Well, it is not like the problem of jobs has gone anywhere, the topic has been front and center for the last two years. And for all that has been said about creating them and saving them and stimulating them, nothing has happened and the unemployment rate now stands at 10.2% as we all painfully know.
Tomorrow President Obama will hold a Job Summit at the White House. Business leaders and political dignitaries will brainstorm with the President about how to create jobs in America. All should read Paul Krugman's New York Time's editorial, The Jobs Imperative (11/30/09) for a well tempered view on the subject. Unfortunately, neither he nor his colleagues have much faith in the summit. I'll guess we'll see what the President comes up with.
Showing posts with label 2009 unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009 unemployment. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Dow Rally Ignores Reality of Jobless Data
The Dow rose 204 points today closing above 10,000 again on news that jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 512,000 and some people shopped a little. How is this a good sign? Since the data takes into account only those who are active on the rolls, the fact that unemployment benefits expire for 7,000 people each day and others have simply given up the search is tragically overlooked.
With regards to giving up the search, it is tempting to give up especially with all of the hours spent upon the task falling into a black hole. So much time and effort and absolutely nothing to show for it. Nevertheless, since you have to be in it to win it, jobseekers must soldier on. Sadly, the government is expected to announce tomorrow that the official jobless rate has risen to 9.9%.
Even though we have been told countless times that the unemployment rate will continue to climb through next year topping 10%, the record rise in the Dow, 4500 points in 8 months, and the bountiful bonuses on Wall Street juxtaposes badly. For Wall Street, a small drop in initial jobless claims, even though new claims have topped 500,000 on a weekly basis for the last year, is good news. For the most of us, cognitive dissonance abounds.
With regards to giving up the search, it is tempting to give up especially with all of the hours spent upon the task falling into a black hole. So much time and effort and absolutely nothing to show for it. Nevertheless, since you have to be in it to win it, jobseekers must soldier on. Sadly, the government is expected to announce tomorrow that the official jobless rate has risen to 9.9%.
Even though we have been told countless times that the unemployment rate will continue to climb through next year topping 10%, the record rise in the Dow, 4500 points in 8 months, and the bountiful bonuses on Wall Street juxtaposes badly. For Wall Street, a small drop in initial jobless claims, even though new claims have topped 500,000 on a weekly basis for the last year, is good news. For the most of us, cognitive dissonance abounds.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Extended Unemployed Benefits Not For All
Many are welcoming the news that Congress is actively considering extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks, 20 in states where the unemployment rate is greater than 8.5%. While most people, including the newly unemployed, assume that extended benefits are available for all, that is simply not the case, at least in New York state. In fact, only those who filed for benefits before October 2008 are eligible for the full load of extended benefits, currently an additional 53 weeks (once they have exhausted the initial 26 weeks of regular benefits). And, having exhausted those 53 weeks, if they do so by the end of 2009, will be eligible for the new Federal extension should it be ratified.
What most of us don't know is that eligibility for extensions is based on when one filed for and began to collect benefits. These are the rest of the basic guidelines: Persons who claimed benefits between October 2008 and February 2009 are eligible for a maximum extension of 33 weeks; Persons who claimed between February 2009 and June 2009 are eligible for only a 20 week extension; And, if you filed after June 2009, you get the basic 26 weeks and that's it.
So, for those who believe (and they do!) that many unemployed people have simply given up looking for work, happy to ride the government gravy train because they have an almost unlimited pipeline of cash, are mistaken. They also fail to realize that the average weekly benefit in New York is about $300 of the maximum of $405. Anyone able to survive on $1200 a month when the average weekly paycheck is about $850? Hmmm? Most people I know cannot afford to be unemployed and believe me are not feeling happy about collecting such a paltry sum when their lives are based on a much higher salary.
I feel for the people who lost their jobs over a year ago now and have run out of benefits deperately waiting for the government to tide them over once again. But the real truth is that right after the New Year, a whole host of people who lost their jobs this Spring, when we experienced the massive bloodbath of layoffs, will run out of benefits for good. Will the government throw them a lifeline too?
What most of us don't know is that eligibility for extensions is based on when one filed for and began to collect benefits. These are the rest of the basic guidelines: Persons who claimed benefits between October 2008 and February 2009 are eligible for a maximum extension of 33 weeks; Persons who claimed between February 2009 and June 2009 are eligible for only a 20 week extension; And, if you filed after June 2009, you get the basic 26 weeks and that's it.
So, for those who believe (and they do!) that many unemployed people have simply given up looking for work, happy to ride the government gravy train because they have an almost unlimited pipeline of cash, are mistaken. They also fail to realize that the average weekly benefit in New York is about $300 of the maximum of $405. Anyone able to survive on $1200 a month when the average weekly paycheck is about $850? Hmmm? Most people I know cannot afford to be unemployed and believe me are not feeling happy about collecting such a paltry sum when their lives are based on a much higher salary.
I feel for the people who lost their jobs over a year ago now and have run out of benefits deperately waiting for the government to tide them over once again. But the real truth is that right after the New Year, a whole host of people who lost their jobs this Spring, when we experienced the massive bloodbath of layoffs, will run out of benefits for good. Will the government throw them a lifeline too?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Jobsearch Revisited
I am still looking! Lately, I have been searching though area corporation's websites, site by site, because I feel the job postings on these sites may be more authentic. Fellow job searchers will certainly understand for it is getting increasingly harder to tell which postings on the major job boards (i.e. Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs) or aggregators (i.e Indeed, SimplyHired) are valid.
Like aging house listings, many job posts are removed and re-listed so as to appear new even though they have been out there for a while. Many of these are just fishing expeditions, have to be, because there is no other explanation for how a company can fail to find suitable candidates after many months especially when a listing is for a fairly standard position. Obviously, if they are looking for a highly skilled specialist then we can understand they are looking for a needle in a haystack. But, if they keep posting certain jobs for which we know applicants abound, then what is up with that? Not to mention that there is so much repetition as multiple headhunters/recruiters post the same listings looking for heads.
Employment recruiters must have really taken off during the boom years that even in this distressed job market, there still are so many. How can we pledge allegiance to any one recruiter with so much cutthroat competition? We all know that all recruiters are not built alike. We want to be talking to the agency that has a solid relationship with the hiring manager at a prospective employer.
But then again, a recruiter is a negative if you can apply for a job directly through an employer's website and have just as much a chance as making a connection as they do. Besides, many of these employer sites expressly state their unwillingness to work with third parties. Unless, of course, you are working with the employer-sanctioned recruiter in which case you know you have a good lead in. The bottom line is recruiters cost a company money and how many of them would be willing to pay when there are so many job seekers?
