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

[1sparrow]

i'm 54. my unemployment insurance runs out at the end of july. no kids. never believed they would have any doors open for them as i never did. self educated. paid for college myself. i am better off than 85% of anyone. i have used this over a year to catch up on documentaries about 911, bilderbergs, the banks, etc. i love huffpo. bill moyers is also one of the only credible outlets for info. all my life my luck has been surreal. but i also see some of what is happening as a perfect storm for evil.

[zofo16]

It's sad to say but, at 47 I consider my life effectively over. I have no health insurance, I haven't worked in 4 months, it feels like no one returns my phone calls. The industry that I devoted close to twenty years to seems to be in a meltdown. Everyday increases my sense of isolation and worthlessness. I truly feel at this point that I am just sitting around waiting for Godot.

God Bless America.

[andyg]

Real change.

[itssafetosay]

I'm your age. I know how you feel but please try not to get so discouraged. My husband and I went from making six figures each to barely scraping by in our own business, which, like the Steve in the article, we opened optimistically in 2007. We are still in business but I have canceled our health insurance this month ($5000 deductible wasn't doing anything anyway), and have fallen many months behind in payments for other expenses. We both are actively looking for work, but so far nothing, not even department stores.

I say all this only to point out that I can sympathize. I know how bad it feels, but you must try to get out and be around other people, if only to go to a coffee shop. Isolation (and frankly reading all of the sad stories), just makes it worse. You are not any less because of what you are going through. Remember that. It won't stay this way. I know the realities of food, clothing, shelter, but don't buy into the feeling that because you are not employed and not insured (right now) you are not "okay". Many of us are, unfortunately, caught in this huge shift going on in our country (that may take awhile), but it will make for a better country. It has too.

Or, if not, we can all immigrate to Sweden :-) Remember, you are worthy!!!

[KillTheMessenger]

What's your industry? Wait... don't tell me... is it car manufacturing? Ah... there is your problem.

[Jond0]

Yep, it's the 40-60 years olds fault that they were raised in a country where one chose a career and could plan on doing that for the rest of their lives. Silly them.

(I do blame the ones who fell for Reaganomics though, and actually helped perpetuate it and thought it would turn out well) ((and also the ones who didn't pay attention to politics because it was boring and someone else's problem))

[Chicago48]

Suggestion: Get career counseling. Join a job club. Go back to your college and attend free resume writing classes; join the alumni association. Find your alumni online and send out a SOS. Go to your local library and see if they have job hunt classes.

There's a lot to do, you have to be motivated and do it.

[SonofLiberty1]

Have a heart...people are not really hiring...they are laying off.

[politicalprincess]

Zofo16: Some Inspirational Quotes:

"Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger." by Lou Holtz

"Worry is as useless as a handle on a snowball." by Mitzi Chandler

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." by F. Scott Fitzgerald

"There is no one luckier, than he who thinks himself so" German Proverb

Just a few quotes... Good Luck...Things will get better

Also...try checking out tech jobs in the medical field...education requirements range from certificates to BS degrees. The healthcare field needs good, qualified people. Check out the NYTimes online (free) from last Sunday. There was a good artical about healthcare tech jobs. Sorry I just can't remember the name of the artical.

[SonofLiberty1]

Know what they want...health field experience period...they are unwilling to train period.

[myturnnow]

I believe the core problem started with corrupt officials we elected. They promised a lot and delivered little, except to the lobbyists. We trusted them to work for us, but they worked for their own interests. That is why we are here today. If we had held them accountable for their "indiscretions" and prosecuted them for lying to us, bribery, and personal monetary enhancement, we could still have the kind of lifestyle we still remembered. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins.

[lyta]

I have to agree to voting, many were asleep at the wheel. Trouble is many in our generation did begin trusting government again and that was a BIG mistake. Pretty much like CA deregulating the energy companies and Enron. It took these last 8 years to wake us all up and a lot are now forced to look around and are often frozen in disbelief at first. Often we don't or won't or can't move, some to stay near grandchildren, the only light in their lives at the moment. I fear for those very grandchildren's futures now.

[mikesworld]

Man can I relate... 55, layed off for 7 months now. I've had 4 jobs in the last 6 years, prior to that I had worked at the same place for 12 years. And of course living in the Detroit area is no help whatsoever...I dont look my age but lately...I really feel it. I'm going to let the house go, sell a few things, take some money out of 401k, and buy a cheap house cash. Hunker down

[Chicago48]

You should move to another state.

