In a Job Market Shift, Some Workers Are Left Behind

[groovedaddy]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Many of the jobs lost during the recession are not coming back. Period.

For the last two years, the weak economy has provided an opportunity for employers to do what they would have done anyway: dismiss millions of people — like file clerks, ticket agents and autoworkers — who were displaced by technological advances and international trade.

The phasing out of these positions might have been accomplished through less painful means like attrition, buyouts or more incremental layoffs. But because of the recession, winter came early.

The tough environment has been especially disorienting for older and more experienced workers like Cynthia Norton, 52, an unemployed administrative assistant in Jacksonville.

“I know I’m good at this,” says Ms. Norton. “So how the hell did I end up here?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/business/economy/13obsolete.html?th&emc=th

[notadmblnd]

1. Just try being 50 and female and looking for a job

It's not happening. Not in my field (IT) and not anywhere else either.

[Donnachaidh]

2. 50 year old guys don't have it easy, either

My DH went 18 months before he was offered anything of substance. And even then, the offer was 25% lower than his last salary. It's pretty tough on the ego when an employer deems you worth LESS than you're used to being paid.

[BridgeTheGap]

3. I'm in my 50s, b.a. degree and been working at the same job as a temp for almost 5 years now.

I'm also putting in 25+hours a week an Census enumerator. Man, am I tired!

[Donnachaidh]

4. I hear ya.

DH is still waiting for the real paperwork to go through so he makes the jump from temp to permanent. We desperately need the health insurance.

And if I hear one more *he/she/it is too old* I'm going to get a gun and find a water tower soon.

[Kat45]

5. That is such a depressing article, esp since it talks about the work I do

I've been doing admin work for a number of years, mainly because it was there. I have an MS that is fairly useless in the job market and I wasn't thrilled to be doing admin work but that's just the way it worked out. And now that work is disappearing. I'm a highly intelligent and educated person, but aside from admin, I really don't have any marketable skills. And I'm in my fifties. This article scared the shit out of me in regards to ever finding work again.