As we all know by now, the big buzzwords have been network, network, network. Well, I know a lot of people who really have been exercising that option and they are no further along than I am. The job picture is just as certain as Caterpillar's announcement today that they will be hiring and firing; re-hiring 550 previously separated workers but firing 2,500 others. Alas...
Like aging house listings, many job posts are removed and re-listed so as to appear new even though they have been out there for a while. Many of these are just fishing expeditions, have to be, because there is no other explanation for how a company can fail to find suitable candidates after many months especially when a listing is for a fairly standard position. Obviously, if they are looking for a highly skilled specialist then we can understand they are looking for a needle in a haystack. But, if they keep posting certain jobs for which we know applicants abound, then what is up with that? Not to mention that there is so much repetition as multiple headhunters/recruiters post the same listings looking for heads.
Employment recruiters must have really taken off during the boom years that even in this distressed job market, there still are so many. How can we pledge allegiance to any one recruiter with so much cutthroat competition? We all know that all recruiters are not built alike. We want to be talking to the agency that has a solid relationship with the hiring manager at a prospective employer.
But then again, a recruiter is a negative if you can apply for a job directly through an employer's website and have just as much a chance as making a connection as they do. Besides, many of these employer sites expressly state their unwillingness to work with third parties. Unless, of course, you are working with the employer-sanctioned recruiter in which case you know you have a good lead in. The bottom line is recruiters cost a company money and how many of them would be willing to pay when there are so many job seekers?
As we all know by now, the big buzzwords have been network, network, network. Well, I know a lot of people who really have been exercising that option and they are no further along than I am. The job picture is just as certain as Caterpillar's announcement today that they will be hiring and firing; re-hiring 550 previously separated workers but firing 2,500 others. Alas...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Overqualified
The New York Times online just ran a story about how a company in Indiana, having garnered 500 applicants for a $13 per hour job posting, instituted a thoughtful recruiting process to weed through the applicants. (Amid Tough Climate, a Thoughtful Recruitment Process, NY Times, 10/21/09). In what appears to be a timeline of two weeks, they were able to whittle down the list, conduct interviews and hire the person they believe was best suited for the position. This was accomplished by first eliminating the "significantly overqualified candidates right away, reasoning that they would leave when the economy improved. Among them was a former I.B.M. business analyst with 18 years experience; a former director of human resources; and someone with a master’s degree and 12 years at Deloitte & Touche, the accounting firm."
For me, the pedigree of some of these applicants hits home. This time around in this Recession, in this job market, in the face of escalating economic peril, there are simply too many well-qualified professionals out there all competing for jobs for which they are immediately overlooked precisely because they are overqualified. The fact that they have to resort to applying to jobs at a lower wage and professional level speaks to the tightness of the job market. Yet, the old thinking still prevails that those who are overqualified will leave immediately when a better paying position presents itself. I don't believe this will be the case this time around.
Eight million individuals have lost their jobs in just under two years at a pace unseen since the Great Depression. And, leading economic forecasters predict that the ranks of the unemployed will continue to rise through 2010 and hiring will not rebound til at least 2012, not to mention that we are still losing about 250,000 jobs a month. The fact is we need to swing to a positive of creating 400,000 jobs per month simply to begin to re-absorb the currently unemployed and to have jobs available for the 150,000 matriculating into the workforce every month.
Job creation statistics show growth in primarily the healthcare, government and education sectors, sectors that are primarily funded by taxpayer dollars. I am not seeing where these sectors can possibly create jobs of the magnitude required especially in the face of insufficient and now declining tax revenues and federal, state and local governments' spiraling debt burdens. In addition, new job procurers are most likely earning less than they did previously for the same or similar job.
So, I believe companies do not have to worry about job jumpers at this juncture because there are no jobs to jump to. Besides, if you have a job, your head is down working your bejesus off because you do not want to lose it. You are not thinking of jumping to another company, believe me. So for these overqualified professionals, what now? Where will they find work if they are automatically turned down for opportunities for which they are deemed overqualified yet there are no jobs being created at their level?
For me, the pedigree of some of these applicants hits home. This time around in this Recession, in this job market, in the face of escalating economic peril, there are simply too many well-qualified professionals out there all competing for jobs for which they are immediately overlooked precisely because they are overqualified. The fact that they have to resort to applying to jobs at a lower wage and professional level speaks to the tightness of the job market. Yet, the old thinking still prevails that those who are overqualified will leave immediately when a better paying position presents itself. I don't believe this will be the case this time around.
Eight million individuals have lost their jobs in just under two years at a pace unseen since the Great Depression. And, leading economic forecasters predict that the ranks of the unemployed will continue to rise through 2010 and hiring will not rebound til at least 2012, not to mention that we are still losing about 250,000 jobs a month. The fact is we need to swing to a positive of creating 400,000 jobs per month simply to begin to re-absorb the currently unemployed and to have jobs available for the 150,000 matriculating into the workforce every month.
Job creation statistics show growth in primarily the healthcare, government and education sectors, sectors that are primarily funded by taxpayer dollars. I am not seeing where these sectors can possibly create jobs of the magnitude required especially in the face of insufficient and now declining tax revenues and federal, state and local governments' spiraling debt burdens. In addition, new job procurers are most likely earning less than they did previously for the same or similar job.
So, I believe companies do not have to worry about job jumpers at this juncture because there are no jobs to jump to. Besides, if you have a job, your head is down working your bejesus off because you do not want to lose it. You are not thinking of jumping to another company, believe me. So for these overqualified professionals, what now? Where will they find work if they are automatically turned down for opportunities for which they are deemed overqualified yet there are no jobs being created at their level?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Beatings Will Continue
I am here trying to get the vision of a stance out of my head, the one where your arms are up and crossed as you try to protect your head from a beating. That is how I feel right now as I struggle under the weight of all that is around me. Much as I have tried to hold my head up and stay positive, I am amazed that I can still feel so beaten down. Aren't positive thoughts and positive behavior supposed to make us feel better? I am busy every day, taking care of my house and my children and diligently working on my job search. I am determined to find work and I will not stray from my task. I continue to eat right and exercise because I worked so hard to lose weight and I intend to keep it off naturally. Most importantly, I endeavor to keep my wits about me and I still believe that karma will work toward my greater good even though it does not seem that way:
As I struggle to pay down my debt, all of it from an unfortunate business venture, I am riddled with notices of increased interest rates and increased payments even though I have faithfully made ample payments on time for years. Meanwhile, these financial institutions who were given billions of dollars in bailouts when their businesses failed continue to stomp on the very taxpayer who came to their rescue.
