Down, Not Out: Surreal Unemployment At 55

For Steve Dittmann, 55, unemployment has been surreal:

"It's like there's two worlds out there: People who are still working, who are still living the same lives they always had, and I feel like I'm on the other side of a Plexiglass wall looking in," said Dittmann, who lives in Kansas. "I know I'm not unique. It's like you can't get back into that world. It's very strange."

Dittmann wrote the Huffington Post to say he'd lost his job when the business he and his wife owned, which sold "high-end plantation shutters," shut down last fall. For 30 years, Dittmann said, he'd lived an upper middle class lifestyle. He worked in advertising before buying the business in 2007, right before "the economy went to Hell" and the business "dropped off the face of the earth."

Now, Dittmann said, he and his wife, Stephanie, are coasting on dwindling savings and Stephanie's earnings from a part-time accounting job. They said they hadn't made a mortgage payment since February. If they lose the house to foreclosure, they might move in with Stephanie's parents, who they said have offered to take them in.

It's been impossible to land a job. "I probably responded to 200 or 300 ads and I've had one call back."

Then Dittmann said something that the HuffPost has heard from a lot of people:

"I think part of it is my age," he said. "I can't prove that but I think that's probably true. I was a business owner before. If you can hire someone in their 40s versus someone in their 50s, the person in their 40s is going to stay with you longer, and the person in their 50s is going to be more expensive because of health insurance. Everybody I've talked to that's in their 50s, looking for a job, they're getting nowhere."

It's true: Workers 45 and older comprise a disproportionate share of the long-term unemployed. But Dittmann is not feeling sorry for himself.

"In the past few months I've learned to appreciate how lucky I've been up to this point in my life, having lived an upper middle class professional lifestyle for the past 30 years," he wrote in an email. "I'm sorry to say I took it all for granted. I didn't over-extend myself, no mini-mansions, no expensive vacations, none of that... but we've always lived comfortably, without financial concerns. And even today, I'm still better off than probably 85 percent of the people on this planet, so everything is truly relative.

"Still, I can't believe I'm where I'm at today... I'm truly numb. I'm not even mad about my situation, because I'm not sure who or what to be mad at. Keeping my sanity is a priority, and I'm just thankful that we have no children to worry about."

HuffPost readers: Are you doubling up with friends or family to save money? Tell us about it -- email [e-mail].

Comments

[itssafetosay]

My 51 year old husband with an advanced degree has been looking for a job for months - anything. A recent posting on Craigs List for a delivery truck job paying $10 an hour read:

"No applicants over 50".

The verbiage was pulled after about 10 minutes, but at least this company put it out there in black and white instead lying about it like everyone else.

[TooLooze]

Try it when you are 60; it is even worse. It is beyond appalling that companies continue to recruit when they obviously have no intention to hire or have a lack of resources or lack of courtesy to deal with internet recruiting. As a "boomer", I now understand why the younger generations have a lack of loyalty or respect for their employers. This lack of loyalty translates into poor customer service.

Personally, I do not patronize the hundred or so businesses that I have taken the time to send a cover letter, resume, and /or complete a lengthy employment application. There should be a database that lists organizations who practice this inferior business paradigm. In this economy, it can make a difference if people refuse to purchase products or services based on poor business practices. Applicants are, after all, prospective customers as well.

[Artemis34]

Check out AARP

BEST EMPLOYERS FOR WORKERS OVER 50

http://www.aarp.org/money/work/best_employers/

[SonofLiberty1]

Give me a break!

Adecco? Full of any "expletive deleted" you want to name.
Look carefully at the list...

HEALTH INSURERS..­..

COLLEGES..­.

Great but maybe you need to be ablet to teach?

Shoot...we want REAL EMPLOYERS.­..not more of the same...

[TooLooze]

My personal experience with AARP has been dismal.

[AmandaRuth]

maybe we could have a rating system that lets people know who outsources, who uses cheap labor in China or where ever, who routinely fires the over 50's, who routinely pays outrageous executive compensation. I know realistically, we can't boycott everyone and everything, but we can boycott the worse offenders. Besides, people might like to know what their dollars are supporting.

[TooLooze]

Remember when Wal-Mart used to brag about American products? I'm guess that was when Sam Walton was still alive

[SonofLiberty1]

Please add these two corps to your list:

PANASONIC

ITC GROUP INC

They outsource!

[Kalie]

You know you are in trouble when the job ad reads: Bilingual preferred, Youthful appearance, High Energy. Or how about this. They now make you take a personality pre-test that is deciphered by a thirty year old before they interview you. Doesnt that violate our rights in some way? There is something wrong in the US when you are afraid to write down that you are a "white female". You mean if Im not Spanish/Indian I cant get a job? The quota thing has got to go.

