Amidst the
Read the following BusinessWeek article, entitled “The Lost Generation” by Peter Coy. To what extent are you concerned over the unemployment status in the
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Unit 2: 'The Lost Generation': Young Adulthood and The Great Recession
In the near future, you will venture out into the exciting world of work! Well, hopefully…
Amidst theUnited States
Read the following BusinessWeek article, entitled “The Lost Generation” by Peter Coy. To what extent are you concerned over the unemployment status in theUS US
Amidst the
Read the following BusinessWeek article, entitled “The Lost Generation” by Peter Coy. To what extent are you concerned over the unemployment status in the
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The United States has been in its worse downturn since the Great Depression. The recession has left many people jobless and sending more numbers into poverty. As the unemployment rate continues to decline, I worry that our country is on the brink of its worse economic standing ever. More and more young people are left without jobs, even those with the qualifications, because businesses can not afford to employ them due to the work staff that they already have and the amount of money in business that are slowly losing.
With graduation coming up in May, I am not to worried about how the recession will affect me. Like most college students getting ready to graduate, I am going to continue my schooling. However, unlike some of my peers, I will be going into the field of nursing, which is always in need of new employees. Since I will be entering into this field, I know that I have up to three more years before I will be able to practice and that there will be a job waiting for me. With the baby boomer generation aging, there will be more of a need in hospitals than every before. Many nurses whom are apart of this generation will be retiring as well as many others entering old age will be needing the care and treatment of nurses.
When thinking of possibly solutions to the current recession, it is hard to pinpoint just one agency that is to blame. As stated in the Coy article, companies such as General Electric have continued to hire young people throughout the recession because the jobs are still needed. Other companies, however, have not been hiring youths because they already have the jobs filled by older individuals who have been working at the company for numerous years. It is easy to say that these companies should fire the older people and hire the younger ones. However, this is not always the best case scenario because these older workers know the ins-and-outs of the company and what is expected of them on a daily basis. Coy also mentions how some believe that the government should require jobs and training for young Americans who do not have jobs. Again, if there are not job openings at particular places, they should not be forced to hire them. While it would be nice to live in a perfect world in which everyone has the job that they desire, this is not the case. Unemployment has always existed in our world, it is just taking a turn for the worse in recent years. It is hard to come up with a solution for this epidemic that we are currently faced with, but the best thing that I can think of for current college students is to just continue education and hope for a turn around.
I chose to comment on this post because I am senior graduating in May and I have never been more scared about the economy than I am now. Never before had I paid attention to the news but since I have been in college, it has been a best friend, sadly. The fact that the unemployment rate has made headlines numerous times during the past several years, is just a reminder of how hard it will be for inexperienced recent graduates to get a job. We are thrown into the job market with with not only our peers, but people our senior who have lost jobs and are way more qualified than me or many others. Since jobs are so scarce, the ones that have graduate degrees are the ones who are going to get the job over someone who is a recent grad.
Seeing those numbers in the article are startling. The media does not focus on the age group from 18-24 as they do they unemployment situation in general. The unemployment rate is 18%, just up from the 13% it was last year. This not only depresses me but causes me to be extremely stressed out. I find myself looking on numerous job search engines daily. Not only are there barely any jobs, but the pay is not good. I pay out of state tuition and when I see a job that has a salary as the same it cost me to attend Maryland in a year, its saddening.
I agree with the post above me with the suggestion of staying in school and waiting out the recession. However, after being in school for most of my life, continuing on to more education directly after undergrad is not something I want to do. I am not sure that the government can do anything to improve the unemployment rate. I heard just on the news the other day that there was a job fair ( in VA I believe) and 3,000 people showed up. What do I have that 3,000 other people do not? I blame globalization. While this may be a cheap shot, I truly believe it. If we did not push all of our companies over seas I believe we would not have the unemployment rate that we do.
Before reading and listening to “The Lost Generation” I thought that the unemployment rate for young adults was a minor crisis, but now stepping back I have noticed that it is a huge problem for not just young adults, but everyone. The top concern is that young adults are not getting the jobs and careers that they have worked so hard to get by getting a good education. According to Coy, not only do they get jobs that are low pay, but they are getting jobs where they do not need much skill. Another problem Coy talk about is how people are facing is the care for the elder. If the young adults who are fresh out of college cannot get a decent job the elderly do not have enough money for their health concerns and social security. Considering the current trends of this unemployment crisis I do believe that I will be affected. My plan is to go to graduate school right after receiving my bachelor’s degree, but since the trend is only getting worst it could be hard for me to get a job because of my lack of experience in the family science field. Employers want people who have had experience and can work from first hand experiences. These experiences I will not yet acquire because of so much time spent on education. If I do not find a career that related to my degree’s I will have to go for a job where I would be over qualified. My pay will be low and I probably will not be able to live on my own and have stable job because of the employment rate. This will also lead to not getting the experience needed to get a job related to my degrees. The government needs to act fast to support young adults and to have jobs that young adults fresh out of college can obtain. The government should have a program that can help young adults find a job that can get them started with their career. I agree with .253 when he/she talks how hard it is to come up with any solution to this particular crisis. It is hard to target what solutions can help to what solutions can work to help find jobs. The best thing to do like .253 said is for young adults to continue their education and hope for the best. Unemployment has been an ongoing problem in our society; therefore, if we can find ways to better and help young adults who work hard to get an education, we can help them find a job that can give them a bright future.
I am very concerned with the unemployment status in the US. As mentioned in the article severity of unemployment among my age group has left me in fear. I am fearful, just as many of my peers are, that I will graduated only to be left unemployed for months and possible a year. In addition I have a daughter to care and provide for, which would be difficult with out a steady income. Recently with finding employment becoming increasingly difficult it is not all about how much education you have but about who you know in high places. A bachelor’s degree is beginning to mean less and less, so what is one to do? Stay in school and out of steady employment even longer to get a PHD or MBA. Or does school even matter at all any more. I know a hand full of people who work for large companies and government agencies and I am hoping that they can pull some strings for me so that I can get a decent job once I graduate. My degree will serve as something extra, and fortunately I already have a great deal of experience because I have been working for a long time (and at credible places, not retail). So basically I hope that I would not be affected too badly by the current trends because I plan on combining my experience, who I know, and my degree to get my foot in any door.
As a solution many people are thinking about lowering minimum wage because since minimum wage has increased employers are not as willing to hire new people because they can not afford to or they feel like it will be a loss on their part. I suppose that lowering minimum wage for that reason makes sense, but what about those who are living in poverty. Lowering minimum wage could increase the number of people who are living in poverty (and that number is misrepresented any way due to the defects in our country’s current measure of poverty) and in turn force the government to spend more money to support people on welfare. Instead of cutting minimum wage a possible solution could be to lower the wages of those who get paid in the top 20% (the highest paid people in the US or those with the largest assets/capital). This way we can strive to lessen the gap between the rich and the poor.
Individuals both with and without college degrees face rates of unemployment that have been at their highest in recent decades. Like most of my classmates, I am concerned for my peers who are graduating in May, who have few family resources, or who are not pursuing a college degree. Those not attending college immediately face rates of unemployment of 18% in a workforce where employers are hesitant to hire young workers and offer low wages. Those attending college stave off facing the workforce while obtaining a college degree, but will likely face a troubled workforce upon graduation.
As an aspiring nurse, I am not as concerned about long term employment because nursing will remain in high demand as the baby boomer generation ages. I plan to graduate from the University of Maryland with a double degree in Psychology and Family Science in May 2011. However, because I have resources available to extend my education, I have elected to pursue an additional Bachelor’s Degree in nursing in order to enter a career that offers a guaranteed position and greater opportunity for advancement. Ideally, after obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing I will work for several years before returning for a Master’s Degree in nursing. However, if employment remains closed, I may elect to follow the advice of .253 and remain in school. Although long term employment will be available in nursing, I am becoming increasingly concerned about short term employment. Because of the increase in media attention to the rising rates of unemployment, I have found myself obsessing more about money. To earn money for nursing school, I plan to work more hours next semester and am looking for a paid summer internship in human services. Reflecting what was stated in the article, I have found few paid internship positions. Instead employers offer unpaid positions or delegate tasks to employees.
Prior to taking this class, I would have suggested that the government abstain from involvement in the economy. However, this pattern was followed by Herbert Hoover in the early years of the Great Depression to no avail. The economy deteriorated until President Roosevelt initiated The New Deal. Because we are in a similar economic situation, I think that the government needs to enact similar legislation. For example, the government should offer increased tax incentives to return production to the United States and reduce “cutthroat competition,” defined as selling below cost to drive weaker companies out of business. Enacting such incentives will parallel the National Industrial Recovery Act, stabilize wages, and increase employment rates. The government should also create more jobs, such as those created through the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Civilian Conservation Corps. I also think that the government should follow through with its proposed plan of offering $3,000 tax incentives for hiring new workers in order to entice employers to hire young workers. Lastly, I think that the government should follow the apprenticeship program implemented in Germany and develop programs to guide high school students in blue-collar jobs. I disagree with the post by .318 that we should decrease the federal minimum wage and should increase taxes in the top 20% of income earners. It took a decade for the federal government to realize the need for increased wages and to decrease wages now would harm minimum wage workers. I believe that increasing taxes of the rich is a cop-out that is used when no better solution can be developed. President Obama’s plan will increase taxes of the rich up to 39%, meaning that nearly half of their income will go to the government. While I understand that every person owes something to their country and some citizens can pay more than others, it is unfair to tax hard working people in the upper quintile. The government should not attempt to close the gap between the rich and the poor by lowering the earnings of the rich, but rather by eliminating structural barriers and raising the employment rates and earnings of the poor.
Based upon the current unemployment trends I am concerned a little bit. My experience thus far has been pleasant; I have never had any difficulty finding a part-time job throughout college. Even though I may not find a job immediately; I do think that eventually I will be able to find one. Despite the fact that the unemployment rate is higher than normal; there are still a lot of jobs. I also think that my current position will serve me well. I am fortunate enough that I will be graduating in May with no debt; I have no children and I have always lived with my grandmother so I have no rent or bills to pay. As far as how will I be affected; I think that it may be a little bit difficult for me in the beginning to find a job; I may not have the luxury of being picky about what kind of job I will receive, but overall I am hoping that I am able to at least find a decent job. I do think that the U.S. government has a lot of responsibility in terms of supporting the workforce in this country. I think that the U.S should manage its amount of exports and imports to ensure that there are enough products being produced here in the U.S. By producing more products in the U.S., the U.S. will be able to import less and thus more jobs will be able to stay here instead of other countries producing more jobs in around the globe.
The issue of unemployment has been a prevalent issue among our society for a while. Although the issue has been around for some years, it has become a genuine concern of mine especially within the last year because hopefully, I will be in the workforce in a few months.