I struggle to come to terms with my new "consumer-driven" health insurance plan, a plan that does not pay for any visits beyond the sanctioned annual check ups but was chosen by my husband's company because they claim that they can no longer afford a traditional plan. Meanwhile, I watch the Congress lose sight of any legitimate reform that could actually cut costs or provide meaningful affordable coverage to those of us who truly need it.
As I struggle to find a decent job, I reflect on my ivy league education and ponder what it is worth. I try to prevent myself from staring at that huge gap in my resume where I stayed home after I had my second child. The childcare math does not add up when you hit number two because the childcare costs for two children, at least in New York, eats up a significant chunk of your paycheck. So many of us women choose not to sacrifice the welfare of our children for a few extra bucks but a difficult job market effectively discriminates against anyone who has been out for too long. Though I was fortunate to find a job last year, the economic crisis crashed my tenure so I do not appear as viable on paper when compared to those other consummate professionals out there.
The reality that we are earning less today than we did near the beginning of this decade strikes a chord right here in my household. I don't need statistics to drive this point home as I wrestle daily with the spreadsheet I use to manage my cash flow. I wish I wasn't so black and blue but my hands are not up there protecting my head for nothing. I am hoping that the black and white of these words will be cathartic and so I leave them.
As I struggle to pay down my debt, all of it from an unfortunate business venture, I am riddled with notices of increased interest rates and increased payments even though I have faithfully made ample payments on time for years. Meanwhile, these financial institutions who were given billions of dollars in bailouts when their businesses failed continue to stomp on the very taxpayer who came to their rescue.
I struggle to come to terms with my new "consumer-driven" health insurance plan, a plan that does not pay for any visits beyond the sanctioned annual check ups but was chosen by my husband's company because they claim that they can no longer afford a traditional plan. Meanwhile, I watch the Congress lose sight of any legitimate reform that could actually cut costs or provide meaningful affordable coverage to those of us who truly need it.
As I struggle to find a decent job, I reflect on my ivy league education and ponder what it is worth. I try to prevent myself from staring at that huge gap in my resume where I stayed home after I had my second child. The childcare math does not add up when you hit number two because the childcare costs for two children, at least in New York, eats up a significant chunk of your paycheck. So many of us women choose not to sacrifice the welfare of our children for a few extra bucks but a difficult job market effectively discriminates against anyone who has been out for too long. Though I was fortunate to find a job last year, the economic crisis crashed my tenure so I do not appear as viable on paper when compared to those other consummate professionals out there.
The reality that we are earning less today than we did near the beginning of this decade strikes a chord right here in my household. I don't need statistics to drive this point home as I wrestle daily with the spreadsheet I use to manage my cash flow. I wish I wasn't so black and blue but my hands are not up there protecting my head for nothing. I am hoping that the black and white of these words will be cathartic and so I leave them.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Improving My Odds in the Job Market
I'm back studying again in earnest, this time to gain national certification - that which will add some alphabet soup after my name. Anything that I can do to improve my odds in the job market. Actually I did get a call from an HR department of a prominent company based in New Jersey. Unfortunately, it is a 3 hour commute each way by car (due to the inevitable traffic) and virtually impossible by train. I would definitely have to relocate to take this job but I'm far from actually crystallizing that thought.
I am still pursuing the opportunity anyway because none of us ought to rule ourselves out. The whole contact and interview process requires practice and real world scenarios are invaluable. The initial phone interview was good practice. I haven't interviewed in months and I must say, it is amazing how quickly you can fall out of interview fluency. Ultimately, if I don't stack up against the other candidates, then nothing is lost and at least I've polished my chops a little bit. If, perchance, I do become a finalist then I will make the geographical determination then.
In the meantime, I will focus on my studies. And, as I am wont to do, I will make yet another declaration about how I will be resorting to brevity while I do so. Yet, as I scroll back through my posts, I see that I revert to wordiness almost immediately. Alas, such is me.
I am still pursuing the opportunity anyway because none of us ought to rule ourselves out. The whole contact and interview process requires practice and real world scenarios are invaluable. The initial phone interview was good practice. I haven't interviewed in months and I must say, it is amazing how quickly you can fall out of interview fluency. Ultimately, if I don't stack up against the other candidates, then nothing is lost and at least I've polished my chops a little bit. If, perchance, I do become a finalist then I will make the geographical determination then.
In the meantime, I will focus on my studies. And, as I am wont to do, I will make yet another declaration about how I will be resorting to brevity while I do so. Yet, as I scroll back through my posts, I see that I revert to wordiness almost immediately. Alas, such is me.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Long Island Consumer Confidence Confounds
As reported in the Long Island Business News, The Sienna Research Institute is claiming that Consumer Confidence on Long Island rose by 9 percent in the third quarter over the previous period. This seems to conflict with recent reports that Long Island's economy is still in the toilet, that there are no signs of the recovery that is supposedly taking place in the greater economy. This I believe. But consumer confidence increasing?
The core group of respondents must either be from the financial sector or the public sector. But seriously, I am still having trouble believing how an economy driven by consumer spending can recover when so many of those consumers are unemployed. It is simple math. The population of the United States is 300,000,000 comprising about 100,000,000 households. Over 7,000,000 jobs have been lost since the recession officially began 22 months ago. 7,000,000 jobs lost affects the finances of almost as many households, allowing for those that have, sadly, lost more than one job.
We must also count the millions of households who are affected by underemployment or have fallen below the radar. So, all told that is at least 10% of households not spending like they used to. The economy has been driven by 70% consumer spending over the last 10 years. A 10% reduction in consumer spending is a huge hit, accounting for trillions of dollars of our economic engine. There are also the millions of households who are in fear of losing their jobs and they are not spending like they used to, either.
In fact, the best numbers that have come out so far are those of consumer debt reduction. People are not spending, they are paying down debt and conserving. Wages continue to be stagnant and companies continue to cut jobs, albeit at a slower pace, in order to present better quarterly numbers but that is by no means a true gauge of health. I will certainly feel better and look better when I stop eating for a while but if I stop eating for too long, I may not survive.
Given all of these developments, it is hard to see where the consumer is finding any confidence especially in high cost Long Island where, unfortunately, those costs are closing in for many. I have completely lost my confidence. I don't even want to go to the store at all. But, since I am not the biggest consumer to begin with, I am always behind in necessities and so I remain. I know we are all looking for light at the end of the tunnel and we definitely need it soon. Even I am running out of patience.
The core group of respondents must either be from the financial sector or the public sector. But seriously, I am still having trouble believing how an economy driven by consumer spending can recover when so many of those consumers are unemployed. It is simple math. The population of the United States is 300,000,000 comprising about 100,000,000 households. Over 7,000,000 jobs have been lost since the recession officially began 22 months ago. 7,000,000 jobs lost affects the finances of almost as many households, allowing for those that have, sadly, lost more than one job.
