Unemployment still worrisome; jobs from unlikely sources on clarkhoward.com

The official unemployment rate is now 9.7 percent, which is moving dangerously close to the psychologically devastating 10 percent mark. At the same time, teenage unemployment is at an all-time high with roughly 26 percent of teens unemployed.

Meanwhile, U6 -- the broadest gauge of unemployment -- is edging closer to 17 percent. U6 takes into account those who are involuntarily working part-time because they can't find full-time work and those who have given up looking for work. That means 1 in 6 Americans who want a traditional full-time job can't find one.

Without a doubt, the employment thing will be a slow recovery. That's why it's important to remember that jobs are always a lagging indicator of the recovery, as Clark previously explained.

One positive indicator is that temp agencies say they're getting called more often by employers. So yes, there is a recovery underway, but nobody knows how long it will last or how strong it will be.

Yet opportunity comes up in unexpected places. The big, bad federal government has some nearly 300,000 "mission critical" positions that must be filled over the next several years. Medical, intelligence and defense are among the hottest areas of federal hiring.

Beyond that, there are another 300,000 jobs that not considered critical fills, which account for normal turnover and vacancies created by retirement.

USAJobs.gov is the official clearinghouse for federal hiring.

In addition, technological advances will create new types of jobs. For example, clean energy -- whether you agree with it or not -- will translate to jobs such as the retrofitting of residential and commercial real estate for new green standards.

On that note, Clark says the time may be right for solar energy at your home. As he previously reported, there's an oversupply of panels, which drives the price down, and there are also some attractive federal tax credits to install them. Could this be another employment opportunity for jobless construction workers?

When one door closes, you've got to find an open window!

What others are saying

Interships are for.....
Internships or Externships are usually for current students while still in college--and are often used for the students exiting program for their majors.

And for "what is wrong here" is…your math....I didn’t say 4 interviews, a week for 4 years. I said I went from 4 interviews a week down to 1 a year in 2008.

Someone hates cats.....
By TheCatsMeow @ 09/15/09 02:47:26 PMreport abuse
Unemployment
I see signs that the problem is more with us Americans as individuals than the economy.

1) I'm employed, and I'm getting calls from recruiters fairly regularly. I finally met with one and they told me that since unemployment is so high, now they get 300-400 applications for a job where they used to get 50-100. The difference is now that instead of 10 qualified applicants out of 50, they are getting 10 qualified applicants for of 400, which just makes there job harder. Thus, that leads to them calling me, and other employed people in order to find someone that they feel comfortable taking to an employer.

2) Over the last 2 weeks I've stopped at 3 different fast food restaurants, and I've gotten the wrong order each of the 3 times. If one of the simplest jobs available is still being performed by unmotivated and uncaring employees, then maybe there are still too many people that are "overpaid". When you look around in most people's offices, you can still ask yourself "What does that person do here that adds value to the company?" and never find an answer.

3) Nationally, the high-school graduation rate is somewhere below 70%. That means as a nation, other than a few rare and legitamite cases, that 30% of our population are essentially "quitters". This may sound harsh, but public (or private for that matter) education is not very hard relative to keeping a job. If almost 1/3 of us are not finishing high school, then we should by asking ourselves "Why is unemployement only 10%? shouldn't it be higher".

I think the problem is people "want a job" instead of looking for a place in the world where they can add value.
By Employed @ 09/14/09 08:13:16 AMreport abuse
No Jobs=No Recovery
When the government has more job openings than the private sector, you know something is wrong. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't our taxes pay for federal employee's wages? lol More government jobs IS NOT a good thing, we need a smaller government. Why is this so hard to understand for most?

We all know the unemployment rate nationally is already over 10%, let's quit pretending here. There are millions upon millions of people who are unemployed yet they're not counted, the formula is flawed. Realistically, we're at around 11-12%.

I work for a temp agency and have since early 2008 after I lost my last REAL job, they're receiving more calls from employers now, but it's to fill low-paying positions that are vacant due to college students going back to school. There is no recovery signs here, sorry Clark. I live it, you don't.

I'm also thirty something and a radiology student, I had to choose a new career so here I am. I did check into a green job course at the tech college first, solar panel installer, for whatever reason the class is in hiatus and there is no set date for it to begin. I live in a 120k+ city with many suburbs, I'm near heavy dead industry and major interstates and highways, and two cites nearby that both have over a million in population, and there is NO talk of these "green" jobs anywhere. There has been a few newer tech companies from the east coast that have moved here and hired 100-200 people, but those were all people with higher educations, there has been no new work for the many thousands here who have lost jobs these last few years.

I know I don't sound optimistic even though I'm making the moves I need to in order to secure my future, but let's be honest here, there is no recovery happening, so lets quit this nonsense of trying to make ourselves think there is one.