Many people attend college because of the belief that the higher the education a person receives, the higher the wages will be. However after the schooling is complete, the lack of available jobs may hinder possible employment opportunities. If over time the amount of available jobs continues to decrease, then amount of poverty rates will increase as a result.
Because of the overwhelming unemployment rates, I am a little apprehensive of what jobs will be available. Even if jobs are available the salary that the job provides may not be sufficient. As stated by several other students, going to graduate school with the hopes that the recession would improve is one option. However, even with additional schooling, it may not guarantee employment because of the entry level positions and the lack of training as discussed within the article may prohibit more employment opportunities. Because of this, I firmly believe that the recession will have an effect on me initially, but I do believe that eventually I will be able to find a job.
Finally, in terms of solutions, I do believe that the government does share some of the responsibility for the current condition that the society is currently facing. If the baby boomers are the ones that are assured a job, then perhaps the United States government should also apply some of the solutions used by other continues such as Germany’s apprenticeship programs, which will enable people of a younger cohort with more employment opportunities and further their skills.
Overall, the issues of unemployment rates will continue persist without the government intervening and implementing programs on behalf of individuals that will be entering the workforce. By intervening, the overall amount of poverty rates may decrease.
Quite frankly, I have relatively no concern over the unemployment status in the US as it relates to me. Perhaps this may be particularly naïve, but I sense the predicament will take a similar path as the avian flu, swine flu and Y2K did; that is, it will receive a lot of attention and concern but not affect my life in the least. Okay, okay, “enduring harm is being done to young people” because they can’t even take the first step on the career ladder; unemployment for 16 to 24 year-olds is “more than 18%” while it was only 13% one year prior; (as blogger 253 put it), we are in the “worst downturn since the Great Depression”. Yikes. That sounds pretty bad. However, according to the Census in 2004, only 27% of people over age 25 had a college degree. Furthermore, no matter how many times it’s proclaimed that unemployment is affecting everyone from high school dropouts to college grads, having that degree will still give me a significant advantage in the job market. Everyone may be at risk of losing (or failing to gain) employment, but with a college degree (not to mention a master’s degree) I will be at less of a risk. Bloggers 240 and 253 both find some degree of comfort as they look forward to becoming nurses, a field that constantly needs new employees. I gain a similar comfort by remaining open in my career search, being as flexible as I can stand to sell myself into any position available.
I do believe the government should take some responsibility in supporting the workforce, if only because the baby boomers are depending on a plentiful labor force to provide retirement and health care. One step in this direction may come from counting the number of unemployed more accurately, for the government has often excluded people who have stopped looking for work in their official count. With a better estimate of the number of unemployed (meaning a higher estimate), much more pressure will exist to increase funding for job training and replacement programs. Other grand ideas include offering tax deferrals for struggling firms and offering more capital to smaller banks who tend to lend to smaller businesses.
During this time of economic instability, the work force is being affected. It used to be that if you had a college degree, you practically had it made and would be living a decent life. Many graduates had well paying jobs immediately following graduation. With an early start, they were able to climb the job ladder to become successful professionals. Today, the realm of the work force has changed for the worse. In our present circumstances the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds has reached more than 18% compared to 13% a year ago. This roughly 5% increase, has left many young adults without a job. Peter Coy’s article suggests that if this trend continues, today’s jobless young adults may create a “lost generation.” The implications of this effect are a decrease in lifetime income, episodes of depression and anxiety, competition with the subsequent generation for jobs and a lack of funding for the baby boomer’s retirement. Not only are recent college graduates affected but those without a college diploma are hit harder. Yet, many older adults tend to blame the young adult for not being able to find a job. They call them lazy and tell them they are not looking hard enough. However, as C.Wright Mills implied, if so many people are without a job it must have a social root to it.
This issue of unemployment is anything but unrelated to me. I will be attempting to join the work force in the near future and it scares me that jobs are so limited. This means more job competition and a lower pay in the long run. If I am unable to get a job I plan on continuing my education straight through, with the hopes that in a couple of years the economy will improve. Although, there is always a need for social work, the jobs available compared to other fields such as medicine and engineering are relatively limited. This general job scarcity makes me worry that my hard work for education may go without reward in the job force. I think that the unemployment rates will jeopardize my ability to reach my career goals or at least achieve them in a timely manner.
As is evident, there is a huge issue with unemployment but now the question becomes, what are the solutions? Peter Coy suggests the continuation of hiring young adults by companies, increasing minimum wage, increase job training programs and increasing participation in internships. I agree with all of these solutions except the first one. I do not think that companies should continue hiring even if there are no job openings because this will create layoffs for present employee. Although there is a desperate need of work for young adults, it is unfair to take away an older person’s job for their sake. Another possible solution could be to continue in the pursuit of education and wait out the passing of the recession as blogger .235 suggested. This will allow students to build their level of expertise and be ready to join the workforce when the economy improves. Also, I think it is important for the US government to be involved in supporting the workforce. They can help support different job training programs and programs created to aid young people find jobs as blogger .205 mentioned. Youth unemployment is a critical issue that affects the majority of young people. Hopefully, with time the trends of unemployment will change for the better.
The United States has been in an economic downfall for a while now and it is not getting any better. It has been really difficult for college graduates to get jobs. I am very concerned about the unemployment status in the United States because I am worried that I will not get a job when I graduate and that is in two years. The unemployment rate keeps increasing and this is bringing more people into poverty. A 25 year old who graduated from the University of Wisconsin discusses in the article how he hasn’t had a job in months and it is becoming very frustrating. Students that graduated from Northwestern University Law School had their employment deferred, some of them for a year. I personally think that is ridiculous because where are these college graduates going to work if no one hires them? That is a major causation of falling into poverty because if you don’t have a job, how are you suppose to support yourself?
In terms of support, I think the US government is fully responsible for why young individuals are not able to obtain a job out of college. When money issues are involved, the US government are the main people who deal with that. I think the Us government needs to find a way to help college graduates and other young individuals get jobs because it is unfair and there are a plethora of young individuals that have bills to pay. In order to pay bills, you need a job and if they don’t have jobs, paying bills will be almost impossible to pay on their own. A solution can be that the US government can hold a certain amount of spots open ever year during the time that college graduates graduate. When these individuals graduate and are looking for jobs, they can get one because of the spots that are open for them. This idea could decrease poverty ad the economic downfall.
For a while now, the US economy has been having difficulties improving. In other words, the US economy has been doing terrible and it does not seem to getting any better. As a college student, I am somewhat concerned about getting a job, once I graduate from college. Normally, those who have received their education and received a degree are more likely to be hired than those who did not. However, Peter Coy mentions that right now it does not matter whether or not you have a college degree or if you are a high school dropout. This economic crisis is affecting us all. Since last year, the article, “The Lost Generation” mentions that the unemployment rate has increased from 13 percent to 18 percent. Although the US does not have the highest unemployment rate, 18 percent is still quite high.
The article talks about a 25 years old Wisconsin graduate, who has been unemployed for months. The increase of unemployment in young adults is getting higher than ever. These statistics and examples of young college graduates who are not able to get a job do scare me a little. However, although the current trend here does not looks so good, I can always work at my parent’s business. Not that I would want to, but I can go on without having to find a job, right after I graduate. Rather, I can “wander” until I do find one. Till then my parents and my relatives are able to help me out. Honestly, the only reason why I am worried is because I feel like I am supposed to be. I really am not too much worried about. Since I have that connection, someone I can go to, I can feel somewhat at ease.
The US government is very much responsible for all this. The fact that we are dealing with an economic crises tells us right there that the US government is involved and they need to step it up. Whatever they are doing now, obviously is not working. As young adults, graduate and entering into the real world, they have so many things to do. Putting a burden like this is holding them back from going to the next level. Like, 381-224 mentioned, they will not be able to pay the bills, because they are jobless.
Now, I also think that the educational system is not doing their part as well. These college students, who graduate with a college degree and are not able to get into some kind of career, did they waste their time going to school and obtaining a degree? Although the economy is affecting the young adults when it comes to applying for jobs and working in the workforce, I feel that education is also a huge part, as well. Is the purpose of education to be able to learn random facts and be able to regurgitate the information you have learned, such as knowing who the president was during the Civil War? Or is it to teach students the values of life and to let them know where they belong in this huge society that we live in? To me, the purpose of education is not any of the two mentioned. Rather, it is to prepare students for the real world. It is to prepare them for life and to give them that knowledge they are going to need in order to be successful. A huge part of that is being able to obtain a job. However since there has been an increase in unemployment rate among the young adults, the education system is failing to do their part.
I agree with what .254 said about the article. Although I am concerned that my years of schooling may not pay off as quickly as I would like once I graduate, continuing with school through graduate education is what people need to do. Although it may be an expense everyone is not able to meet, with the way the job market is looking these days there are not many options except to try and beat out the other competition by gaining a higher degree. Even though I am concerned with the amount of time it may take me to find a job I like once I graduate, I know I will be able to find one eventually. I have had a job ever since I was sixteen years old and each year I have been able to find one with higher salary and because of this I still believe that I will not be affected that badly.
I also agree that supplying training and jobs for the unemployed is not the best thing to do, it would be a waste of money to train all the jobless individuals and also there are just not enough jobs to go around. Like the previous comment said the best thing for young students to do is continuing schooling and pushing themselves to be the best until jobs opportunities present themselves.
I definitely can relate to blogger Rachael’s fears of entering the workforce. Although I am not senior yet, I will be one next year, and getting closer to that transition myself. The unemployment status in the U.S. is very disturbing, especially when it’s becoming more and more difficult to attain jobs that require minimum education/skills. As a college student, I didn’t worry too much about those jobs that required hardly anything…until I faced reality. And reality is that many graduate students are finding it difficult to find jobs pertaining to their degree, which leads many to just find any employment period. This job may pay less than you were expecting to receive, the benefits may not be as great, and it may not even be enjoyable for the worker. It makes you wonder if it’s worth it now to even attend college. What’s the point in attending college to get a degree in a field you may not even work in? Why attend college just to compete with high school graduates and even high school dropouts?
However, my greatest fear is not that I will not find a job because jobs are available. But I do fear that I will not find the career choice of my liking/choosing…meaning that I may be wasting my money right now attending college. Because the high unemployment rate is very alarming, it’s definitely been brought about in many discussions in the classrooms and just amongst peers on campus. A lot of college students are thinking like bloggers 253 and 205 are…in hopes that they can continue education further to enter the workplace during “recovered” stage of the economic crisis. However, if we don’t recovery by then, then what? Like Rachael, I am not too confident that the government will fix this problem in a few years, although the government could do more…possibly by finding a way to allocate more money for human resources (education and the labor department). The government needs to step up and do something before higher education becomes rare like it was many years ago. Let’s not go backwards! I need the government to help us move forward! Save the "Lost Generation!"