We must also count the millions of households who are affected by underemployment or have fallen below the radar. So, all told that is at least 10% of households not spending like they used to. The economy has been driven by 70% consumer spending over the last 10 years. A 10% reduction in consumer spending is a huge hit, accounting for trillions of dollars of our economic engine. There are also the millions of households who are in fear of losing their jobs and they are not spending like they used to, either.
In fact, the best numbers that have come out so far are those of consumer debt reduction. People are not spending, they are paying down debt and conserving. Wages continue to be stagnant and companies continue to cut jobs, albeit at a slower pace, in order to present better quarterly numbers but that is by no means a true gauge of health. I will certainly feel better and look better when I stop eating for a while but if I stop eating for too long, I may not survive.
Given all of these developments, it is hard to see where the consumer is finding any confidence especially in high cost Long Island where, unfortunately, those costs are closing in for many. I have completely lost my confidence. I don't even want to go to the store at all. But, since I am not the biggest consumer to begin with, I am always behind in necessities and so I remain. I know we are all looking for light at the end of the tunnel and we definitely need it soon. Even I am running out of patience.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
And Less Jobs for All
The job news continues to be distressing:
- Another 250,000 jobs lost in September
- A labor department report that there is a 6 to 1 ratio of job seekers to available jobs, 2,400,000 permanent full-time job openings for the 14,500,000 officially unemployed
- A new report by two Rutgers professors predicting that the job market will not truly recover for 7 years or until 2017
I have been pretty diligent with my job search and I am surrounded by many who are even more so. Unfortunately, the job listings are stagnant. Either employers are looking for a candidate so unique that he or she may simply not exist or the job boards are holding onto listings long past their expiration date. Certainly, many of the job postings that I saw at the beginning of the year when I started my search appear to re-cycle. It is virtually impossible to determine which listings are actually still 'live'. In any case, do I really have what it takes to be the lucky one of six that will score that job?
I have just graduated from a professional program that has matriculated nearly 300 well-heeled professionals thus far. My resume looks slim next to theirs since I just got back into the game. I have to overcome looking slim on paper and so far I have not been successful. Then again, only one person in my class of 13 has been hired since we started last June and that job offer did not come easy. Nevertheless, according to the statistics, there should be another hire. Right now it does not look like it will be me unless all of the miracles that have eluded me over the years suddenly decide to coalesce.
- Another 250,000 jobs lost in September
- A labor department report that there is a 6 to 1 ratio of job seekers to available jobs, 2,400,000 permanent full-time job openings for the 14,500,000 officially unemployed
- A new report by two Rutgers professors predicting that the job market will not truly recover for 7 years or until 2017
I have been pretty diligent with my job search and I am surrounded by many who are even more so. Unfortunately, the job listings are stagnant. Either employers are looking for a candidate so unique that he or she may simply not exist or the job boards are holding onto listings long past their expiration date. Certainly, many of the job postings that I saw at the beginning of the year when I started my search appear to re-cycle. It is virtually impossible to determine which listings are actually still 'live'. In any case, do I really have what it takes to be the lucky one of six that will score that job?
I have just graduated from a professional program that has matriculated nearly 300 well-heeled professionals thus far. My resume looks slim next to theirs since I just got back into the game. I have to overcome looking slim on paper and so far I have not been successful. Then again, only one person in my class of 13 has been hired since we started last June and that job offer did not come easy. Nevertheless, according to the statistics, there should be another hire. Right now it does not look like it will be me unless all of the miracles that have eluded me over the years suddenly decide to coalesce.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Happy Days Are Here Again?
Happy days are here again. This is the famous refrain from the Great Depression when economic indicators pointed to a turnaround in the economy. Of course it took nearly twenty years after this declaration for the stock market to actually recoup the depression-era losses. But, since we have no patience this time around, we have seemingly fixed everything in a matter of 18 months.
I read a couple of days ago in the Times that average wages for 80% of the workforce had risen from $612 a week to $618 a week in the last few months. Let's not all jump for joy at once. Credibility for this factoid was attributed to the number-crunching of two (unnamed) government agencies. Is this a case of government spin at work? Perhaps not. A majority of the economists, optimists, people that matter and people wanting to matter have declared that this recession is over.
Though they all cite facts that the rebound will most definitely be tepid at best, the general consensus is that the economic crashing has leveled off; we are no longer falling of a cliff, we are just falling. And now that the lesser of bad news is treated as good news, as it has been since this spring, we should all be happy. Must we remind them that we, the millions of unemployed or underemployed, can't seem to overcome our cognitive dissonance?
I read a couple of days ago in the Times that average wages for 80% of the workforce had risen from $612 a week to $618 a week in the last few months. Let's not all jump for joy at once. Credibility for this factoid was attributed to the number-crunching of two (unnamed) government agencies. Is this a case of government spin at work? Perhaps not. A majority of the economists, optimists, people that matter and people wanting to matter have declared that this recession is over.
Though they all cite facts that the rebound will most definitely be tepid at best, the general consensus is that the economic crashing has leveled off; we are no longer falling of a cliff, we are just falling. And now that the lesser of bad news is treated as good news, as it has been since this spring, we should all be happy. Must we remind them that we, the millions of unemployed or underemployed, can't seem to overcome our cognitive dissonance?
How much more cynical are we going to get of the economic good news? I should not be so ungrateful for the $6 extra dollars a week that I would be earning if I were employed. I must always remain positive, I must always make lemonade, I must always believe that things can/will be better. Only a positive attitude can boost my spirits and keep me above the negative fray. Only I can be responsible for making the choices that ultimately led me to be unemployed in the first place.
All things being unequal, if the shoe was on the other foot, I would want to be holding on to that shoe and therefore I shouldn't begrudge an economy that appears to be moving on without me. If I get my foot back in the door, that would shift my compass, wouldn't it?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Simply Because it is September
Today is the first day of September. The weather dropped cold like a stone. That was it, our run of summer weather is over. We may still see some 80 degree days but the summer heat that we enjoyed over the last few weeks was all too short. Oh well. At least I did all that I could with it. But, it is September now and so our psychology shifts. Even the Dow Industrials lost 186 points today simply because it is September.
September and October are historically down months for the financial markets and when a majority of the previous stock market crashes have occurred. After the unprecedented rally of the last five months, investors are taking profits ostensibly because the rally has no basis and is therefore unsustainable and because the market goes down in September anyway. It is circular logic that creates an unavoidable condition. I'll get it straight one of these days.