[murphy80]

you were sold down the river by a gubmint that exported all the manufacturing jobs, cut taxes on all business and gave further tax breaks to those companies that moved overseas.

then the banksters took over your retirement plan and 401K and engineered a real estate disaster.

then the gubmint gave your tax money to the banksters.

brother, can you spare a dime?

[KillTheMessenger]

All the manufacturing jobs? Looks like I missed the boat. I am still here.

:-)

[tubette]

As someone who got laid off during a buy out a month before I qualified for early retirement, I can tell you it is a real problem. It's very scary between 55 and 65. Especially on the health insurance front.

[politicalprincess]

Tubette...I agree. My husband built submarines all his career and is laid off now at 51. Not as many contracts. What makes matters worse is that I am an insulin-dependant diabetic with no insurance now. I haven't worked in a couple of years. Its very scary.

[skymuffin]

Well, this is another argument in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act and REAL health care reform.

I do agree with one of the posters here that maybe it's time to think about presentation for job interviews (which, luckily, you haven't had to worry about for quite some time). An updated look would help because you need to impress people visually and then they will be more receptive to your personal qualities.

And it is a concern among those hiring that someone who has owned his own business for many years may find it hard to fit into a new way of doing things. I've worked with some people who've been furloughed/laid off from other companies who always seem to be resistant to a new way of doing things, and say, well, at my other company, this is how we did things. So, even though YOU may be open to new ideas and methods, this is something that the recruiter is thinking when they are talking to you.

[Eykis]

Skymuffin, you sound young. I look about 15 years younger than I am and am always dressed and up to date as are my skills. You sound like all the YOUNG HR folks. Who is going to support us if we cannot get jobs from 50-65? and have lost everything due to the Wall Street and bank thieves? We worked for 30 years only to lose everything? I live in the same house and have the same car as I did 10 years ago when this mess started. I have never lived high on the hob and now I cannot afford to pay my bills. Very unfair.

[skymuffin]

Well, thanks, but, I'm only a few years younger than you. I'm just telling you what I know from experience. But, your attitude does seem, in fact, to reflect a rather rigid, self-pitying view. I've been there. I've been unemployed.

I was just trying to tell you what the HR folks ARE thinking, and all you got was defensive.

I wish you all the best.

[lyta]

You know back in the day I used to have to train those older workers and yes, they did say such things. It's emotional to have to start over and some people don't handle it well verbally even when they do land a job. I had compassion for them then, and did my level best to help them acclimate and thrive. I don't every say those things now that I'm on the opposite side, I do dress well and look years younger than I am, however HR has ways to find it out and they do, credit checks are one way.

[MyrtleJune]

I'm in IT and I'm being forced out of my job currently. It is just wild what is happening to me. I've also been looking and nothing, zip, nada. I'm 54, have lots of experience, am well positioned for web20 development work, but no. I too think it is because of my age. A further problem is that where I live there are no jobs but I have a mortgage here and I cannot move unless I go into foreclosure. I'm pinned down so am looking for telework jobs. This is just as Mr. Dittman describes it.

So my question to me is why would they be forcing me out? And the answer is because of my age. They want a younger person in there to lump some new tech training on because to send an older person would be a "waste" of investment. The thing is as soon as they train the younger people, they leave for greener pastures. This happens over and over. I just can't make sense of it.

I've can meet my mortgage for July and then that's it. Savings gone. Hello foreclosure and eventual street living. And for what? Why? I don't know but this is just not right.

[timetorevolt]

My IT job went to Brazil last October. And because of age I'm expereincing similar problems.

American corporations outsourcing high paying jobs while they get tax breaks is major contibuting factor.

[Artemis34]

1) Many business "managers" particularly in technical fields are not managers at all and do things that make have no business logic. So relax, you are not crazy. They are. They do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome.

2) Can you rent your house, even for a bit less than the mortgage and get a job elsewhere? Check property management firms in your area. They may be able to manage the rental while you are out of town. Then you can pay the difference, if any, between the rental income and what you owe on the mortgage. And get an inexpensive place to live in the new city, maybe even the Y.

Hang in there. And work for social change in the US!

[tlgeiger62]

I would like to add to this ...those of you out there who might be avoiding talking to friends, even family, facing hard times because you don't know what to say to them and worry about asking the dreaded "How's it going?" ... try to remember that we already feel isolated and alone. Your silence isn't helping.

