.
They make family decisions, not business decisions and I was their pawn.
I went to a Fortune 500 company and started off as building maintenance. I got my foot in the door and was promoted a couple of times. I'm now at the 12 year mark. Full benefits, etc.

@Muldoon Yes that's nice but then what you're saying is that the job of working in the service industry is not valuable enough to society for the person working it to be properly compensated. In which case, why does that job exist?

@BlueMetalChick in the service industry, an entry level job is easy to get but difficult to make ends meet.
Finding a certification in a trade in trades the salary. Education should be planned out way ahead of leaving school.do I'm not suggesting that in this case.
Small business cannot provide specialized training without breaking their budget.
Networking is putting out the word that you're looking for a job. If it's the right size of company, starting with an entry level job can lead to a promotion for people that are organized and good at problem solving.
In some jobs, a perfect attendance record is enough to be noticed for a job promotion.
If s person can get a scheduling job that's is also a good place to be. It puts you in touch with other large businesses and through networking you might make a connection for a job interview. Try to mention the person you met and that they referred you for a job interview, that helps.

@DeluxedEdition Employers figure
if you're still employed you have met company standards or you are able to navigate the changes in the work place.

@Muldoon so they are looking at it from an analyst standpoint instead of considering that a person who isn’t currently employed would actually need a job before the person with the job

Not to mention they possibly got laid off or fired unexpectedly or their place of employment shut down

How ass backwards and unfair

@DeluxedEdition I spoke of my personal experience.
What ultimately led to my current job is networking. I took a job that wasn't my dream job, I had a side gig also. During the side gig someone saw me and gave their name as a referral to a job interview for building maintenance at a district office. I took it knowing a district manager is one of the decision makers for that medical company. After impressing the Regional Operations Director and the Divisional Vice President I was promoted twice to get the position I now have, 8-5 m-f with full benefits and a raise.
I got in on the ground level surrounded by the people who are in charge of making decisions.
The front desk clerk's & the internet contacts are not making the decisions for you, their bosses are making the decisions.
Try to find out who makes the decisions and pursue them.
Good job opportunities in big companies come from within.
I hope this helps.

@DeluxedEdition it's also a corporate thing. they sit back and call all the shots that don't affect them meanwhile running places with 1/5 of staff they should have

@Rokasu Exactly! It is a game to them. It's always endless group interviews looking for someone with a graduate degree and ten years experience or "we can't afford you.". I'm glad to be out of the private sector.

@BlueMetalChick honestly it’s the same concept if I went to get a retail job with restaurant experience it would be impossible and vice versa

@DeluxedEdition Weirdly, print shops are hiring like crazy right now. They need people constantly.

@BlueMetalChick good to know because literally like you I also have many friends desperately trying to find work in a place where everywhere is hiring 🙄🙄🙄

@deathfairy I'm gonna recommend my friends to come by you lol

@deathfairy they are help signs but the problem is these companies desperately need people but corporate sits in their comfy offices never lifting a finger saying things like "oh we can't hire them they have a month employment gap" meanwhile the warehouse is operating on 12% capacity