The only thing that I am certain about is that I am still unemployed. I was supposed to go back to work when the kids went back to school but I still have not been fortunate to find employment. Many were predicting that an improved stock market would spur business to hire and prepare for renewed demand but employment still seems to be frozen. Many are still being laid off but now it is old news. To me, it is more competition on the ground and no matter how fantastic you are, no one seems to be above the fray. None of the people who started school with me in June have found employment, many of whom have very impressive resumes.
Tomorrow is my last day of school so I still have a milestone that I can set my lack of employment behind. School is supposed to help me be more employable and its actual completion resets the clock again even though I have already updated my resume and applied for dozens of jobs in the last month. Anyhow, I press on for at least I have something to show for myself.
September and October are historically down months for the financial markets and when a majority of the previous stock market crashes have occurred. After the unprecedented rally of the last five months, investors are taking profits ostensibly because the rally has no basis and is therefore unsustainable and because the market goes down in September anyway. It is circular logic that creates an unavoidable condition. I'll get it straight one of these days.
The only thing that I am certain about is that I am still unemployed. I was supposed to go back to work when the kids went back to school but I still have not been fortunate to find employment. Many were predicting that an improved stock market would spur business to hire and prepare for renewed demand but employment still seems to be frozen. Many are still being laid off but now it is old news. To me, it is more competition on the ground and no matter how fantastic you are, no one seems to be above the fray. None of the people who started school with me in June have found employment, many of whom have very impressive resumes.
Tomorrow is my last day of school so I still have a milestone that I can set my lack of employment behind. School is supposed to help me be more employable and its actual completion resets the clock again even though I have already updated my resume and applied for dozens of jobs in the last month. Anyhow, I press on for at least I have something to show for myself.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Private Sector Employment Losing Luster
Now that all of the experts are predicting that the recession is pretty much over and the stock market is up 50% since March, we all should be breathing a sigh of relief. Our 401k plans are rising again, the economy is leveling off, all should be OK right? Yet, somehow, I feel disconnected from all of this economic joy. When I look around, I do not see things getting any better for the middle class; at least those employed by the private sector.
Over the last decade our wages have been stagnant but now they are just downright declining. In the last 8 years, my husband was only able to gain a wage increase by switching jobs, the last time we both actually got raises from a private employer was at the end of the 1990s. So far, many of our fellow unemployed folks who have been fortunate to get employment offers are accepting less pay for the same or similar job that they just lost.
My husband just got an offer over $10,000 less than his old job with an inferior healthcare plan. In fact, the company announced today that next year's plan will be even more inferior due to rising costs. We accepted the offer though because you can't look a gift job in the mouth these days. We are thrilled that one of us now has a job but as he looks around at the folks toiling in his new workplace, they are grateful to have a job and fearful of losing it. They all get in by 8am, work all day, take no lunch, take no vacations, and do not leave the office before 6pm. This is the new reality for many who work in the private sector.
Last weekend, I read in the New York Times that the economy produced 120,000 private sector jobs since 1999. In ten years, during all of the economic boom that we were supposedly experiencing, before all the bubbles crashed at once, only a net of 120,000 private sector jobs were created. Yet, during those boom times, many public sector unions were able to obtain the most generous salary and benefit increases that now must be honored despite the economic reversal of fortune.
Where I live, on the south shore of Suffolk County, most of the parents that I encounter in my community are public employees of some sort; teachers or school workers, police people, railroad workers, postal workers, fire people and the like who seem to be the only people still spending money. The rest are contractors; plumbers, carpenters, landscapers and mechanics, all of which did quite well over the last 10 years judging from their homes and their lifestyle but are now pulling back because of the economy. There are very few who work in the private sector, and if they do they are Long Island based. I imagine they are in the same boat as we are.
So far, in the six years that we have been living in our community we have not met anyone who commutes to the city like my husband does; I'm sure there's a few out there, though. After traveling all over the island and meeting more people, anecdotal evidence suggests that most NYC commuters live in Nassau County or above the LIE in Suffolk County. In fact, when we moved out here, our neighbors were shocked that my husband worked in the city. I suppose if we were surrounded by more NYC commuter folk, we could get a better pulse on how they are surviving.
Anyhow, we are starting to get jealous of the public sector people. They have job security, incredible lifestyles, nice homes, nice vacations, nice vehicles, nice everything and we feel like we are struggling all the time. We have no comfort zone when it comes to employment, we have no job security, we have to save for our own retirement and every year we have to pay more and accept a lesser healthcare plan. Who knew this was going to be the case? None of those public sector jobs were glamorous back in the 1980s when we were going to college and making our choices but now they look downright lovely. Sure, there will be a day of reckoning for those public sector employees but right now they are sitting pretty and I wish I was sitting there next to them right about now.
Over the last decade our wages have been stagnant but now they are just downright declining. In the last 8 years, my husband was only able to gain a wage increase by switching jobs, the last time we both actually got raises from a private employer was at the end of the 1990s. So far, many of our fellow unemployed folks who have been fortunate to get employment offers are accepting less pay for the same or similar job that they just lost.
My husband just got an offer over $10,000 less than his old job with an inferior healthcare plan. In fact, the company announced today that next year's plan will be even more inferior due to rising costs. We accepted the offer though because you can't look a gift job in the mouth these days. We are thrilled that one of us now has a job but as he looks around at the folks toiling in his new workplace, they are grateful to have a job and fearful of losing it. They all get in by 8am, work all day, take no lunch, take no vacations, and do not leave the office before 6pm. This is the new reality for many who work in the private sector.
Last weekend, I read in the New York Times that the economy produced 120,000 private sector jobs since 1999. In ten years, during all of the economic boom that we were supposedly experiencing, before all the bubbles crashed at once, only a net of 120,000 private sector jobs were created. Yet, during those boom times, many public sector unions were able to obtain the most generous salary and benefit increases that now must be honored despite the economic reversal of fortune.
Where I live, on the south shore of Suffolk County, most of the parents that I encounter in my community are public employees of some sort; teachers or school workers, police people, railroad workers, postal workers, fire people and the like who seem to be the only people still spending money. The rest are contractors; plumbers, carpenters, landscapers and mechanics, all of which did quite well over the last 10 years judging from their homes and their lifestyle but are now pulling back because of the economy. There are very few who work in the private sector, and if they do they are Long Island based. I imagine they are in the same boat as we are.
So far, in the six years that we have been living in our community we have not met anyone who commutes to the city like my husband does; I'm sure there's a few out there, though. After traveling all over the island and meeting more people, anecdotal evidence suggests that most NYC commuters live in Nassau County or above the LIE in Suffolk County. In fact, when we moved out here, our neighbors were shocked that my husband worked in the city. I suppose if we were surrounded by more NYC commuter folk, we could get a better pulse on how they are surviving.