I am seriously thinking hard about whether I should go on to graduate school and waste more money or jump right out here into the work field and see where I can go. And if I find myself in a place where I enjoy, then I may consider trying graduate school later. Decisions! Decisions! Times are hard! I just don’t want to get myself deep into debt. I want to be able to live comfortably. I am not too sure how close I can get to that dream now.
The high unemployment for young individuals is a more severe problem than I was aware of. I am very concerned over the unemployment status in the US because next year I will be graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. But will this degree be enough for me to get a well-paying job? I fear that it won't. If I were to continue on with my education, I believe my chances at getting a job would be higher but after being in school for so long, continuing school is something I do not want to do nor something I can afford. I worry about finding a job because employers are hiring less young people and the ones that they do hire are most likely more qualified than me. Right now I am working part-time at a daycare (something that is not related to my desired career choice) where I only make a little over the minimum wage. After completing the poverty simulation project, I worry that I will not be able to support myself financially on my own for many more years because the cost of living is very expensive. Earlier in the semester one of my professors told me that even if you work at Giants, to NOT quit your job because the job market is extremely competitive. I will most likely keep my job for now and try to search for internships senior year. In terms of solutions, I think minimum wage should be raised. The current minimum wage does not provide a comfortable lifestyle for individuals. I would say for young individuals fresh out of college to further their education because I believe that would increase their chances of finding a job in the field they desire. If they do not wish to continue with school, I would suggest working whatever job you can find until you can find a better one. If minimum wage stays the same though, young individuals will not be satisfied with what they are earning. This leads me to wonder if college is even worth all the money that we pay each year. It seems common, especially during this recession, that students with degrees are working minimum wage jobs. I feel that universities don't prepare their students enough for the "real world." Most fresh college graduates are not qualified for the well paying jobs they desire because of their lack of experience. I believe that universities should better teach/train their students for specific career paths- this will increase the likelihood of young individuals getting hired for jobs they desire.
After reading the BusinessWeek article, entitled “The Lost Generation” by Peter Coy, I am even more concerned over the employment status in the US. I know that I am graduating from college at an undesirable time because the job market is down for everyone, so in a sense we are competing with and older and more experienced workforce. It is hard for someone my age to have “job experience” if no one is hiring, and little job experience doesn’t look good on one’s resume.
It was noted in the article that “studies suggest that an extended period of youthful joblessness can significantly depress lifetime income as people get stuck in jobs that are beneath their capabilities, or come to be seen by employers as damaged goods.” I would whole heartedly agree with this study just because of my own experiences. Many of my friends graduated last year from well known schools and were not able to get a “real” job after college. In fact, a lot of them were forced to return to medial jobs such as Victoria Secrets and other jobs paying around $9-$10 per hour.
I would be very depressed if I graduated from the University of Maryland with a high GPA and was still unable to get a job that’s within my field of psychological interest. I would be upset knowing that I went to college and worked hard for four years for a bad paying job. I would think what’s the point? I know that I will be affected by the current trends because I have already seen the difficulty in trying to land jobs and internships. I know that people my age who are finishing undergrad are more likely to think about continuing onto grad school in hopes that the job market will be better in two or five years.
I feel that the US government should be fairly responsible in terms of support for its workforce because they have done it in the past. For instance, the government provides money for job core and training. I also feel that if the government can bail out a company like AIG, then they could use some of those millions to invest in jobs for the people.
Unemployment in the United States is taking everyday life to a new level; not only for teenagers and college graduates, but also for adults. My father has been a stock broker for the past 30 years and recently was laid off since he literally lost one client to another business. For the past two months he has been frantically searching for similar jobs around our area and it just seems like nobody is interested in new employees these days. I am more than concerned for our country because of this not only for my family but for everybody out there. If an experienced business man of 30 years can’t seem to get a job, what hope is there for somebody like I who attend college and have only babysat and been a waitress? In Coy’s article it said that a recent University of Wisconsin graduate isn’t even able to get a job in a restaurant. If Americans aren’t able to get even the lowest paying jobs we’re all going to be homeless and in severe poverty before we know it. If these current trends continue, I fear that I also will have a very hard time getting off onto my own once graduation passes. My hopes were to skip the moving back in with my parents and find a new apartment while working as a part time waitress and looking for work in my major field. With conditions remaining as they are, there is absolutely no hope for me at all to do so. I think that the US Government should feel very responsible for the lack of employment in our country. If they are responsible for putting us in this horrible situation then they should be the ones to work a little bit harder and to start bettering our country by employing our citizens as soon as possible.
Although I am concerned about the unemployment status in the US, I am probably less concerned than others planning on entering the job market directly out of school. I am going into audiology, which requires a 4 year doctoral program. I also find reassurance that my chosen field was listed by US News and World Report as one of the best careers in 2009 because of the increasing demand, partly due to the baby boomer generation. I briefly considered not going to graduate school and making a major career switch, but thoughts of the current unemployment rate encouraged me to continue with my program. Programs that I am looking into have a job placement rate of 100%, which also provides me comfort. I think the main concern I have regarding the unemployment status is the possibility of having to relocate to find a position willing to offer me a decent salary. Although I could probably find a job locally, if I want to be able to earn the most I can directly out of graduate school I may need to consider finding jobs in other locations that are willing to pay me more or having a lower cost of living.
I think the US government needs to get more involved in supporting the workforce. In the article it said how other countries had already implemented programs to help solve the issue and significant improvement was shown. As noted by a classmate it is hard to pinpoint what exactly needs to be done. I don’t think that lowering the minimum wage is anywhere near the answer. Although this may help avoid the gap in employment it will lead to increased poverty seeing that the current minimum wage isn’t even enough to get by on. Several classmates mentioned globalization as an issue. While I do believe this is true I also think it’s very difficult to reverse quickly. Companies want to make as large of a profit as possible and cheap labor is usually the easiest way to do so. As a predominantly selfish society without some kind of individual incentive or government regulations, those companies are not going to budge on their current practices that keep their costs low and profits high.
Throughout this recession, I have been deeply affected by the difficulty in finding well paying jobs. I have been unemployed for almost 2 years now. I have been able to find various non paying internships, but I have not successfully been bringing home a paycheck. Milan stated that he/she has not had any problems with employment. I think they are an example of rare people who are able to be employed though the hard times. I am very concerned for the unlucky people like myself with the unemployment rates because I am afraid that I will graduate in May and not be able to gain a well paying job as soon as I am done with school and loosing future jobs due to another person who was able to find a position and thus gain a greater competitive edge against me. I hope that in the near future I am able to find a job and not fall behind and become part of a “lost generation.” I think that the US government needs to try and help stimulate the economy and help create new jobs. There is a high demand for jobs but not enough supply. If they put in a little more effort in to it, maybe there can be hope for people who are facing the same fears and problems as I am.
The recession has affected people with and without college degrees. I was suprised to learn the downturn in the economy has even affected high school students and the older population. I am very concern about the unemployment to a high degree because my college graduation is around the corner. I have always had a job but I am not too confident about finding a job in my field after graduation. I plan on attending graduate school but I need money to do so. I have never been so nervous about finding a stable and consistent job before. I feel sorry for the college graduates right now who have not found any employment. I agree with the article when saying most people are doing jobs that they don't want to do. This recession is bad that college students haven't even heard back from local grocery stores and resturants. It is amazing that the unemployment rate has climbed from 18% to 13% in the last two years or so. I feel like this recession has hit millions of people hard including single parents. When they are let go of their jobs some parents still do not qualify for public assistance which is a gateway for a lifestyle in poverty. Children are being affected when they drop out of school have no job to turn to which opens a door for deliquent behavior. People are being let go of jobs with pay which only lasts for so long. Employers are losing some of their most hard-working employees because they cannot pay them due to slow business. Even employers are being affected because they are missing out of the new pool of college graduates.
Like I stated earlier I concerned about my job status upon graduation. At first it did not bother me because I have a job that I return to every summer but seeing how serious this recession is I am not sure if I will get a call back this year. However if this does occur I will continue to pursue my degree and hope for the best.
I believe the government should be supportive in terms of the workforce because we are working for the welfare of our society. We basically attend school so we can use our knowledge in the workforce to produce an effective society. It would help if they government stopped overspending in other areas such as miltary expenses and put some money towards education and the recession. This will also provide the baby boom generation with health care and retirement. They have worked their butts off for this country so now it is their time to relax and enjoy what is left of life. The government needs to step up because half their country is jobless and slowly entering poverty. They need to create new jobs and programs for the jobless population.
I agree with .253 comments. They are very lucky to be studying a field that is in demand of new employees. Hosptials never cease hiring because of the baby boom generation who are in need of medical attention. It is absolutely true that unemployment has always been an issue but now it has taken it's turn for the worse. There are several people who have been unemployed for years and are still facing diffculty finding jobs because of recent recession. Although I have another year of undergrad left, I still am worried about finding a job in my field of family science. Apart from continuing my education in graduate school, I would also like to volunteer and get experience in the field if I am unable to find a job when I finish school. .253 also commented that the government should make training programs for young americans without jobs. This would prepare them for jobs when the recession is over and companies begin fishing for efficient workers. I also stated that the government could be supportive in creating new jobs. I agree that the best thing to do is the hope for the best and continue pursuing an education.
I am extremely concerned about the way that our economy and the unemployment status in the United States have shifted, especially since I hear of or read at least one news story a day about how poorly our recession is fairing. Moreover, I find it very unfair that college students invest so much time, energy, and money into pursuing higher education in hopes of better and brighter opportunities ahead of them. However, with the downturn of the economy, college students are now being left jobless and in debt with student loans that they cannot pay off as a result. The only choices that college students are then restricted to are pursuing graduate degrees and accumulating even more debt or being constantly disappointed by the current job market. I do anticipate that I will be affected by the current trends because it directly involves my age group and generation. I have been helping my sister search for jobs since she is graduating in May from UVA and all the jobs that we have found require at least 3-5 years of experience for a job that some would consider mediocre in the past. It is therefore almost impossible to get a job after graduation without a good amount of work experience. As the article discussed, college students tend to apply to jobs that they normally would not necessarily apply to if given their first choice. This may lead to great dissatisfaction of their jobs, depression, and not being able to work to their full potential. I think the US government is very much responsible in terms of providing support and solutions for its workforce. Using and building on previous experience from past recessions, the government should be able to come up with necessary measures and solutions in order to provide financial security for individuals and families. Solutions may range from creating certain incentives for college students with student loans to tax deferrals as .356 suggested.
