The Ranks of the Underemployed Continue to Grow

In September, the number of underemployed workers rose for the third consecutive month

October 19, 2011 RSS Feed Print

Ted Schnell of Elgin, Ill., is one of those people. For the first time in his 27 years as a journalist, the now 52-year-old father of five found himself unemployed in December 2010 after being laid off by Sun-Times Media. Since January, he's worked part-time for a former colleague who started a local news site. Schnell has written about his experiences on his blog Laid off at 51: Seeking joy in change.

For a few weeks earlier this year, Schnell was able to land two copyediting jobs at two regional Patch.com sites, but AOL, which owns Patch, slashed its freelance budget soon after and he lost one of those positions. "It's miserable in terms of what I'm making," Schnell says. In addition, he says he's stuck in a house that's worth substantially less than his mortgage, and he's had to ask his father to help with payments. Schnell, like many older underemployed Americans, says he's worried that he may get passed over by potential employers because of his age. He remains discouraged. "For every 50 to 100 resumes I send out, I may get one interview," he says.

Twitter: @benbaden

Tags:: temporary employment,; employment,; economy,; careers,; unemployment,; hiring

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Just like the sign said instead of 'Long ahired freaky people need not apply,' it is 'Unemployed need not apply' Signs signs every where signs blocking up the scenery... oops flashback, hate it when that happens!

Jason Prather of NE 7:38PM July 24, 2012

The long term unemployed, those with skills, with and without college degrees, over the age of fifty, who have families to support, are losing their retirement, savings and lives. While both Democrat and Republicans fight for position in the minds of those who are disappearing because of the lack of jobs. The constitution is supposed to protect the American people from threats External and Internal. It is time for the representatives of the People to act in their behalf by passing laws that benefit the American People and not special interests.

bobsan of CO 11:09AM June 08, 2012

I don't know if the general intellectual level in America has dropped precipitously, or if the two who responded here are simply indicative of those who deliberatley seek out this kind of news in order to add their unfortunately blinkered take on it, but I'm always amazed and a little saddened by the fact that, given how ubiquitous computers are and how ridiculously easy it is to spend a few hours online researching more or less HOW the economy got into the jam we are witnessing, that so many people continue to use this marvelous tool to more firmly affix blinders to their vision and ignore the historical origens of "change".
I know this sounds like a screed, but if you intend to read this through, be thorough; don't just use the stupid computer as a blunt instrument, capable only of playing incredibly sophisticated video games. Stretch a little. Read. Think. Read some more. Use your brain or someone will use it for you.
Remember, if the only tool you have is a hammer, you'll come to regard ALL problems as if they were nails.
The events leading up to this present debacle have little to do with President Obama. He is but the latest caretaker of a system designed to benefit the greediest, most motivated people in the population. These events began, it is said, during the Ronald Reagan presidency, but I think the intellectual underpinnings came much earlier, probably as early as the Jackson Administration.
It has always had as its aim the complete subjugation of all Americans who cannot afford to buy their way out of it. Republican or Democrat.
To blame Obama is to play right into the system's game plan, which has no allegiance, except to the tiny fraction of the world community of over-the-top wealthy.

Jaymz of ME 11:40PM April 19, 2012

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The Ranks of the Underemployed Continue to Grow

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