Anyhow, we are starting to get jealous of the public sector people. They have job security, incredible lifestyles, nice homes, nice vacations, nice vehicles, nice everything and we feel like we are struggling all the time. We have no comfort zone when it comes to employment, we have no job security, we have to save for our own retirement and every year we have to pay more and accept a lesser healthcare plan. Who knew this was going to be the case? None of those public sector jobs were glamorous back in the 1980s when we were going to college and making our choices but now they look downright lovely. Sure, there will be a day of reckoning for those public sector employees but right now they are sitting pretty and I wish I was sitting there next to them right about now.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Things Will Get Better But There Won't Be a Job for You
I am so glad that economy appears to be stabilizing. It cost a lot of money to prop it up though, but we won't go there. Unfortunately, there is a lot of talk about it being a "jobless recovery" and that is where my joy fades quickly. This is bittersweet news for the unemployed. Things will get better but there won't be a job for you.
We have been hearing the term "jobless recovery" since 2001 when we entered a relatively mild recession, compared to the whopper we have now. This can't possibly be an acceptable result when millions of people have lost their jobs. We all can't continue to be unemployed, there are simply too many of us. Personally, I have never been surrounded by so many unemployed brilliant, educated and seasoned professionals in my life. It is amazing to see your competition staring you in the face and knowing they have a lot more education and experience than you do.
The cottage industry of the new "bend over backwards" standards for job searching is downright terrifying. How are we all supposed to set ourselves apart from all the others to land that job? Am I really supposed to ask my interviewer right there and then whether I have said anything that may affect their ability to employ me and what I can do to improve my chances of employment with their company?
Now, we are all supposed to be our own brand to be sold and marketed by ourselves and in return we will reap employment. It is a very very tall order for many who are great but haven't looked for a job in 15 years. These people are in my classes and I feel very bad for them. I only just got back into the rat race recently so I was in sandy shoes to begin with though I was hoping to make a lasting impression. I have to hone my saleswoman-ship; something about selling the Brooklyn bridge.
We have been hearing the term "jobless recovery" since 2001 when we entered a relatively mild recession, compared to the whopper we have now. This can't possibly be an acceptable result when millions of people have lost their jobs. We all can't continue to be unemployed, there are simply too many of us. Personally, I have never been surrounded by so many unemployed brilliant, educated and seasoned professionals in my life. It is amazing to see your competition staring you in the face and knowing they have a lot more education and experience than you do.
The cottage industry of the new "bend over backwards" standards for job searching is downright terrifying. How are we all supposed to set ourselves apart from all the others to land that job? Am I really supposed to ask my interviewer right there and then whether I have said anything that may affect their ability to employ me and what I can do to improve my chances of employment with their company?
Now, we are all supposed to be our own brand to be sold and marketed by ourselves and in return we will reap employment. It is a very very tall order for many who are great but haven't looked for a job in 15 years. These people are in my classes and I feel very bad for them. I only just got back into the rat race recently so I was in sandy shoes to begin with though I was hoping to make a lasting impression. I have to hone my saleswoman-ship; something about selling the Brooklyn bridge.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Milestone
Today I completed the first of two professional certifications that I am currently pursuing. My brain is fried but I am thrilled. In a few weeks I will be done with the second so I'm moving right along. I am working hard to kick my resume up a notch. The job postings are becoming more refined as employers seek only the creme de la creme; those who have jumped through the right hoops. I rise to the challenge.
The sense of accomplishment gives me renewed hope that somewhere there is an employer who will appreciate and pay me for my skills. Can I get an Amen?
The sense of accomplishment gives me renewed hope that somewhere there is an employer who will appreciate and pay me for my skills. Can I get an Amen?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Long Island's Economic Forecast Still Bleak
Things do not look so good for Long Island's economic forecast. Newsday had two disturbing headlines:
LI job market losses biggest since 1991. (Newsday.com, 7/16/09)
The figure is now 7.5%. Long Island lost over 40,000 private sector jobs in the last 12 months.
LI business bankruptcy filings surpass national rate. (Newsday.com, 7/16/09)
The national rate is 59%.
And the Long Island Business News had another:
Foreclosures rise 15% in first half of 2009. (libn.com, 7/16/09)
In addition, there was the big stink about OSI Pharmaceuticals, a native Long Island company and anointed cornerstone of Long Island's much anticipated biotech corridor, moving to Westchester County because they got a better deal there. It must be noted that Westchester has the same high taxes as Long Island so taxation was not a motivating factor.
All of these indicators do not bode well for Long Island job seekers. Long Island has much to consider if it is going to get its economic act together and create jobs. It has to shed the nimbyism and thoroughly assess its ageing infrastructure, its ageing population, runaway taxation, cronyism, shrinking business environment and all around high cost of living. It is a tall order and so far not much is getting done at all since there is no regional planning body or regional thinking whatsoever. Here, it is district by district, town by town, county by county, this type of localism is restricting the region's ability to come up with creative solutions that will benefit the region as a whole.
LI job market losses biggest since 1991. (Newsday.com, 7/16/09)
The figure is now 7.5%. Long Island lost over 40,000 private sector jobs in the last 12 months.
LI business bankruptcy filings surpass national rate. (Newsday.com, 7/16/09)
The national rate is 59%.
And the Long Island Business News had another:
Foreclosures rise 15% in first half of 2009. (libn.com, 7/16/09)
In addition, there was the big stink about OSI Pharmaceuticals, a native Long Island company and anointed cornerstone of Long Island's much anticipated biotech corridor, moving to Westchester County because they got a better deal there. It must be noted that Westchester has the same high taxes as Long Island so taxation was not a motivating factor.
All of these indicators do not bode well for Long Island job seekers. Long Island has much to consider if it is going to get its economic act together and create jobs. It has to shed the nimbyism and thoroughly assess its ageing infrastructure, its ageing population, runaway taxation, cronyism, shrinking business environment and all around high cost of living. It is a tall order and so far not much is getting done at all since there is no regional planning body or regional thinking whatsoever. Here, it is district by district, town by town, county by county, this type of localism is restricting the region's ability to come up with creative solutions that will benefit the region as a whole.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Healthcare Reform Threatened by Simmering Bailout Regret
It seems that we Americans are starting not to appreciate the fact that the economy was rescued from the brink of disaster. With the furor over fiscal discipline becoming a soundpiece on every conservative media outlet, many are forgetting that the collapse of the financial system and the economy would have ruined all of us. But, as the recession wears on, it is getting harder to accept that the massive infusion of taxpayer funds barely made a dent in the survival of the average American.