I am concerned about the United States current unemployment status. Just as the article states it seems to be a catch-22 right now because they want to hire people with more experience because there are limited number of jobs available, however, recent college graduates are unable to get the job experience and therefore cannot secure a job. This article also raises another excellent point by saying that the other problem with the United States unemployment rate is that it is not only college graduates looking for jobs but other workers who have been laid off of work. This then creates a more competitive job market, which leaves colleges students at a disadvantage.
Personally, I am not sure how much I will be affected by the current unemployment rate. I plan on going to graduate school right after graduation so I will not be finished school for another three to four years. By that time I am hoping tha the job market will be better than it is now,but I am hopefully going into social work so I figure, unfortunately or fortunately depending how you look at it, that I will probably be able to find a job.
I am honestly not a fan of the government providing jobs for the economy, but giving incentives to companies keep hiring college graduates might not be such a bad idea.
I would have to disagree with 253's statement for what college students should do. Many college students would probably continue on with their education, but unfortunately that is often very expensive and they do not have the means to continue on even if they wanted to.
I found this to be a very interesting topic to blog about given that I am about to graduate, and I am in the process of looking for a job for after graduation. So, I would say I am very concerned with the unemployment status in the US. It seems to be that the employment situation has gotten somewhat better in the past year or so, but clearly things are not the way they used to be before the recession. I can also say I am really being affected by this situation. The more I look for jobs, the more I find out, people just are not hiring. Many of the possible places I am interested in working just are not hiring for entry level positions. I thought it was interesting that the article mentioned that employers risk “scarring off” our generation of potential employees. The constant rejection, or lack of response to job availability inquries is very hard on a recent grads ego, and clearly does not do anything to motivate us to keep going with our job search.
In terms of a solution, I think something like FDR’s new deal plan would and could be very beneficial. Obviously, a lot of time and effort would have to go into planning something like this, but I think it would be very helpful (should something like this ever happen) that a certain amount of these newly created jobs be reserved for recent college graduates.
Before reading this article, I was not aware of the possible harms on young people for not being employed. Within one year, the unemployment rate for 16-24 years old has increased from 13% to 18%. Due to the current economic slump, no matter how much education people receive, it is still difficult for young people to find a job and the consequence of it was detrimental. “An extended period of youthful joblessness can significantly depress lifetime income as people get stuck in jobs that are beneath their capabilities, or come to be seen by employers as damaged goods.” One of the other factors that caused high unemployment rate for young people is from employers who are taking as few risks as possible in an uncertain environment. So it is more likely for employers to turn down the resumes of those on the outside looking in. Those who just graduated from college do not have much experience as older people and they are less likely to find their dream jobs. It is frustrating to see many college graduates not finding jobs right after school. For this reason, I have seen many friends who continue their education regardless of their will. I believe the government should be involved to solve this problem. The government can subsidize education and provide job trainings for young people to reduce the problem that we are facing. For example, Germany practiced the apprenticeship program and it showed that young adult unemployment has risen less than in most other developed countries.
Like blogger 322, my dad runs a company and I am currently involved in it so I feel less threatened by this economic crisis. Regardless of the economic situations, I would still pursue the same path.
After reading the article I am more concerned than I was before. Everyone who watches the news knows about the economy and how difficult it is to get a job in today’s society, it is really sad. I am very concerned about the unemployment status because I am in the midst of the individuals who will be graduating from college soon hoping to find a well paid position. Not only this I have been taking care of myself and living on my own for awhile now. I do have a part time position that pays very well but finding a full time position will be very difficult. There is no way I will be able to support myself on a part time job and attend graduate school. Blogger Rachel mentioned that it makes it even harder for us because we will be placed into this job market with our peers and seniors who have way more experience than us, and how are we suppose to compete with experience. This is a very good point. An employer may think one or two ways. Hire the newbie and pay them less and have to train them, or hire the experienced and pay them more. Your career and chances of finding a position is left up to a 50/50 chance.
My biggest fear of being affected by this new trend is defaulting on my loans. This will mess up my credit and cause even more problems in the long run. I want to attend graduate school but with the loans that I have now my plan is to find a company which I can work for who will pay for school for me. In this economy where jobs are not hiring, it is very farfetched that they will pay for me to further my education as well.
I believe the US government is extremely responsible in terms of support for its workforce. We are being taxed for everything, but yet jobs are not stable. It is a cycle of chaos. We have to have jobs to afford homes, cars, and pay our bills. But if we cannot pay a bill we may lose our homes and become homeless or live in poverty and then the government has to take care of us. If the government would work on making more jobs available a lot of individuals who have fallen into poverty would be able to get out, thus leading to more money coming into the economy when they have stable jobs again.
Being a junior at the University of Maryland, the unemployment status in the US worries me greatly. As if leaving the comfort of school isn’t hard enough to accept, I now have to enter the world of work unsure whether or not an opportunity will present itself for me. Growing up and throughout college, many people assume that getting your bachelors degree was enough to maintain a pretty well off middleclass lifestyle. The article emphasis the troubles many young adults are experiencing, these individuals range from high school drop outs to college graduates.
With an unemployment rate of 18%, for young adults, I do expect to be effected by the trend. Considering that my priority is to achieve a job with the federal government, it may present problems due to its competitiveness. Similar to Shireen Rahjou’s situation I plan to obtain an internship during my last year of school, to increase my chance of employment after graduation.
I believe that the US government should take greater responsibility in supporting the workforce. Following Britain’s lead in offering opportunities and paid experience would be a great start in lowering the unemployment rate. I absolutely agree with .240’s thoughts on sustaining $3,000 tax incentives for highering new workers. The opportunity will not only benefit these individuals, but continue to help these companies grow in the long run.
Being a junior at the University of Maryland, the unemployment status in the US worries me greatly. As if leaving the comfort of school isn’t hard enough to accept, I now have to enter the world of work unsure whether or not an opportunity will present itself for me. Growing up and throughout college, many people assume that getting your bachelors degree was enough to maintain a pretty well off middleclass lifestyle. The article emphasis the troubles many young adults are experiencing, these individuals range from high school drop outs to college graduates.
With an unemployment rate of 18%, for young adults, I do expect to be effected by the trend. Considering that my priority is to achieve a job with the federal government, it may present problems due to its competitiveness. Similar to Shireen Rahjou’s situation I plan to obtain an internship during my last year of school, to increase my chance of employment after graduation.
I believe that the US government should take greater responsibility in supporting the workforce. Following Britain’s lead in offering opportunities and paid experience would be a great start in lowering the unemployment rate. I absolutely agree with .240’s thoughts on sustaining $3,000 tax incentives for highering new workers. The opportunity will not only benefit these individuals, but continue to help these companies grow in the long run.
Being a junior at the University of Maryland, the unemployment status in the US worries me greatly. As if leaving the comfort of school isn’t hard enough to accept, I now have to enter the world of work unsure whether or not an opportunity will present itself for me. Growing up and throughout college, many people assume that getting your bachelors degree was enough to maintain a pretty well off middleclass lifestyle. The article emphasis the troubles many young adults are experiencing, these individuals range from high school drop outs to college graduates.
With an unemployment rate of 18%, for young adults, I do expect to be effected by the trend. Considering that my priority is to achieve a job with the federal government, it may present problems due to its competitiveness. Similar to Shireen Rahjou’s situation I plan to obtain an internship during my last year of school, to increase my chance of employment after graduation.
I believe that the US government should take greater responsibility in supporting the workforce. Following Britain’s lead in offering opportunities and paid experience would be a great start in lowering the unemployment rate. I absolutely agree with .240’s thoughts on sustaining $3,000 tax incentives for highering new workers. The opportunity will not only benefit these individuals, but continue to help these companies grow in the long run.
Though the article by Peter Coy presents the current economic crisis with an unemployment rate of about 13% I am not concerned with the extent to which people are unemployed in the US. The reason for my lack of concern is the fact that I have a huge amount of social capital. Besides the fact that my parents belong to the upper middle class, I am also Nigerian. While that in itself may not mean much to the average person I venture to say that it is a key factor in this economy having a very little effect on my job outlook.
Being that I am Nigerian our culture is one where more so than American culture we have huge immediate and extended families. Take my family for example my Dad has 12 siblings. Some of them have kids, and some of their children have children. My father has too many cousins to number. They all have friends, and those friends have friends etc. In our culture if I were to ask one of my parents friends to help me get a job, they would ask their friends, and those friends would ask friends until they heard that I had a job. I will be fine in this economy I have a plan and the social network to back me up. I could write in a lot more detail about this I am probably going to surpass the 200word limit.
As for the government being responsible I believe they are 100% to blame. If the people in the government weren't making laws to suit major corporations, which are exploitative of the workers we would have better paying jobs, also if they intervened in the mortgage industry then we wouldn't have had the financial recession.
“The Lost Generation” highlighted extremely startling facts about employment and income that our generation will face not only in this current job market, but also in the future. I found it interesting that many of the prior respondents were not as worried about the unemployment status in the US, because they were going to graduate school. My question to these respondents is, how would you feel once you have a master’s degree and have student loans that need to be paid off, and have not found a job? Though, I hope this economic downturn resolves itself soon, I find improbable that by two years there will be a significant improvement.
I am also pursuing graduate school next fall, but I still worry over the unemployment status in the US. I will be working towards a degree in School Counseling, but with all the recent layoffs in the school system I worry if I am making the best career move. This year alone, they laid off fifty school counselors in Maryland, which is a significant number since there is an average of two to three counselors per school. It is also uncomforting to hear that, “even 15 years out of school, the recession graduates earn 2.5% less than those who began working in more prosperous times” (Coy, 2009). It seems as if recession graduates will never be able to catch up, even when the economy turns itself around.
I believe that the US government should take action and help support the future workforce. I agree with Blogger 241, though it would be ideal for many of us to continue schooling; however, it is simply not financially possible for many individuals. Our government should model Germany’s apprenticeship program. In this way, individuals will receive experience as early as high school. I find that many of my friends looking for jobs grow frustrated when they find job openings but that require 3-5 years of experience. Many say “how can I ever get experience, if I can never even get a job?”. Following this apprenticeship program, employers will be more impressed by the prior work experience more individuals have, and individuals can add creditable work to their resumes at a younger age.
After reading that article the first thing I thought of is that I am thankful I still have my restaurant job. It started when I was a freshman and figured I could use the extra money, now as a junior and still working in the restaurant I realize how important this "extra money" really is. As everyone stated, the unemployment rate has been of major discussion, it even was addressed in Obama's state of the union speech. I think that this subconsciously related to my choice of major. I first went into public health because I figured it was such a wide array of careers that have to do with public policy to hands on experience that I will always find a job.
One thing I wanted to add to this article when they were discussing the fact that the older people were not moving from their positions leaving the eager younger ones left behind, is that I interned for social security I noticed there were low early retirement rates which meant the older professionals were sticking to their jobs due to taxes going up and economic crisis. These older workers clearly want to work the full extent so they get maximum benefits.