[KillTheMessenger]

May I suggest you try the life of an average Hispanic person for a couple of weeks before you complain? Of course, if you are white, female and without higher education, something went seriously wrong. You had the highest race privileges in this country and ... didn't use them.

All the Indian women I know have a PhD in life sciences or a degree in EE/CS. I am pretty sure they are not competing with you and you are not competing with them for jobs.

[petridish]

Wow. Do you really think that a white male is that immune. I hate to break the news to you but not all white males grow up with a silver spoon in their mouth.

I grew up with 4 siblings, my parents were poor. Christmas was our new clothes for the year. I was not able to attend college due to the cost.

Your post embodies the worst traits of generalizations and racism.

[Artemis34]

You are still at an advantage being white. Check the numbers.

[YoMama]

Sincere advice to Mr. Dittman and others in his shoes: Your job prospects may be aided (however unfairly) if you shave your beard and get some arty glasses. Youth is ever favored in our culture. Best of luck.

[POLINUT]

Conformity sucks. Unfortunately that is the culture people like (perhaps) yourself perpetuate to all of our detriment.

[atexasdem]

Your right conformity does suck. Oh well. It's always been that way and always will be. When I was young (60's and 70's) I had hair to my butt, had one earring. Wore my "hippie clothes" and rode a small motorcycle. Of coarse I couldn't get a real job but what the heck.
After a while in frustration I got a haircut, left my earring out during interviews and work hours, bought a pair of new jeans and a nice shirt and guess what. I got a good job and even got promoted after a while. Down inside I was still the same person. I was just in "stealth" mode.
There's still a lot of that "old hippie" running around inside me. There's also a lot of "real world" outside of me too. If you want to be a non conformist that's fine. Your going to pay a price though. That's the decision only you can make. If your going to be a "nonconformist" that's fine. But in this society, you will pay a heavy price. So maybe you might consider becoming a "stealth" nonconformist.

[YoMama]

I am most decidedly not one of the perpetuators. Just a benevolent observer. But I hear you.

[bltmn]

It's like there's two worlds out there.

That's certainly true. I'm reading quite a few terribly insensitive comments here, and plenty of 'not my problem' attitudes. There but for the grace of God, people.

If this economy doesn't turn around soon, many of you will find yourselves in the same predicament.

Go look up the famous quote by Martin Niemöller. The sentiment is not all that different.

If you're doing well, good for you - now go help somebody out.

[KillTheMessenger]

But it is my problem. And I want to help out. Sadly, Congress, or, better, the GOP, sit between my tax dollars and effective help for the unemployed. No matter how much I want to help this man and others, the government in this country is so afraid of its value wielding "conservative" citizens that it won't do what government is supposed to do: help the weak.

[Jond0]

Whaaa? Did someone take over your screen name?

[itssafetosay]

Thank you. You've said this in a much nicer way than I have. If anyone thinks they are somehow immune to unfortunate happenings or that these things couldn't possibly happen to them. Think again.

[politicalprincess]

bltmn...We­ll said

[Artemis34]

bltmn, "If you're doing well, good for you - now go help somebody out."

There are many was to do this.

Go to "JobAngels USA" on http://www.Facebook.com/ for example and volunteer to help.

[marijam]

I'm from Wichita. My husband and I were forced to move in order to find work ten years ago. It all began with companies leaving Kansas for Texas, because of the taxes in Kansas we were told at the time. Then the aerospace companies began outsourcing and got into globalization. The workers at Boeing tried to fight back, the white collar workers voted in a union. Boeing sold the plant a year later.

We have a house in Mulvane that we bought new in 1998 and were only able to live in it for 1 year before we had to leave to find work. I have three degrees, two of them master's degrees and my husband has a machinists degree and an airframe and power plant license. We are in our 50s. We'd love to come back, we still have family in Wichita, but we know there just aren't any jobs there, especially for people our age.

You know what's really ironic? The aerospace companies in Wichita keep saying how they don't have enough of an educated pool to pull workers from, and they were wanting tax payers to foot the bill for a new training facility. That hasn't been that long ago, either. It's a bald faced lie that there aren't enough workers in Wichita, or amongst people who would like to return to Wichita, like myself and my husband.

[cutesky]

I truly feel for you. Age is definitely a problem, but on the other hand, my son (37) , a college graduate, was in the digital commercial music business and has been out of a regular job for over 2 years. He is now teaching Broadcasting part time in a community college and doing a small bit of consulting work in his field and drives 2 1/2 hours each way to get to these part- time jobs. He has a wife who is a teacher and at risk of losing her job and 2 young children. It stinks all over.....M­y husband and I are giving them money each month, to help them survive and pay their mortgage but our investments have gone to hell and we are wrecks. Things are bad and it doesn't look like they will be getting better anytime soon. Keep the faith, baby.