Unemployment continues to rise and is on track to top 10% and now there is talk of a "jobless recovery." Clearly this is a bitter pill to swallow for the nearly 3,000,000 unemployed since the beginning of this year. The housing market is still in shambles and Americans already deeply in debt are being slapped with increasingly egregious penalties for carrying this debt. Finally, the cost of healthcare and health insurance has hit the tipping point where it is completely unaffordable for those who have lost their jobs and some 50,000,000 Americans are completely without it.
From the standpoint of the rich, they have been saved. From the standpoint of the poor, nothing has changed, they essentially receive the same assistance. The people who stand to lose the most are the middle class. These are the people losing their jobs, losing their homes, losing their healthcare and losing their minds. These will be the people who will have to shoulder a greater tax burden to pay the national debt and to prop up all the local governments and taxing authorities that are also suffering from revenue shortfalls. These are the people who are slowly being convinced that the government debt and deficit is too high to make any more changes to save the economy like funding a vital overhaul of healthcare and health insurance that will ultimately reduce costs and provide access to all.
When the average American is feeling so much financial pain, the collateral damage stemming from the bailouts - the skyrocketing national debt and the tripling of the annual deficit, already inflated under George Bush - does not seem worth it. Let's hope our weariness does not derail healthcare reform, at the very least.
Unemployment continues to rise and is on track to top 10% and now there is talk of a "jobless recovery." Clearly this is a bitter pill to swallow for the nearly 3,000,000 unemployed since the beginning of this year. The housing market is still in shambles and Americans already deeply in debt are being slapped with increasingly egregious penalties for carrying this debt. Finally, the cost of healthcare and health insurance has hit the tipping point where it is completely unaffordable for those who have lost their jobs and some 50,000,000 Americans are completely without it.
From the standpoint of the rich, they have been saved. From the standpoint of the poor, nothing has changed, they essentially receive the same assistance. The people who stand to lose the most are the middle class. These are the people losing their jobs, losing their homes, losing their healthcare and losing their minds. These will be the people who will have to shoulder a greater tax burden to pay the national debt and to prop up all the local governments and taxing authorities that are also suffering from revenue shortfalls. These are the people who are slowly being convinced that the government debt and deficit is too high to make any more changes to save the economy like funding a vital overhaul of healthcare and health insurance that will ultimately reduce costs and provide access to all.
When the average American is feeling so much financial pain, the collateral damage stemming from the bailouts - the skyrocketing national debt and the tripling of the annual deficit, already inflated under George Bush - does not seem worth it. Let's hope our weariness does not derail healthcare reform, at the very least.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Strange Days Indeed
After 4 days celebrating the genius of Michael Jackson, re-living all of the moments and memories, real life has set in again. As we know, no amount of entertainment can hold back the tide of the matters at hand. I must note here before I go on that it is oddly coincidental that ubiquitous pitchman Billy Mays died a few days later of heart disease at the age of 50. Strange days indeed.
Strange for us is getting used to the fact that both of us are unemployed, still. Perhaps the unseasonable wetness of June was a large contributor to this strangeness as it cast a decidedly gloomier pall over our hopes and dreams. By all accounts we weathered it well, pardon the pun. Needless to say, we are two well-heeled technology professionals meeting way too many people of a similar ilk also out of work. We recognize the game has changed, we see all that is familiar disappearing. Even the condition of unemployment has changed, it is no longer stigma now that the unemployed run the strata of the socioeconomic universe; no one is immune.
The mind-numbing unemployment statistics have us jumping through a different set of hoops for this job search. And so we rise up to the challenge. I am in school for a professional certification that will boost my resume and my husband is taking full advantage of out-placement services provided by his former employer. Even though it is summer, we will not let down our guard and we won't let a little sunshine deter us from the task at hand.
Strange for us is getting used to the fact that both of us are unemployed, still. Perhaps the unseasonable wetness of June was a large contributor to this strangeness as it cast a decidedly gloomier pall over our hopes and dreams. By all accounts we weathered it well, pardon the pun. Needless to say, we are two well-heeled technology professionals meeting way too many people of a similar ilk also out of work. We recognize the game has changed, we see all that is familiar disappearing. Even the condition of unemployment has changed, it is no longer stigma now that the unemployed run the strata of the socioeconomic universe; no one is immune.
The mind-numbing unemployment statistics have us jumping through a different set of hoops for this job search. And so we rise up to the challenge. I am in school for a professional certification that will boost my resume and my husband is taking full advantage of out-placement services provided by his former employer. Even though it is summer, we will not let down our guard and we won't let a little sunshine deter us from the task at hand.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
When it Rains...
During this time when we are trying to conserve cash, it seems that a slew of potentially costly negative events keep cropping up. I suppose we may have overlooked much of them if we were working, chalking it all up to the regular rhythm of life. But, when life has already dealt you a series of heavy blows, it is hard to feel that the world is not against you when Murphy's Law is in full effect. Lately, everything that can go wrong has been going wrong.
My computer died completely on Thursday; I need a new motherboard so a complete rebuild will be required. What a pain. A rock hit my husband's windshield leaving a nasty star dent; we hope to avoid a complete replacement. Also, his cell phone, which is at least 4 years old, no longer functions in any capacity for which it is intended. Our lawn mower that we bought used a couple years ago was overwhelmed by the heavy grass growth that this very wet spring has wrought and so it too died. We have been looking on Craig's list but so far the one's we've liked have sold quickly; we continue the search while the grass grows. While I love the rain, we could use a little break and a little more sun.
Also, I received news that my certification courses are scheduled to start at the end of June, right when my children are done with their school. I was hoping it would start sooner so we could all be in school together. So now, there will be additional childcare costs for the summer. Great. I believe in positive thinking but lately, it is not bringing the intended results. I need a karmic reset. Nevertheless, I will persevere. Wish me luck.
My computer died completely on Thursday; I need a new motherboard so a complete rebuild will be required. What a pain. A rock hit my husband's windshield leaving a nasty star dent; we hope to avoid a complete replacement. Also, his cell phone, which is at least 4 years old, no longer functions in any capacity for which it is intended. Our lawn mower that we bought used a couple years ago was overwhelmed by the heavy grass growth that this very wet spring has wrought and so it too died. We have been looking on Craig's list but so far the one's we've liked have sold quickly; we continue the search while the grass grows. While I love the rain, we could use a little break and a little more sun.