The outlook from this article seems to be continuing on and getting your education while searching for a job; therefore you will eventually be at the top of the education totem-pole thus, making you a candidate for more jobs than before. I am already about $20,000 in debt from undergrad, and graduate school scholarships seem to be my only option. However, the thought of staying in school and getting myself deeper and deeper into debt seems like a terrible idea. I still have my restaurant job though, so maybe more hours will help.
I just wanted to respond to 318S10.240 with her nursing profession idea. I totally understand as I choose my career off the idea that their will be flexible job options in a huge field. I hope that by the time we all graduate that more jobs will become available, and no more hirizing freezes.
As a Junior in college, I should be considered lucky because I hold two jobs part-time who are flexible with my schedule. However, I see unemployment everyday in my own home and will soon face it after graduation next May. I am highly highly worried about the state of unemployment at the moment in our country. It is a very scary thing, especially to newly graduated college students. Not only does society push higher education, but it also screws students into debt because after they complete their higher education that was supposed to secure them with a job, they find out that they need to either continue with MORE schooling, take out MORE loans, and wait out MORE of the recession and unemployment period with no job.
I do not anticipate any affect because it has already happened to me and my family. I have been affected by unemployment since I was very young. My father's job is always in danger because he is a steamfitter working for the union. His job now is tight because he knows he will be out of work for a few months by May, which is scary for me because he helps to support me while I attend Maryland. I feel lucky that I have two jobs but I am afraid that any minute they will need to cut back because of the economy and be unable to pay me. This affects my later career because it may look as though I have job instability when it's really because companies cannot afford to keep studnets in positions where their schedules are so sporadic.
I am honestly in total agreement with Rachael who aired her views about staying in school and after all this time just wanting to work and not remain in school. I have been in school, non-stop for about 16 years. It's maddening because I work so hard to get a degree and then have to move forward to graduate school, and take out more assistance loans because my family can't help me because they are lacking funds themselves, only to find after all this work, I will be waiting tables and sitting by the phone waiting for an employer to call with good news. I also agree with what she said about glabalization being a part of the issue. If our country would concentrate more on stimulating the economy here then elsewhere, I feel as though there would be a lot more jobs to stimulate money flowing in and out of the economy. When we are whole as a country financially and emotionally, then we can help to spread business elsewhere. But as of now, students are becoming more and more anxious about graduating and prolonging their stay in order to not be in the job force just yet to prevent sitting around waiting for a job like the young graduate in the article. I am very worried about the state of our economy but more so the state of the country's concerns of it's workers.
The economic crises has been something that has concerned me because of the number of people and families I have seen affected by it. I have seen people loose their homes and cars because of the crisis our country has gone through and of course this has intimidated me and the plans for my future. I am concerned about the high rates of unemployment and how it will affect my career. Although it may seem hard to get a job, I think I will be able to obtain a job that will benefit me but not pay me as much as I would have gotten pain five years ago. I am concerned but not to the extent where I would move to another country. I think the current trends of this crises are affecting everyone and it is something you can avoid. In the winter I traveled to Mexico and I learned about how various countries are being affected by our crises as well. I had gone to a store to buy some souvenirs and the woman begged for us to buy stuff because she said the number of tourists had dropped and she was close to loosing her shop. I thought, Wow even people in Mexico are being affected by the recession so it is hard to avoid it. As a college student who is about to graduate, I think I need to be better prepared for any negative outcomes and create plans just in case I cannot find a job right away. Plans such as living with my parents until I find a stable job, or starting to send my resumes earlier than expected. The US government has gone through various changes in the past years than we have in a long time. Adjusting to these changes would benefit those who are seeking jobs and they should help in preparing those groups who have high unemployment rates as well. As a repines, to you all being concerned as Juniors at the University of Maryland I feel for you as well. I am also a junior and we are close to the finish line, but do we really want to get to the finish line knowing the economy is not at its finest? I know we are intimidated a lot by the things we see and read and as some of you mentioned, its going to be a hard as students who have loans and cannot find a job. I am in that boat as well. I have various loans that need to start being paid after I graduate so I agree that the government should better support the workforce and enable us as students to look forward to our graduation and not be afraid.
Prior to reading the article “The Lost Generation,” I was concerned about my potential of getting a job after graduating from Maryland. However, after reading this article I feel more determined to get a job more than ever. I admit the statistics make the situation sound bleak, like how unemployment among young people has risen from 13% to 18%. And it’s also a depressing thought that college graduates are getting psychologically affected by not getting hired for so long or getting a low level job without the motivation to move up. To some of you reading this, you may think I’m crazy for not being even more discouraged about the future. However, I say in this situation of great adversity and difficulty is where we get to prove ourselves the most. I disagree that we are the “Lost Generation,” we are Generation Y. A few years ago, our generation was nicknamed the “Next Greatest Generation.” We are technologically adapt, skilled at multi-tasking, and more civic minded than the generations before us. User .253 says we should stay in school and get more education in a way to try and wait out this economic situation. I agree with this to a certain point, we should be staying in school. However, many of us should try and attempt a vocational school that will teach necessary skills and work experience. Or training for a field that’s in high-demand, such as nursing. I also agree with user .205 that the Government needs to act to help prevent this problem from turning into a full-blown crisis. With Government run vocational schools, many unemployed people will find it easier getting a job with real work experience. Our generation will not stumble under these pressures. From a sociological standpoint and my own personal opinion of generation Y, we can climb any mountain in front of us.
Unemployment in the United States is a big concern, not just for the younger generation, but the entire economy. As of February 2010, unemployment was an alarming 10.4%. I was already personally affected a few years when my mother was laid off from her teaching job. The whole family had to adjust to an adjusted budget. If the trends stay as they are right now, it will be harder and harder for young college graduates like myself to land a great paying job after school. The United States should be responsible to a large extent because unemployment means less benefits and less money circulating in the economy. It also means there are families that are suffering and looking for any means necessary to provide in a time of need.
As soon as I read this blog topic, I was very excited to read what my fellow classmates had to say about this sad situation. I am currently a senior, graduating in May, which I now realize is about a month and a half away. This should be the happiest and most proud moment of my young life, but instead, since January, I have been very stressed and high strung about finding a job come June. I have been online, calling people to get connections and continuing open jobs research anywhere and everywhere for a few months now. It is definitely one of my top priorities right now, other than school of course. As Dan Schmitx mentioned in his “The Lost Generation” article, it is proven that most college graduates are very nervous about the unemployment rates we obtain today. I just wish I could be focusing on enjoying my last semester as a college student and celebrating, rather than worrying about my future economic stability. I agree with blogger, 381S10.206, as we college graduates are getting pushed into more schooling which will cause us bigger debts. I didn’t really think about graduate school until last year, and I am really looking into it now since the job market is so unstable. I will have to spend more money and take out loans just to keep myself occupied and hopefully building myself and bigger and brighter future. This stress and anxiety can really damper one of the most exciting times of a young college graduate’s life. I am trying to celebrate my graduation to the fullest, but may not even throw myself a graduation party just to save some money for my currently jobless future. Now, that my friends is sad.
When it comes to the unemployment status in the United States I am only partially concerned because I’ve obtained a commercial drivers license during my college career which allows me to never be out of work because there are always driving positions open. However, my concern comes into play because I don’t want to spend the rest of my days driving commercial vehicles and seeing as I am a senior coming to the end of my college career I am trying to make that a reality. With the country being in the state that it is in now with the recession people are being laid off of their jobs when students are looking to apply and enter the professional workforce. When it comes to being affected by the current trend, I am hopeful that it won’t affect me. I feel it won’t affect me because I plan on attending graduate school after I finish my undergraduate career and I am positive that the nation will be able to rise out of the recession by the time I am looking to enter the professional workforce. At that time I would be marketable because I have the education necessary and if I have the internships under my belt I’d be a top contender in the job market. When it comes to solutions, I agree with .253, when they state that it is hard to come up with a particular solution. Focusing in on one solution might not be the direct answer to this problem because you are not sure if that is the direct problem.
Unemployment has been an issue for a while in our country. Even before the recession took effect, many small to medium business owners and factory workers felt the strain of the difficult economy, which later hit most industries within our country. This issue has been a big concern for me because I entered the workforce after high school and saw the economy take its toll on my company. While worrying about my future I entered college to have a solid support system to further help and educate me about the future. Most people enter college because higher education usually leads to higher paying jobs with better job security. Now jobs are becoming unavailable even for college graduates, which will lead our country into higher rates of poverty and government assistance.
With the economy taking the toll that it has, I am worried that after graduation I will not be able to find a job, or a high enough paying job to support my family and myself. Even with further education there might be a risk because students who graduate from grad school will be competing with experienced workers who already have an education and work experience. I believe the recession will impact me significantly, but after a little more work experience and more education I believe everything will be ok.
The article discusses solutions that other countries have put in place due to the difficult times the economy has left us to face such as the apprenticeship programs Germany has set in place. The younger citizens of America need to be guaranteed jobs by the government and not just the already graduated experienced workers. I believe it is the government’s duty to stop and help the citizens of America, and to stop companies from outsourcing many jobs. Outsourcing has become an issue in many markets such as customer service, manufacturing, and many more. If the government does not step in and take action many more people will just be placed on financial aid, and the problem will not have a solution.
While I understand that the numbers for unemployment for 16 to 24 year olds have risen 5% in the last year, I share a similar sentiment for the issue as blogger 356. While I'm not completely unconcerned about the issue, I am also not losing sleep over it. I have made some short term travel plans for after I graduate and then I intend on going to grad school. While in grad school, I pretty much expect to be working a mediocre job just to pay the bills, and if I have any luck, the job might actually have something to do with the degree I'm pursuing...dreaming big here. Several of my friends that are currently living out my expectations. They're college graduates that are the process of finding a job in their field. Many of them have mentioned how having a bachelors degree has actually cost them job opportunities because they were "over qualified". A term that seems to mean "I don't want to pay you as much as you're worth". In contrast, several other people I know with bachelors degrees are working random jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with the professional field they want to enter. My friend has a degree in business, yet he's been working at a Starbucks for the last 2 years, while going to grad school. This is of course extremely unfortunate, because some people who take on these random jobs for momentary needs often lost track of time and never pursue their career of choice. Realistically though, don't think that graduating college with a bachelors degree gives a person the same "edge" it might have years ago. While we're in college we are constantly reassured that we are following this golden path to success, that as long as we pull through these four years and get that snazzy piece of paper we will be worth more than anyone without it. While this statement might still hold some truth, I don't believe that the same guarantee holds true these days. Whether the reason is that bachelors degrees have become a dime a dozen or that our economic system is in the dumps...or both, it is not only up to the government to solve this problem. While the government should and could use tax incentives for companies to hire young workers, I think Universities should do more as well. Instead of just throwing the overpaying students out into the real world when they finally get their degrees, they might wanna do some follow up work. Have a work pool for every different major (similar to an internship pool)Notify students when they hear of a job opening they might be qualified for. Treat students as actual individuals and recommend job opportunities that suit that individual. Make this job pool be not only state or nationwide, but global, so the people graduating really feel like they have a shot at expanding themselves and their to be career. Don't just hand them their diploma and rush them out before the new set comes in. We're paying huge amounts of money for school these days and I don't think that graduates are getting what they payed for.