[Artemis34]

The government is hiring and less likely to discriminate based on age.

Steve's wife, Stephanie, has experience in accounting and the IRS is hiring accounting people.

May not be glamorous being a public servant, but it'll pay the bills.

Government Jobs You Should Apply For Now:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/08/new-government-jobs-leadership-careers-washington.html

Microsoft is also offering technology training via Elevate America:
http://www.microsoft.com/About/CorporateCitizenship/US/CommunityInvestment/ElevateAmerica.aspx

[KillTheMessenger]

The Microsoft web page serves two purposes. The first one is to force you to install "Silverlight", their Adobe busting multimedia framework. The second purpose is to boost their eroding market share for Windows and Office.

Sorry, but what you got there is a ploy by the M$ advertising department to lock more people into their products. That's so blatantly obvious fishing for new customers (not employees) that I don't even know how to describe it.

If you want valuable IT skills that will get you through the next two decades of computing, you need to learn Linux and understand the dynamics of Open Source. That's where the future is for paid employees.

[Artemis34]

Obviously Microsoft acts in their own self interest.

This is more for people who need basic computer skills and if your state is participating you may get the training for free.

Agreed. For IT people, LINUX and Open Source would be worth learning about.

[Jond0]

Yeah, but I just read a story by a guy that did go back to school to learn open source IT after being a Mac IT specialist at a print shop. He can't get a job because of no Windows experience.

I agree with you, I'm just pointing out that it is tough all over...

[RJII]

his intial paragraph about it being two world, rings so true to my life now. I'm alittle younger, but the two past years have been a nightmare for me too, while all my upper middle class friends are doing the well. This recession is mind boggling.

[AtheistUS]

"...worked in advertising before buying the business in 2007..." - Advertisement, then business owner.

I'm sorry for the guy. But I do hope economy adjusts and kids will less want to go to advertisement, financial etc. and more to science, engineering and doing something interesting and productive.

Big country cannot continue living on financial operations, management, advertisements and entertainment.

[KillTheMessenger]

It takes ten years to become an engineer (five years to study engineering and five to be actually employable) and fifteen to become a scientists. Even if all the kids today went for the technical jobs, it would be too late for a generation of 50-55 year old employees because they are being pushed out by those already in the pipeline.

But you are absolutely spot on about our business culture being focused on the wrong fields.

[AtheistUS]

I agree that it is too late for post-mid-age biz managers and such...

Well, they had for a while more money for less work. It's a question of priorities. A bit off topic, I sure do not feel sorry for financial industry guys.

Timing to become engineer or scientist is very arguable. An engineer from a good university can be completely employable right away after B.S. (four years of university). A good scientist probably needs M.S. or Ph.D., depends on specialization, altogether this still does not make 15 years. In 'difficult' science areas with heavy load of mathematics one needs anyway to show up fast, the golden productive age is between 20 and 30... may be up to 40.

[polybius]

I love all these ppl with simple explanations. Its always easy to rise up by stepping down on someone else. You better believe that if they went through what Steve Dittmann went through, they would be moaning and groaning their woes to the world.

You rock, Steve! Your attitude in the face of this economic disaster gives me a real boost and makes me re-think my own lousy situation. There is a lot to be thankful for, and there is reason to hope.

Great article

[KillTheMessenger]

In science the most simple explanation is usually the correct one. You can generalize that pretty much to all of reality.

What Steve Dittmann is going through is very typical. It's even more important to make it clear to everyone who aspires to be like him that he was not doing himself a favor with his kind of decision making. Advertising? Plantation shutters? What are we thinking?

[itssafetosay]

??? Advertising afforded him a very good living for years as it has for many other people, how was that a bad decision? I don't know enough about the the shutter business he got into to comment, but owning your own business and leaving the workforce at his age is a very common thing to do and a way to get out before you're kicked out and still be making an income. Certainly the housing market crash didn't help this type of business at all.

Starting a small business is always a risk, but when the worst economy in 70 years hits coupled with a shut down of capital available to ride the storm, there may not be anything you can do to keep things afloat.

I'm amazed by the self-righteous comments made here by people who seem to have never lived outside of some perfect bubble. I'd rather try things and possibly make a mistake or two along the way than play life completely safe in case something happened. Word to all of you perfect people - if you think you are somehow above this and "secure", you are delusional.

poly - agreed - let's all remember that there is always reason to hope. To hope.