Also, I received news that my certification courses are scheduled to start at the end of June, right when my children are done with their school. I was hoping it would start sooner so we could all be in school together. So now, there will be additional childcare costs for the summer. Great. I believe in positive thinking but lately, it is not bringing the intended results. I need a karmic reset. Nevertheless, I will persevere. Wish me luck.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Job Searching is a Full Time Job
A dear friend advised me recently in an email to take a "news fast," as recommended by Dr. Andrew Weill, for at least a week. I think she is right for it would definitely help to reduce my stress levels and will definitely be good for my health. Unfortunately, I don't think there can be any rest for the weary until one of us finds a job. After that, you might not hear from me again. As I come upon my 6 month anniversary of unemployment and with my husband wrapping up his first month, I can't help but scour the news everywhere looking for some sign or some hope that there is a turn for the better in the job market. For us, job searching is a full-time job.
My husband, technical genius that he is, has been on multiple interviews and call backs, yet no offers. After consulting with fellow co-workers who were also laid off, he is finding the same trend. Though some people are getting interviews and have plenty of irons in the fire, it appears that few companies are actually pulling the trigger on that final decision. In our own anecdotal research, few of our former colleagues have been gainfully re-employed.
The key to finding a job now is through "networking." You must be on professional networking sites like LinkedIn and also attend networking events with like-minded individuals. Some companies as part of their severance package offer access to outplacement services and as I've mentioned before, the Department of Labor offers access to professional training. All of these resources have been better than they have been in the past and we are churning, churning, churning yet no gainful employment appears in our sights.
While there are news reports of glimmers in the employment statistics, I think they are just counting the same jobs over and over. I have seen the same jobs re-posted and re-listed again and again, like houses that have been lingering on the market, you realize that these are recruiters phishing for resumes to pad their database. It is getting harder to tell whether a job listing is real; many companies no longer recruit in house and there are so many recruiters competing with the same listings, it is hard to tell who has the true relationship with a prospective employer.
And so, we search on, hoping that we will be the lucky ones, landing a job before our resources run out.
My husband, technical genius that he is, has been on multiple interviews and call backs, yet no offers. After consulting with fellow co-workers who were also laid off, he is finding the same trend. Though some people are getting interviews and have plenty of irons in the fire, it appears that few companies are actually pulling the trigger on that final decision. In our own anecdotal research, few of our former colleagues have been gainfully re-employed.
The key to finding a job now is through "networking." You must be on professional networking sites like LinkedIn and also attend networking events with like-minded individuals. Some companies as part of their severance package offer access to outplacement services and as I've mentioned before, the Department of Labor offers access to professional training. All of these resources have been better than they have been in the past and we are churning, churning, churning yet no gainful employment appears in our sights.
While there are news reports of glimmers in the employment statistics, I think they are just counting the same jobs over and over. I have seen the same jobs re-posted and re-listed again and again, like houses that have been lingering on the market, you realize that these are recruiters phishing for resumes to pad their database. It is getting harder to tell whether a job listing is real; many companies no longer recruit in house and there are so many recruiters competing with the same listings, it is hard to tell who has the true relationship with a prospective employer.
And so, we search on, hoping that we will be the lucky ones, landing a job before our resources run out.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Unemployment
Tomorrow, I have a meeting with the department of labor (NYDOL). It seems that I will qualify for some unemployment benefits after all. Whoohoo! When you have a big fat zero coming in, anything is better than nothing and of course I am extremely grateful for it. Except...
Well, I was listening to the radio the other day. Actually, I listen to the radio every day in my car. I only listen to public radio stations in the car, nothing else, so it is either classical music or NPR programming, my trusted news source. Ask my kids. Sometimes they are not amused but I do see them tuning in against their will so there is hope that they will actually respond to music and information that challenges their minds. Anyhow, since I am old enough to know practically every song on most popular radio stations, I own the records - yeah vinyl - I do not need radio stations to over-play and kill the music that I love. Also, I find the children want to listen to dreadful pop radio notorious for playing the same 5 songs all day that I wake up in the morning with these songs in my head (umbrella ella ella ella...). Not to mention that I have heard many of these "new" songs before because most are re-dos of old songs I grew up with. The children are always shocked that I know the tune and/or the words. Sadly, I have to tell them that there is very little music that they listen to that is original.
Anyway, since I live in Suffolk County, Connecticut is geographically closer than New York City so I pick up their public radio station as well. During one of their news stories they discussed unemployment benefits in CT and it turns out that the maximum unemployment benefit in CT is $519 versus $405 in NY. In addition, they get $15 per dependent child. Well you know what I was thinking. What the heck, if I knew that, we should have moved to Connecticut. Well? It is something to ponder isn't it? You know I worked out the numbers quickly, that is a whopping $576 per month more than in NY providing you get the maximum benefit and have two children. That is quite a bit of extra moulah. Perhaps this info should be added to the relocation checklist alongside the other quality of life markers such as school district stats, property tax rates and community amenities. Of course, we ruled out moving to CT for the same reason we ruled out NJ, we are New Yorkers, good, bad and indifferent.
All kidding aside, I am looking forward to my meeting in NY. I am happy to jump through any hoop right about now for a few extra bucks, every little bit counts.
Well, I was listening to the radio the other day. Actually, I listen to the radio every day in my car. I only listen to public radio stations in the car, nothing else, so it is either classical music or NPR programming, my trusted news source. Ask my kids. Sometimes they are not amused but I do see them tuning in against their will so there is hope that they will actually respond to music and information that challenges their minds. Anyhow, since I am old enough to know practically every song on most popular radio stations, I own the records - yeah vinyl - I do not need radio stations to over-play and kill the music that I love. Also, I find the children want to listen to dreadful pop radio notorious for playing the same 5 songs all day that I wake up in the morning with these songs in my head (umbrella ella ella ella...). Not to mention that I have heard many of these "new" songs before because most are re-dos of old songs I grew up with. The children are always shocked that I know the tune and/or the words. Sadly, I have to tell them that there is very little music that they listen to that is original.
Anyway, since I live in Suffolk County, Connecticut is geographically closer than New York City so I pick up their public radio station as well. During one of their news stories they discussed unemployment benefits in CT and it turns out that the maximum unemployment benefit in CT is $519 versus $405 in NY. In addition, they get $15 per dependent child. Well you know what I was thinking. What the heck, if I knew that, we should have moved to Connecticut. Well? It is something to ponder isn't it? You know I worked out the numbers quickly, that is a whopping $576 per month more than in NY providing you get the maximum benefit and have two children. That is quite a bit of extra moulah. Perhaps this info should be added to the relocation checklist alongside the other quality of life markers such as school district stats, property tax rates and community amenities. Of course, we ruled out moving to CT for the same reason we ruled out NJ, we are New Yorkers, good, bad and indifferent.
All kidding aside, I am looking forward to my meeting in NY. I am happy to jump through any hoop right about now for a few extra bucks, every little bit counts.
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