Referring to Rachael's comment - I too will be graduating soon and am absolutely terrified. I feel as though the only college graduates guaranteed jobs are engineers. Even these young adults are struggling. What am I going to do with a Family Science degree in this economy? Its even more terrifying to read this article and find that we are the age group most affected by the downturn of the economy. I used to think that all I needed was a bachelor’s degree and I would be set to go, but this is no longer the case at all. I could go to school for another two years, earn my Masters and still turn up unemployed. Should I just stay in school forever? Well thats not an option either because I have no money to pay for it! Especially now that college tuition has increased 35% in the last few years, as we have discussed in lecture. Of all the times to be a college graduate, we picked the worst possible period. It's no wonder to find that the article talks about depression among young adults. We are working our butts of in school to get the perfect job when we graduate, only to find that we most likely won't find one.
As a current student and future graduate in two semesters it is shocking to hear that the unemployment rate among 16-24 years of age is increasing. One would think that after years of academic preparation jobs would be just waiting for you as soon as you step into the workforce. However, since that does that seem to be the case around this time it changes future plans for many college graduates and even those pursing higher diplomas. I agree with blogger .357 because I too am very concerned over the unemployment rate because I would like to start working immediately and putting to use my BS in family science after thousands has been spent on my education. It plays a lot into my financial security for me and my family in the upcoming years. I understand not being employed because of any job experience; however I am hoping that these current trends do not keep me unemployed for years. I am currently looking for internships before I graduate so I can get a feel of working with adults vs. children. Many of the blogs posted worries of fear, stress, and unstable financial security. In response to this, I think that these kinds of factors will play into the lives of many young adults leading them more and more problems. It is sad that we have to hear of such a thing called the “LOST GENERATION”. I think it also depends on the job career that people are pursuing because more are high demands than others. The US government should be creating programs to help young adults partake in the workforce and create a sense of urgency for companies to hire. US government can try and change or lower the minimum wage however that won’t pay enough and so it would lead to people not doing certain jobs because they are being paid way too little.
Every day I hear about the unemployment rate and it frightens me deeply. Although I am not a senior I am still frightened for what the future entails. Prior to college, my mother would always tell me to major in nursing, due to their demand. I never paid attention to her and decided to follow my own career path and choices. With the current crisis I sometimes wonder if I should have taken her advice. Although I am scared for what the future holds, I believe I made the right decision to study public and community health. Not only do I love the field of community and public health but I know there are a lot of areas and concentrations I can go into. I think at this point in time I have become immune to this issue and no longer fear what’s in stored for the future.
I plan on continuing my education after I graduate from the University of Maryland. I too as blogger .253 stated, plan on continuing my education and obtaining a master’s and hopefully a doctorates degree. Hopefully, with all my years of education I will be able to land a job and support myself and future family. I do not think that I will be affected by the current trends because I am very optimistic and I have hope. I believe that by the time that I decide to start working the economy will be better. Also, I am not too concerned about the current trends because I plan on moving abroad when I get older.
I believe that the government is very responsible for the current situation and I think they should take more responsibility in solving this issue and supporting their workforce. I believe that the government landed us in this situation, so they should find solutions to get us out of this situation. I am not sure what solutions can be done at this point but I do not believe that we should lower minimum wage for young people or any population group. Not only do I think this will make things worse, I think that it would cause more people to be depressed and more importantly lead to higher rates of poverty. I agree with blogger .318, that we should find ways to lower wages that the top 20% receive or tax the top 20% more; instead of lowering minimum wage. I believe it is highly unfair that the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. We as a country need to come together in order to find a solution to this problem that is affecting many.
“The Lost Generation” almost sounds too much of a Hollywood movie title. The reality of it is that the term actually represents the position that our youth is currently in when it comes to economic situations. Our services and skills are nearly becoming extinct. Parents from previous generations base their rearing on skills and tools to teach their children in order for them to excel in their given professions. Although that may sound true, it seems that no matter how advanced a young person’s education or experience is, there is never a guarantee that there will be a job for you that matches what you are qualified for. In his article Peter. Coy talked about how the low number of jobs lowers the confidence of talented young adults. They know that they are talented but the lack of jobs only present lesser qualified opportunities for work.
On a better note I feel like in the future I will not be as affected from this era. I see this as a trend that will soon be taken care of by new laws and bills passed by president Obama. Although I agree that the workforce is more competitive that it has ever been, I still am a firm believer that ambition and drive will guide the people who are meant to be leaders to the top. That is what I feel like we lack as a population. Strong leaders in the youth to set the status quo if young professionals who know their career goals and the path that helps them accomplish them.
I do believe that the United Stated government plays a big role in why this situation occurs. I don’t see how they take hundreds of thousands of dollars from college students every year to earn a degree but its nothing to look forward to when they get out of college. There is no insurance that your degree will set you free in life. So I believe that they should come up with a plan that ensures at least interviews or some sort of set up with a career kick start.
I chose to comment on this particular post, because this is one of the things all current and future graduates want to immediately get, and that is a job. As a current junior who will be graduating next year, it is frightening to know that there are not many job openings for.I am tremendously concerned because I am currently thinking about the next step, which is still a gray area due 2 the current state of the economy. If the job trends continue in the path it is heading it will be detrimental to the concept of a college degree. If a degree cannot at least guarantee you a consistent flow of income many people will stray away from getting a degree. I believe the US government should tackle the job market issue headstrong, especially since it involves the future of college graduates. The US government can aid college grads by creating more government programs such as teach for America. These programs would present college grads with many more career options until the economy gets back of its feet.Without the US government's aid it will be nearly impossible for college grads to fend for themselves in the vicious job market.
I am very concerned about the unemployment status right now because it affects people my age. People keep telling me stay in school because there’s nothing out here and hopefully there will be something when I graduate grad school. That scares me I want to work for a little while before I go to grad school but the way things are looking I might have to go straight to grad school. Therefore this is a huge concern because most likely I will be affected by the unemployment status. The article mentioned that, “in the U.S., the unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds has climbed to more than 18%, from 13% a year age.” That includes me so the odds I will be unemployed is higher than it should be. Also According to a BusinessWeek analysis, college graduates aged 22 to 27 have fared worse than their older educated peers during the downturn. We grew up with the concept that if you graduate college you will have a great job and be successful. This is no longer reality we basically can graduate from college and end up working at the local store with someone who has only a G.E.D or high school diploma. That’s not fair, we pay all this money to go to college and risk the chance of still being poor. You would think that people would want to hire college students because it’s cheaper however the article explained why that’s not true. According to the article, both employers and older workers are sitting tight, taking as few risks as possible in an uncertain environment. With no openings, employers are refusing even to look at the résumés of those on the outside looking in.” So the unemployment status might have a longer-lasting effect. I feel the government needs to take some of their business overseas and bring them back to the U.S so people there will be more jobs. I feel it’s the government‘s job to fix this situation it’s their responsibility.
I agree with number 340 nd i response to that the youth’s services and skills are nearly becoming extinct. I feel that society is making it as if they don’t need us anymore until we become adults, like age 26-28. I feel you that parents prepared children for skills and tools that can teach their children in to excel in their given professions but that doesn’t matter anymore. I feel luck and who you know in society is the way you can get a job during this unemployment status. Your intelligence level and what you can bring to the job has nothing to do with hiring employees anymore. It’s really sad. It does seem that no matter how advanced a young person’s education or experience is, there is never a guarantee that there will be a job for you that matches what you are qualified for so hope for the best and if you are between the ages of 16-26 hope for the best in this recession but it’s going to last awhile.
After reading the article "THe Lost generation: young adulthood and the great recession" I immediately thought of how thankful I am that I am able to have a job during my year at Maryland. I agree with the article, because my freshman year i did not have a job. I applied to various jobs and never got responses from any of them. As my classmates have stated, the unemployment rate for young adults has increased throughout the years and it can be very frustrating and stressful. I am pretty concerned with this unemployment rate because once I graduate I will no longer work at the nearby restaurant. I will have to look for a job near where i will be living and i know how difficult it will be to get a job quickly. Because of this I am trying to work as much as I can as an undergrad so i can save some "extra money" just incase it takes me a really long time to find a job as a college grad. I know it is very difficult to find a job even regardless if you have your diploma or not. I know i will be affected and I am trying to prepare myself as best i can. I do believe that the US government has to come up with some sort of solution so the rate of unemployment does not keep increasing. Students already have to worry about paying for their education and like many of us, we are falling into debt. I feel as tho the government should be more considerate to those who are looking for a job and are in school. The government should better the support of the workforce for college students who are graduating and looking for jobs.
I wanted to reply to the comment posted by 309 and say that i agree that this has affected the way i chose my major as well. Before I was a education major and then decided to switch to family science. I know there is a demand for teachers however i wanted to have the option of having more possibilities in my future. I also agree about getting myself into more debt by continuing school after graduating. It is a very scary feeling, but I also have a current job so I will be attempting to add up extra hours to help me in the future.
I am deeply concerned with the unemployment status in the U.S. Not only will these high rates of unemployment affect my life and especially my well-being overall in the future, but it will also affect the elderly generation, such as trying to provide and give back to my parents, what they provided me while growing up. Students these days are in school and working hard to lead up to the event of getting a career, only to have barely any opportunities out there for them, which is a major problem and will not help the economy to get any better. Without action being taken and the economic crisis getting better sooner than later, it will all have seemed like it was for nothing. I fear for and do not anticipate my graduation in May 2011 because of the struggles that I most likely will face when trying to find employment. I think that the government should be held highly responsible in terms of support for its workforce and think up of solutions such as making it a requirement for organizations to have a quota of how many people are employed while also cutting wages at the same time, and holding workshops and programs that guide young adults to become more trained in the workforce or perhaps even start their own businesses. Another solution would be to follow Germany’s apprenticeship program which can guide recent high school graduates to obtain skilled blue-collared jobs.