Where are these 1 million new jobs that have been created?
By Chris @ 09/13/09 10:49:20 AMreport abuse
300,000 illusory jobs
...yes, the federal government may hire...but there are 200 plus applicants per opening.....it is a job lottery, leaving almost all unemployed....
By FACTUAL @ 09/12/09 10:37:29 AMreport abuse
out of work at 50
You've got that right, mjd. There's already a Switzerland, we can't duplicate their success. A renewed manufacturing base would once again create the wealth that we have lost over the last few decades. We are not headed toward 3rd world status yet, but the disparity will continue to grow between a small percentage of elite and the majority whose sitation worsens. I lost my job 17 months ago, retrained for a nonexistent career, and now am looking at a forced move from a modest paid-for home to a questionable job somewhere else, if I can find one.
By Dave @ 09/12/09 08:57:23 AMreport abuse
No job since graduation
I graduated with a masters in environmental science in May, and I am still looking. Recession or not, it is always tougher for new grads. The recession just prevented further embarassment of not having a job...Now I can blame it on something...

Motto: Own a Business, Forget College.
By anonymous @ 09/11/09 11:38:02 PMreport abuse
No job since 10/2003
That's a long time without work. Here I am moaning at having almost no work since I told my wife in June/July of 2007..."Hunny, I think we're in a depression." I got most of my work from vacation home owners. The Real Estate adds would go on for 3-4 pages in the local paper. Now I look and see 1 that is ONE add for a home sale. Two of my brothers and maybe a third stand to lose their vacation homes up here, CA. One friend has to go to SF Bay to find work as a landscaper.

Now I read that this is the Great Recesion. Bull...It is a Depression and I know it and you should to. It was started/aggravated by slimy people associated with Fannie and Freddy.
By Mark Hillyard @ 09/11/09 05:24:53 PMreport abuse
RE: TheCatsMeow
4 years of 4 interviews a week is 832 interviews, and you haven't had one job offer? Something doesn't sound right.

My suggestion to people straight out of college is to try to find an internship. Once you have your foot in the door, other opportunities may open up for you.
By drew @ 09/11/09 12:28:48 PMreport abuse
No job since 10/2003
I haven't had a job since 10/2003. Interviews went from roughly 4 a week to 1 in 2008.
No one is assisting the "come back parent" or "the older worker", I went back to college, but discovered the economy was bad, and a Bush cover-up was on. I didn't qualify for un-employment, welfare or any low income resources to go back to work.

Millions like me, are not being counted--by anyone.
By TheCatsMeow @ 09/11/09 12:03:35 PMreport abuse
Until this country finds a way to manufacture something competitively things will keep going downhill
By mjd @ 09/11/09 11:05:26 AMreport abuse
Federal Jobs
Every government agency is a huge bureaucracy and it WILL take months, even up to a year to fill most of these positions. The application process is internet-based, and no decisions, interviews, etc. are granted until the closing date has passed. You will find it extremely difficult to find anyone to talk to about any particular job.

You will need a job to hold you over while the application process drags on. If you have the time, patience and resources and are determined to hang tough - there are some great jobs out there.

Bottom Line - Do NOT expect to have a job with the Federal Government by next week or next month. Best of Luck!
By J.J. @ 09/11/09 10:18:10 AMreport abuse

Interships are for.....

Internships or Externships are usually for current students while still in college--and are often used for the students exiting program for their majors.

And for "what is wrong here" is…your math....I didn’t say 4 interviews, a week for 4 years. I said I went from 4 interviews a week down to 1 a year in 2008.

Someone hates cats.....

By TheCatsMeow @ 09/15/09 02:47:26 PMreport abuse

Unemployment

I see signs that the problem is more with us Americans as individuals than the economy.

1) I'm employed, and I'm getting calls from recruiters fairly regularly. I finally met with one and they told me that since unemployment is so high, now they get 300-400 applications for a job where they used to get 50-100. The difference is now that instead of 10 qualified applicants out of 50, they are getting 10 qualified applicants for of 400, which just makes there job harder. Thus, that leads to them calling me, and other employed people in order to find someone that they feel comfortable taking to an employer.

2) Over the last 2 weeks I've stopped at 3 different fast food restaurants, and I've gotten the wrong order each of the 3 times. If one of the simplest jobs available is still being performed by unmotivated and uncaring employees, then maybe there are still too many people that are "overpaid". When you look around in most people's offices, you can still ask yourself "What does that person do here that adds value to the company?" and never find an answer.

3) Nationally, the high-school graduation rate is somewhere below 70%. That means as a nation, other than a few rare and legitamite cases, that 30% of our population are essentially "quitters". This may sound harsh, but public (or private for that matter) education is not very hard relative to keeping a job. If almost 1/3 of us are not finishing high school, then we should by asking ourselves "Why is unemployement only 10%? shouldn't it be higher".