[abettercountry]

unfortunately, his age is and will be problematic

[politicalprincess]

abettercou­ntry...can you be any more incensitiv­e...duh! Thank God Steve Dittman doesn't have your negative atitude.

[Snowflower]

I know people who are 25 and 35 who have been unemployed for more than a year. It's the economy.

Plus . . . the indicators were out since late 2006 that the economy was slowing down. By 2007, when he bought the business it was probably b/c the prior owner saw the downturn coming - especially as it related to the housing market. So, a new employer is going to ask: Why didn't you?

Advertising is aboug recognizing the pulse and creating the trend just as the need arises, or in some cases creating the need. Not being able to recognize the pulse and not being able to shift and adjust as things went from bad to worse may be a red flag.

Why aren't you going out on your own? There are plenty of small companies who need someone who understand advertising! Again . . . do what you know and create your market.

Good luck!

[Grannysue]

I got you beat pal, I'm sixty and my job and everyone else in my office where I'm business manager ends come July 31st! I've sent out countless resumes, and had two interviews. The first interviewer was around 28 years old, younger than my youngest child. He told me he thought maybe I wouldn't be happy in the job because I had too much experience, that they couldn't pay me what I was use to ( I didn't put down a salary) the second person was around the same age, I had listed banking experience as well as my over thirty years in healthcare because the position was more banking finance then healthcare related. She asked me when I worked for a bank because I didn't put the year down when I said 1969 I thought she was going to pass out! This job market is brutel, but it's even worse for seniors. So, I've taken half of what's left of my retirement, which isn't much, and decided to start my own business, it may not work and I may drown but I'll go down fighting. Since I'm a widow I'm the only breadwinner, I may have to ask my dog to go to work if this doesn't work out!

[KillTheMessenger]

You mentioned banking experience going back to 1969??? Of course you gave the girl the giggles. She was thinking computers and spreadsheets and you were talking about hand cut checks and probably teletype.

A tip: not much matters on your resume than what you did over the past five to ten years. Having been a technician at NASA during the Apollo era has a nice ring to it but counts for absolutely nothing if your last job was clerical.

Good luck with your business. I hope it works out.

[Artemis34]

Actually, you are ahead of Steve.

If you are 60, you have already past the point of 401(k) withdrawals with penalties point (59 1/2 year old). So you can retire early and draw on your 401(k) immediately.

And you only have to draw on your 401(k) alone for what, 1 1/2 years until you can draw social security at 62?

By they time you burn thru severance and unemployment, you'll probably be able to draw on both social security and your 401(k).

And, remember, recession is capitalism's way of telling us to plant a garden! Focus on cutting expenses.

[SonofLiberty1]

I like the idea of cutting expenses..­.let's find some Congress people and show them how we cut our expenses..­.by throwing them out the door!

[lechatnoir]

Another clueless boomer.

[KillTheMessenger]

That's not nice. But probably true.

[jsundreamer]

And you are???

Let me tell you something, all of you self-righteous, holier than thou posters here who are under 40 and believe that you _are different_ and 'special.' Unless you're as smart, gifted and ambitious as say a Bill Gates, President Obama, Madonna, or Steven Spielberg, or as gorgeous as a young Zac Effron, Meagan Fox, Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, or as talented as a Christina Aguilera, J.J. Abrams, Sandra Bullock or Oprah, etc..., or just plain damn lucky like Rachel Ray then this could easily be your future, too. In fact if you are over 30 and you haven't arrived yet, or won't be arriving very, very soon, then this could also be your future. So give this guy a break. He wanted to try something new and he did. Sounds to me like he's still trying, by the way. That certainly deserves something more than all of this derisive commentary from the Peanut Gallery.

Let's see where you all end up in ten, twenty or thirty years. Hopefully, you won't be one of my elected officials. Hopefully you won't be anyone I work for or with. Hopefully you won't be somebody I'm buying _anything from_, for any reason. Ever.

[Artemis34]

Too bad people have to learn that age discrimination is real at a time when they are forced to leave the workforce and are thus powerless to change it.

Think about your karma and try to find some compassion.

[SeriousBlack]

Another clueless poster who seems to have nothing better to do than to insult someone who is positive and earnestly trying to deal with a downturn and crisis in his life.

How much of a lack of compassion does someone have to have to do that?

Of course, karma will most likely revisit this individual when in a few decades everything will be even worse and upon learning that HE is homeless and starving, some rich young kid at THAT time calls HIM "another clueless _______" (fill in the blank with whatever they're calling 50-somethings at that point).

[Artemis34]

Karma, something we can believe in!