More than 750 job seekers recently shared their frustrations about struggling to find work. They said long-term unemployment has strained household finances and forced sacrifices. Many respondents said that getting a white-collar job or a low-wage job is equally difficult.
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More than 750 Americans between the ages of 18 and 76 who have struggled to find work recently shared their experiences with Business Insider. These insights illustrate some of the universal frustrations of job hunting, despite differences in location, age, and experience level.
Through email and online forms, readers shared stories of fierce competition for white-collar jobs and low-wage jobs. Many older respondents said they would not be able to secure a decent-paying job after being laid off, and some Gen Z and younger Millennials said they would not be able to secure a decent-paying job after being laid off, and some Gen Z and younger Millennials are worried about their He said he could not find a job in the field.
From being a single parent having to skip bills and enrolling in SNAP to put food on the table, to depleting your retirement savings, being forced to downsize your home, or moving into a relative’s home. Almost all respondents, even single parents, were worried about their financial situation.
Job openings in September fell to the lowest level in more than three years. Although the unemployment rate is low, the number of long-term unemployed people, or people who have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks and are looking for work, has increased this year.
Corey Kantenga, LinkedIn’s head of economics for the Americas, told BI that jobs are becoming more difficult to find as the job market slows. A few years ago, he said, companies “didn’t care about the details of whether you were over-qualified or under-qualified for the job.”
Scott Fitt, 60, is based in Pennsylvania and had been looking for an IT job since being laid off in April.
To save money, his family ate out less often and quit some streaming services. He said if he didn’t find a job soon, he would have to forfeit the savings that would have gone toward paying for his daughters’ college tuition.
We look forward to hearing from you. Are you having trouble finding a job? Are you struggling in the past and are now working? Fill out this quick form.
BI reviewed over 600 reader responses to our survey and over 150 emails and identified four main complaints.
Older Americans have a hard time finding work
Fritz Boyle, 55, had been looking for a role as a user experience strategist in AI and software development since he was laid off last year. Although he passed several interviews and made it to the final selection twice, he has not received an offer yet.
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“I think I’m suffering from age discrimination, and much younger, cheaper candidates are getting the positions I’ve been applying for,” said Boyle, who lives in Portland, Oregon.
Approximately half of all respondents were over 50 years old. More than a dozen respondents also said their retirement plans were delayed because they couldn’t find a job that paid the same as their previous position, so they settled for a lower-paying job.
For many who have not yet found work, their economy has taken a hit. More than 30 respondents said they quit their 401(k) or IRA to make ends meet. Dozens of baby boomer and Gen X respondents who were recently laid off said they took out debt for the first time or moved to a cheaper area. Several people said they had declared bankruptcy or were considering declaring bankruptcy.
While it’s true that many older job seekers say age is a challenge, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unemployment rates for 55- to 64-year-olds are consistently lower than the national unemployment rate. shown. One explanation for this is that older workers are stopping or quitting their job search. — Economist Aaron Terrazas said the pool of unemployed people, as defined by the BLS, is about taking the time to network and find the right opportunities.
Increasing competition and AI fuel dissatisfaction
Dozens of respondents across all generations said they were frustrated by the number of people applying for their desired jobs on platforms such as LinkedIn, which indicates whether a job is popular among applicants. .
LinkedIn analyzed August data from eight countries, including the United States, and found that competition for roles is more intense than two years ago in eight industries, including professional services, financial services, and lodging and food services. got it.
More than 30 respondents, mostly in their 30s and 40s, were confused about how to stand out in a crowded field, especially since many companies are using AI to review candidate applications. He said he is doing so. Some paid to have their resumes and cover letters hand-picked and optimized, while others described the search process as a “full-time job.”
A small number of respondents believe that ghost or fake job postings are the reason they are having trouble finding a job. Chris Jorgensen, 37, lives in Utah and has been looking for writing, editing and copywriting work for the past year. He has encountered employment scams in which someone attempts to obtain his personal information, and has applied for a job and immediately received a rejection letter that appeared to be sent by a company’s AI. , he said. Or the ad turns out to be a ghost job, otherwise his application will be ignored.
“Most of the jobs I apply for, I never get any response,” he says.
Every generation feels excluded from white-collar jobs.
More than 100 people responded from a wide range of generations said it was becoming increasingly difficult to secure employment in the white-collar labor market.. More than a dozen recent college graduates said they were unable to land a technology job despite having a relevant internship or bachelor’s degree from a top school. Meanwhile, some executives with 30 years of experience said their qualifications may have prevented them from interviewing for lower-paying, white-collar jobs.
Employment in professional and business services, including industries such as law and advertising, has cooled in recent months, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The information sector, which includes many technical jobs, has also seen slower employment changes this year.
To regain an edge in the competitive market, dozens of respondents, mostly in their 30s and 40s, went back to school to earn advanced degrees. Some people said they valued these degrees, but others warned that getting an MBA or master’s degree from a top university won’t yield significant results.
Stephanie Allen, 53, is looking for a job as a writer or customer service worker starting in March 2023. She said her educational background can sometimes hinder her ability to find a job.
“I think getting a master’s degree in English will put off future employers because they won’t believe I’ll stay in the job and will look for a more challenging and well-paying job. ,” the Maryland resident said.
Younger respondents also said they were struggling to secure a role in a company after graduating. More than a dozen respondents in their 20s said that even with degrees from top universities in computer science or business management, they were unable to break into those industries and are instead exploring more entrepreneurial paths. said.
It will be harder to get a low-wage job
More than 200 respondents, mostly in their 40s and 50s, said they would not accept a position that paid significantly less than their previous role. At least 20 people said they have noticed fewer job openings for management positions or believe that salaries for certain positions are not commensurate with the qualifications needed.
Several respondents in their 40s and 50s said they had accepted pay cuts of $50,000 or more just to make ends meet after entering executive or managerial positions. Others said it was difficult to get a job in retail after years in the corporate world because recruiters perceived them to be overqualified.
Sean Tetpon, 55, worked as a communications manager at large companies including IBM, where he often earned six-figure salaries. He has been unemployed for the past year after a series of layoffs. Despite submitting more than 1,000 applications, he has not been able to secure anything for less than his past salary. Tetpon, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho, said landing a white-collar position is “like winning the lottery.”
“I’m scared because I’ve been preparing for retirement for a long time, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to retire because my savings are almost gone because of the layoff,” Tetphon said.
We look forward to hearing from you. Are you having trouble finding a job? Are you struggling in the past and are now working? Fill out this quick form.