I think the problem is people "want a job" instead of looking for a place in the world where they can add value.

By Employed @ 09/14/09 08:13:16 AMreport abuse

No Jobs=No Recovery

When the government has more job openings than the private sector, you know something is wrong. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't our taxes pay for federal employee's wages? lol More government jobs IS NOT a good thing, we need a smaller government. Why is this so hard to understand for most?

We all know the unemployment rate nationally is already over 10%, let's quit pretending here. There are millions upon millions of people who are unemployed yet they're not counted, the formula is flawed. Realistically, we're at around 11-12%.

I work for a temp agency and have since early 2008 after I lost my last REAL job, they're receiving more calls from employers now, but it's to fill low-paying positions that are vacant due to college students going back to school. There is no recovery signs here, sorry Clark. I live it, you don't.

I'm also thirty something and a radiology student, I had to choose a new career so here I am. I did check into a green job course at the tech college first, solar panel installer, for whatever reason the class is in hiatus and there is no set date for it to begin. I live in a 120k+ city with many suburbs, I'm near heavy dead industry and major interstates and highways, and two cites nearby that both have over a million in population, and there is NO talk of these "green" jobs anywhere. There has been a few newer tech companies from the east coast that have moved here and hired 100-200 people, but those were all people with higher educations, there has been no new work for the many thousands here who have lost jobs these last few years.

I know I don't sound optimistic even though I'm making the moves I need to in order to secure my future, but let's be honest here, there is no recovery happening, so lets quit this nonsense of trying to make ourselves think there is one.

Where are these 1 million new jobs that have been created?

By Chris @ 09/13/09 10:49:20 AMreport abuse

300,000 illusory jobs

...yes, the federal government may hire...but there are 200 plus applicants per opening.....it is a job lottery, leaving almost all unemployed....

By FACTUAL @ 09/12/09 10:37:29 AMreport abuse

out of work at 50

You've got that right, mjd. There's already a Switzerland, we can't duplicate their success. A renewed manufacturing base would once again create the wealth that we have lost over the last few decades. We are not headed toward 3rd world status yet, but the disparity will continue to grow between a small percentage of elite and the majority whose sitation worsens. I lost my job 17 months ago, retrained for a nonexistent career, and now am looking at a forced move from a modest paid-for home to a questionable job somewhere else, if I can find one.

By Dave @ 09/12/09 08:57:23 AMreport abuse

No job since graduation

I graduated with a masters in environmental science in May, and I am still looking. Recession or not, it is always tougher for new grads. The recession just prevented further embarassment of not having a job...Now I can blame it on something...

Motto: Own a Business, Forget College.

By anonymous @ 09/11/09 11:38:02 PMreport abuse

No job since 10/2003

That's a long time without work. Here I am moaning at having almost no work since I told my wife in June/July of 2007..."Hunny, I think we're in a depression." I got most of my work from vacation home owners. The Real Estate adds would go on for 3-4 pages in the local paper. Now I look and see 1 that is ONE add for a home sale. Two of my brothers and maybe a third stand to lose their vacation homes up here, CA. One friend has to go to SF Bay to find work as a landscaper.

Now I read that this is the Great Recesion. Bull...It is a Depression and I know it and you should to. It was started/aggravated by slimy people associated with Fannie and Freddy.

By Mark Hillyard @ 09/11/09 05:24:53 PMreport abuse

RE: TheCatsMeow

4 years of 4 interviews a week is 832 interviews, and you haven't had one job offer? Something doesn't sound right.

My suggestion to people straight out of college is to try to find an internship. Once you have your foot in the door, other opportunities may open up for you.

By drew @ 09/11/09 12:28:48 PMreport abuse

I haven't had a job since 10/2003. Interviews went from roughly 4 a week to 1 in 2008.
No one is assisting the "come back parent" or "the older worker", I went back to college, but discovered the economy was bad, and a Bush cover-up was on. I didn't qualify for un-employment, welfare or any low income resources to go back to work.

Millions like me, are not being counted--by anyone.

By TheCatsMeow @ 09/11/09 12:03:35 PMreport abuse

Until this country finds a way to manufacture something competitively things will keep going downhill

By mjd @ 09/11/09 11:05:26 AMreport abuse

Federal Jobs

Every government agency is a huge bureaucracy and it WILL take months, even up to a year to fill most of these positions. The application process is internet-based, and no decisions, interviews, etc. are granted until the closing date has passed. You will find it extremely difficult to find anyone to talk to about any particular job.

You will need a job to hold you over while the application process drags on. If you have the time, patience and resources and are determined to hang tough - there are some great jobs out there.

Bottom Line - Do NOT expect to have a job with the Federal Government by next week or next month. Best of Luck!

By J.J. @ 09/11/09 10:18:10 AMreport abuse

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Sep 10, 2009 -- Unemployment still worrisome; jobs from unlikely sources

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