“The Lost Generation” seems to be an appropriate name for the current status of this generation as far as the economy and job market goes. I am extremely concerned about the unemployment status in the U.S. today – especially since I will be graduating this December. Currently, I am more concerned about being accepted into professional school because of how competitive acceptance and review committees have become since enrollment into colleges and universities is at an all-time high – even for graduate and professional schools. If I do not get into pharmacy school, I will be forced to find an adequate job that will at least pay for my housing or I will be forced to move back home – which is not an option that I anticipated. The U.S. government and public policy over the job market is very responsible in terms of how it should support its workforce. It is disheartening as a college student – paying extremely high rates for her education – to hear that companies refuse to higher college graduates. We are the Americans that have the freshest ideas and can bring a great, positive influence to workplace. As far as solutions go, it should be mandated that major companies, at least, offer applicants other options within a 6-month period when a job positions cannot be offered.
I am very concerned with the current economic trends we are facing now days. I understand that it is very difficult for youths my age who are entering the workforce to find work, but I must say that thus far I have been blessed and have been able to easily find employment throughout my college years. I believe I will be affected negatively in the future because when I graduate from college, I will need a well paying job to cover my student loans. I live with my parents so the rent costs are covered because my parents don’t charge me to live at home because I’m in school. I don’t think I can be too descriptive on the type of job I want in the future because of how serious the issue of unemployment is. I believe I will have to take a job I don’t necessarily want and move my way up through companies. I think the U.S. government is somewhat responsible, and I think it needs to focus more on American produced goods so more jobs will be available and so the money will go back into American pockets to help the economy.
I’m not concerned at all about the current unemployment status in the US. People who are having trouble finding job need to realize that their dream jobs with six figure salary aren’t available at the moment and if they temper their expectations, jobs are available. I current have a decent paying job that allows me to pay a mortgage on my townhome and have a decent lifestyle while I’m in college. I am also received interest from government contractors for future potential jobs after I graduate in May, so based on my experiences I don’t feel like I will be affected. I do believe the government should take some responsibility in supporting the workforce, if only because the baby boomers are depending on a plentiful labor force to provide retirement and health care. One step in this direction may come from counting the number of unemployed more accurately, for the government has often excluded people who have stopped looking for work in their official count.
At the age of 22, I am highly concerned over the employment status in the US. After reading the article, the reality of the recession set in. I was always somewhat aware that the economy was experiencing a downturn in terms of job opportunities. Although I currently have a job in retail (not my intended career), I still felt the effect of the downturn. At work, I had experienced my hours being cut, due to budgets cuts and lack of sales. With the prices of everyday goods increasing, I also felt the downturn in that regard. Reaching graduation soon, I anticipate that I will be greatly affected by the current trend. In the future, I can see myself having a difficult time finding employment and starting my career. It’s very easy to imagine the possibility of me keeping my retail job for at least 1 ½-2 years until I find employment after graduation. I do experience fear and anxiety, as the pressures to start a career right after college are becoming more and more pressing. Societal pressures coupled with higher costs of standard of living, have made it really important to seek employment suiting of my college education. Shortly after graduation, as I am expected to pay back student loans, I find myself stressing about finding a higher paying job. I think that the stresses and pressures placed upon my generation, the next wave of future employees, will have detrimental effects for years to come. It is very possible that my generation will lose motivation to progress forth as no opportunities become available. Time is of the essence and if my generation doesn’t acquire the proper skills and experience now, when will we ever get the chance. Would be get the chance to start a career at the age of 30 instead of 25?
I think that the government should be held highly responsible for supporting its workforce. They are the only real power to help enforce standards and improve conditions for the workers. Living in a capitalist, free market, employers have much control over the terms and conditions placed on the employees. Therefore, with governmental guidance and mandates, these terms and conditions can be modified to suit the current economic state. I also believe that businesses (especially small businesses) should have greater incentives for hiring new employees. I think that job acquirement of the new wave of employees would have positive effects both for the employees and the economy.
Response to 340,
I really like the optimism towards the future and I also agree that with the right mindset, anything is possible. Additionally, the point that you made about the government taking hundreds and thousands of dollars from college students, with nothing to look forward to in the future is so true. The upcoming generation of the labor force lack a sense of security as many graduate and find themselves unemployed for numerous months and sometimes progressing into a year. I think that the government should instill some form of security so that the new generation can find the proper motivation to keep pushing through, even with the pressures and stresses. In due time, “the lost generation” would no longer be existent.
I am extremely scared of the current state of employment. This is really why I chose to go to graduate school directly. I know that someone with a dual degree in dance and Family science, I would perhaps find it difficult to get a job- especially one in the arts. In this economy arts is the first to lose funding, and therefore dance companies around the US are paying dancers less and less. A lot of my fiends are facing this situation head on. Companies are not allowing new members to join because quite frankly they cannot pay them.
I am hoping that by the time I am finished graduate school-- 5 years from now that I will have more employment opportunities. I will have a doctoral degree and hope to work for a private practice (clinical psychology). Of course, I think health care will have undergone great changes by then, so I am not sure how the will affect the US in terms of how often they seek mental health services. I'm thinking people will always need psychologists (I'm hoping!).
The article spoke about how not hiring new workers is having detrimental effects. new workers bring creativity and new ideas to a job. If companies are not hiring new people, then I think they will ultimately suffer in terms of innovation.
I think it is an excellent idea for the federal government to give tax breaks to companies that are hiring more workers-- this definitely needs to continue. Perhaps the government needs to come up with additional incentives for companies.
In terms of fluctuating the minimum wage. We certainly cannot lower it! As we have seen from videos in class, many individuals can barely get by when making minimum wage, so lowering it would be a terrible idea. I think creating some sort of apprenticeship program could be very positive. Helping people to gain a specific skill set between high school and a particular job would be very helpful. I think many students go to school and learn skills that they may not use. And therefore they are wasting both money and time. An apprenticeship program could keep young adults motivated and help them to be more prepared for the work force.
In response to 316... why you are quite optimistic! It is great that you plan on continuing your education-- as am I. However, the economy is in really bad shape and as the article pointed out, even students with exceptional education and training are having a difficult time finding employment. I hope that this is not the case for you. You said that you are majoring in community health-- I completely agree that this are is always going to need help in terms of health, policy, poverty, and so on.
You also mentioned briefly that you have considered moving abroad after you graduate in case the economy is really bad. I have considered this also-- I thought for a time about moving to Israel. Do you think a lot of people plan to do this? I feel that if enough people left the country, it may have detrimental effects on our economy because we would be helping the economies of other countries. I think that our country should be coming up with incentives on how to keep young adults and recently graduated student in this country and investing in this economy. If too many young minds leave and go else where, this could be very bad for the working world-- especially for a group of individuals who are supposed to be supporting the baby boom generation.
As young adults soon to graduate from college and enter the workforce, “The Lost Generation” definitely hits close to home for all of us. Because of the terrible economy, University of Wisconsin graduate Dan Schmitz has unsuccessfully attempted to obtain a restaurant job despite having a higher education degree – a job you would usually equate to someone with a high-school diploma or less. I even hear of more and more people with MBA’s and PhD’s unable to find work. These stories could soon be any of us – and that is terrifying.
As many posters have said before, I plan on continuing my education after graduating, so I will not being looking for a full-time job within the next couple of years. I have always planned on attending medical school, even before the recession and resulting jump in unemployment, but I think that many of my peers are now considering pursuing a higher degree for a number of reasons. First, I think the value of a bachelor’s degree has become devalued, compared to our parent’s generation. It seems like in this day and age, you must at least be college-educated in order to secure a job that will allow you to live the “normal” middle-class life. College degrees have become the norm – the bar has been raised. We have to continue our education to one-up our competition when we do eventually enter the job market. Secondly, I think young adults want to continue their education to avoid having to search for a job in this economy. I agree with poster 315 in saying that many posters hope that the economy will be better by the time they leave graduate or professional school, but that is not a guarantee. It’s a Catch-22 – what if the economy has not changed, or even gotten worse, in five years? What if we put ourselves thousands of dollars in debt and still cannot find a job to support ourselves and pay off our loans? These are questions that I am scared to know the answers to.
As mentioned in the article, I utilized this period of increasing unemployment to build up my resume. I have definitely found it harder to find jobs during summer and winter breaks in the past couple of years, so I have taken unpaid internships. I think that internships are a great way for people my age to “get their foot in the door” and begin to seriously develop skills and knowledge that we will use in our future careers, as well as build a network of reliable contacts. The pediatrician that I interned (unpaid) for last summer has served as a mentor to me in my education and pursuit of my desired career, and will be a great reference for future job applications. In addition, I have used this time to increase my volunteer hours. Not only does it look great on a resume, but it is rewarding to give back to the community and know that I made a difference in someone else’s life. In this time of great economic need, we could all benefit from helping each other out. Granted, I am lucky that I am able to do this because I still receive financial support from my parents. However, many of my peers are paying for their college tuition and all of the expenses that go along with it, and have to keep a paying job year-round to support themselves. I think that if you are financially capable, participating in resume-building jobs, internships, activities, and programs is a great idea and will benefit you when eventually entering the job market, setting you apart from your competition and giving you a “leg-up” in the eyes of a potential employer.
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I think the federal government should definitely take part in supporting the workforce. Unemployment will not drop until the economy begins to stabilize, which the government plays a large role in. Create jobs by following through with plans of offering incentives (like the $3,000 tax credit, as mentioned by multiple posters) to businesses. I agree with many posters (240, 251, etc.) in saying that lowering the federal minimum wage is a bad idea. Initially, it would create more jobs, but it would also lower the wages of those who are struggling to survive on $7.25/hour paychecks. It would be counter-productive to years of attempting to make the lives better of those who live in poverty, and I think it would only increase poverty in the long run.
Unemployment in the United States has continued to get worse and worse. Only until I read the article "The Lost Generation" did i realize how bad it truly was. My roommate is graduating in May and stresses out everyday about getting a job. She constantly calls companies and never gets calls back. Because of this i noticed how truly hard it is to get a job these days. The more i see this happen to my roommate, and the more i read about it the more scared i get about graduating college.
While reading this article, it really hit me how bad this situation was when i read that only "46% of people aged 16-24 had jobs in september". Whether people have college education or not, this is still an extremely low number. As for myself i feel that i will be somewhat affected by this terrible trend, however maybe not as bad as other people i know. I am looking to further my career in either special education or counseling. Also, i am looking to go to graduate school not only to get my masters, but also because the job market is so bad. I am hoping that once i complete my masters, getting a job wont be as difficult as it is now.
I think the US government should have some responsibility in the workforce. As 205 stated, i think that there should be programs tghe government sets up to help young workers in the job force, whether it is helping them get a job or training for a job. This unemployment crisis that is going on in the US needs to be fixed soon...very soon. We are one of the best countries in the world, yet cant provide our citizens with jobs to live a healthy life.
I am pretty concerned about the unemployment status of younger people in the US simply because I am going to enter that demographic soon. Although I have a job that sustains my rent and savings, it is certainly not the type of job that employers are impressed by. As a result, my resume looks pretty sparse except for the a couple internships and volunteer positions. After reading the article, I am tempted to consider going straight into a master’s program and searching for an internship in the field of counseling. I like Germany’s approach by offering apprenticeships in high skilled blue-collar occupations. Although this option seems similar to internships, I believe that it would be more beneficial if these apprenticeship options were offered in the university. Additionally, having apprenticeship programs offered to young dropouts or just high graduates who can’t afford a 4-year college degree would be most helpful.
In terms of the government role in supporting the workforce, they could offer tax cuts to businesses and that continually hire, similar to GE. In that sense, companies would have an incentive in hire new talent instead of playing it safe and sticking with their older employees. I agree with blogger .244’s remark that the government should not lower the minimum wage any further because it doesn’t even represent a living wage given the cost of living in some areas. If government reduced the minimum wage to boost hiring, it would only lead to increasing the need for programs that alleviate poverty.
At first thought, I am not completely hopeless, because I am interested in the journalism field. Because newspapers and magazines would rather take younger writers because they are willing to do more for less money, and I fall into that category, it seems OK for the moment -- but eventually I'll be replaced too, if I decide to stay a journalist. However, this speaks to a much larger problem. Not only are people being replaced by other people - it’s that people are being replaced by machines. Though this sounds like an old conversation, it seems to me that it continues to grow. Business owners and large corporations are focused on getting ahead and making the big bucks, and it seems they’ll do whatever they take to get there. They don’t realize they got to the place that they are now because of other people and the opportunities that they had because of the education and skills they were able to take advantage of. What I think is important, and which I think Obama has introduced, is tax credit incentives to businesses that higher unemployed people. Though I think that a lot more is needed to address the problem of unemployment, it is a good step, though seemingly shallow, to address the problem of unemployment.
The standard that the American dream created decades ago still seems to affect how our system works. It becomes increasingly difficult for people without significantly higher education to actually live the American dream – the price of living and the price of education is so expensive that moving between classes becomes hard. If Obama works hard to create jobs and raise the standards for minimum wage, I think that this will contribute to our ability to improve our lifestyles.
The unemployment status in the U.S. has concerned me. As a graduating senior I have been told by many of counselors here that I better stay in school because I won’t find a job. I am not too sure if that’s the right advice as staying in school would further increase the amount of debt I have in terms of student loans. Because of the economy I have decided to take a year off after graduation. I simply can’t afford to pay for grad school and need to work to save some money and pay off loans. Student Loans are getting harder and harder to receive so this year off will hopefully allow me access to resources when I continue my education. I am also moving in with my parents after graduation in order to save money. To anticipate the future I am considering joining the armed forces so they will pay for my student loans and continuing education. To emerge debt free is very enticing. Also with our current health care debacle any opportunity that offers full benefits, such as the military is a very good option. I think of all careers mine may be a little safer as I plan to enter the health field. With the graying of America we will need more doctors. People will always get sick and need treatment so the health field offers job security. The economic downtrend has discouraged my career exploration however. I am interning with the Child Life Department at John Hopkins. I really enjoy this career field but due to the economy there are not very many job openings and often hiring freezes. Instead of exploring this option in my year off, I am more likely to find a regularly paying job. Finally I think the government should be a supporter in the unemployment issue. I believe the government should fund projects that meet the needs of the people in order to support our infrastructure. Like the current railroad project, having these opportunities employs the unemployed and fills a need that we have. If we can better our society and employ our own people than we are taking steps in the right direction. I do not however believe that the government should increase funding to support those that are not working. We currently have programs in place to meet some of the unemployed needs. I have seen many of people turn down jobs that are not up to their standards in order to collect unemployment. I think as a society we don’t value hard work like we used to and it is important to rebuild this moral. People should accept jobs that are their dream jobs in order to make money until something better comes along. I believe this is our ticket to success for unemployment.
In approximately five weeks from now I will be considered the “Lost Generation.” I am graduating in May with no assurance of job stability. I currently have an internship that expires once I graduate. It seems as though in order to keep a job you must stay in school. However, the longer you stay in school on borrowed money, the deeper your debt. I am highly concerned over the non-stabilizing unemployment rate. We are taught and pushed to go to college. And as a reward for successfully graduating from College, you are jobless. The government should take responsibility by instilling confidence in firms to hire college graduates as a reward for investing in their lives. Because of the economic downturn, firms are not going to take risk in hiring more people. So as a result they keep the older employees. May be the government should subsidize these firms to give incentives for the ole employees to retire to allow for new hires; new hires that will bring new and innovative ideas, to increase production and stimulate the economy. Without proper action from the government the Lost Generation will exist beyond its time. In addition, Universities should require students to work internships as a requirement for graduation. In doing so, students will graduate with not only a degree, but a degree with professional work experience. This will allow students to get hands on experience of what the job force is like and to potentially land a permanent job upon graduation. Without some type of action taking place, the Lost Generation will grow in numbers.
The unemployment issue is one that I didn't notice was as bad as it really is. I am currently working part time, but my focus is definitely on school right now. The place where I work is extremely flexible with my work hours, because they know that I am in school trying to earn my Masters in Special Education. I am slightly worried that I may not have a top spot in a job directly out of college. I can only hope that I will be needed in a school, and that that district can afford it throughout these hard economic times.
It is shocking to notice that within just one year, the unemployment rate for young adults ages 16-24 has increased from 13% to 18%. Due to the current economic slump, it doesn't matter how much education you have, it is now about the experience you have. According to Coy, employers often have conflicts with their employees, because they went off to school to achieve a higher level of education only to come back with little experience in the workplace. It certainly does not seem fair knowing that people who have a degree are going to be working with people who do not, just because they stayed in school.
Although there are many jobs that require a degree, with this economic downfall it is still going to be difficult to find a job. I agree with .253, and that is it best to continue with your education. Even though we are in an economic downturn, having your degree will land you a better job when things get better. I also agree with .243 when they say that universities or colleges should require students to work internships as a requirement for graduation. In doing so, students will graduate with not only a degree, but a degree with professional work experience. This way, more employers will see that they have a degree along with work experience in the workplace. This seems that there will be a much higher chance that they will get the job they are looking for.
I agree with blogger .253 in that the US is in one of its worst economies since the Great Depression. I am extremely concerned with the unemployment status in the US. I have a job now, but similar to other college students, that is not my career choice. I am currently quite pleased with my job at a childcare facility, but I plan on being a lawyer. I believe that the only reason I feel secure with my job is because people will always need childcare. This is a career that is specifically pointed out in the article as being problematic. I know people that worked for businesses and corporations that did cut-backs, so I know how grave the situation is. This recession caused many people to lose their jobs and homes. Although we are on our way to recovering from this recession, one thing that cannot be replaced is time.
Time is invaluable and precious when you are examining the future. Retirement, Social Security, and Medicaid depend on how long an individual has worked and how much they make. We have not yet seen the brunt of this economic downfall. The true test will be over the next decade, when more baby boomers reach retirement age, and there are not enough funds to provide for them all. As I mentioned above, one’s retirement is based on how long he/she has been on the job, so it is beneficial to start your career as soon as possible. A company may not invest as much in a worker that has only been there for a short period of time. This would add more strain on Social Security.
I feel that the government should be very responsible in terms of support for its workforce because they decide the rule and regulations of that workforce. The government sets minimum wage and they have control over many “big business” companies. People are appointed to monitor the economy and they should be able to foresee the problems. The people rely on government either through unemployment or through Social Security. The government has to be responsible.
Over the past year the economy has shed millions of jobs. Although job loss has slowed as of recently, the economy has yet to enter a period of net job creation. This trend in private employment appears particularly intractable. According to the article, regardless what educational advancement you have achieved, job availability remains scarce. This concerns me. I understand that many government programs and policies developed since the Great Depression have been designed explicitly to address personal hardships like this. One of which is unemployment compensation, which is specifically designed to relieve personal hardships by providing workers with a source of income when I am unemployed and unable to find work. However, I have spent thousands of dollars to complete my undergraduate degree for the purpose of finding a job to support myself and eventually my family, not the government. Unlike .253, I am concerned about how recession will affect me considering this depends on my life after college. With graduation less than a year away, I have no plans in continuing my schooling quite yet. Therefore, obtaining a full time credible job that reflects my level of education is imperative. I want to get what I spent countless years enduring and paying for. Overall, I feel the government has a great deal of responsibility for this outsourcing of jobs. I am in agreement with .328, the government should take into consideration those who have worked for their spot in the society and help those citizens achieve what they deserve. If not, the rates of individuals on government aided programs and poverty will rise.
The unemployment rate in he United States is very unnerving to me because it is largely affecting the 16 to 24 year age range. This affects the young adults who have dropped out of high school, college dropouts, college grads, and even those who graduate with master’s degrees. The article states that even those who get jobs with good opportunities and good pay they will still be behind those who entered the work force in a good economy. We are an unfortunate bunch of college grads who will suffer the consequences of our bad economy the rest of our lives. It is said in the article that we as a group will earn 2.5% less then that of our earlier counterparts. Its hard to say who should be held responsible for taking care of the issue of young adult unemployment. The government should take responsibility for part of the situation by encouraging employers to continue to hire and by creating new jobs targeted for this age group. The other responsibilities should be placed on the young adults themselves by getting the educations and skills they need to enter a competitive work force. This should be attacked head on because the future of the young adults coming out of school will affect the future of our country when they are the ones in the adult workforce.
i agree with .232 's comment that germany has the right idea with using the concept of putting dropouts or those who dont enter college into blue collar apprenticeships. they also brought up a valid point that this can really benefit those who cannot afford a four year college but still want a career and want to make a good living.
I think this article says it perfectly. The old generation is relying on the recent graduates and younger generation to find work and help their social security and retirement. This however is not going to be the case since this economic downfall is the worst the world has seen since the great depression. The idea that unemployment rates continue to rise scares not only me but other soon to be graduates. The idea of not only knowing where to work, but now worrying about if I will even be able to find a job is the most shocking thing I have had to face in a long time. I am soon to be a graduate and looking to go into the medical field. This is one field that i know will continue to be in high demand as well as nursing and other related careers in the medical world. This however has not stopped me from obsessing about the idea of money not only presently but in the long run. Will I be able to raise a family well and will i have some sort of retirement. These are some issues that i think our generation is constantly thinkg about. The anxiety around this issue causes alot of young people to either give up, or it helps them persue a career before it is too late. Waiting until the last minute is obviously going to hurt a recent graduate, but like in the article there may not be any excuse. With the unemployment rates for those who are 16-24 being the lowest its been since the late 40s and early 50s, there is no escape from the world of recession. I think since obama has seen how hard this recession has hit the united states, he is very concerned. however it does take a lot of money and time to try and fix this issue that has take over the world and it will continue to scare and affect the graduates and older generations no matter what.
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