We know the world is going on even if we're not keeping up as we once did. But we're still here and it would be nice to hear from somebody on "the other side of the plexi-glass".

[Artemis34]

Agreed. Tell everyone you are looking.

And if you are in trouble, tell at least your loved ones. Don't go it alone.

[forty8r]

The bottom line is this business will hire the cheapest and youngest it can. People who are in their 40's and 50's who bought iton the American dream and beleived homes were a sound investment are in effect screwed.

[Shammie2000]

There are some very sad stories being posted, however we need more confession about supporting
ReThug's trickle down (the boss makes 10 million-you make 65k) and now maybe you have seen
the light, far to many have voted/supported policies that have now destroyed their lives.

[Indra]

I agree. People need to examine their voting habits and fess up. I feel sorry for those who did not vote for Bush and do not feel sorry for those who did vote for Bush. It would be a pleasure for me to see former Bush voters with shopping carts roaming the streets.

[Jond0]

It started well before Bush, he just pushed us onto the steep slope toward the cliff. It all started with Reagan, and everyone who believed his lies since he was in office is at fault. Clinton, too. He signed NAFTA and in all actuality, was the best republican president we've ever had. It's just after his dot com revolution and Y2K, companies realized all the new tech jobs could be done anywhere while raising 'productivity' here, along with executive salaries. No one spoke up or even cared to, and now here we are...

[sadie11]

I feel so bad for all the folks my age who are spending through their retirement savings. My heart goes out to them.

Words of caution to the younger generation- buy a small affordable house, pay it off ASAP, Don't "move up"- pay off everything before retiring or even thinking of it. Obviously only a fool would expect investment returns to pay very of your many bills.

This is why the stock market is going nowhere for a lonnnng time folks, I am totally out of the market and choosing to get the last of my mortgage paid off instead of saving. If you have few bills, living in retirement will be a whole lot easier. Buying CD's now instead of stocks. 2% is better than -30%.

The Wall St thugs killed the golden goose with greed. The rating agencies are corrupt, company accounting is a fraud and suspect, the US Treasury is bankrupt, big banks control the economy but have no accountability.... the list goes on and on.

Save yourselves... get out of the financial mess and live simply by requiring just a little cash per month. Just my humble opinion.

[mayrose]

NO, it isn't his age as much as the fact that his job skills aren't as relevant. He ran his own business rather than working in corporate business. It is a lot more difficult to transfer those skills. Employers want to know what have you done recently, and where.

[KarateKid]

You're not very old, are you? But one thing to remember, youngie, you'll be there before you know it. THEN tell us there's no age discrimination.

[timetorevolt]

True...When young co-workers teased me about being old, I always responded they could always prevent making my mistake by dying young.

[dl63]

I think there's a euphemism for it -- over qualified. Age discrimination is a real problem. It's not orchestrated or even policy. It's individuals exercising their biases. Often times, they don't even realize it.

It's difficult getting on the corporate track once you pass 40. After 25 years of corporate life, I've only worked at firms where a majority of the workers are in their 20's and early 30's. Colleagues, who i've worked with and have disperssed to other firms, share the same observation when we meet up occasionally. When it's our turn, we wonder what it is that we'll be doing to earn a living.

This wasn't a problem when most of the population worked for the same company from craddle to grave, but today when the average employee changes jobs 7 or more times over a lifetime, the likelihood that you'll be looking for work at 40+ is much higher. Consequently, more people are affected by this today.

[tlgeiger62]

Sir let me just thank you for putting on paper what I've been trying to articulate to myself and the few people who bother with me anymore. "The other side of the plexiglass" ...great phrasing. My husband (40) has been unemployed for going on 9 months. He can't find a job. I am 46 and am an experience legal/executive assistant. I'm am cleaning houses now. The criteria out there, besides age as you say, is more education is wanted, and I've heard that many employers are now CHECKING CREDIT SCORES like never before. Heard that on Clark Howard for those wanting info.

I know my family and I are not alone. But thank you for this because it helps ME know I'm not in this bubble all alone.

[Eykis]

This is the first time in 30 years the law firms have been affected like they are now -- but they can pay 2 people who are 25 and no experience for one of me - they would rather have the younger ones. BTW, I do not look my age either.

[JohnFromCensornati]

"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."

That sounds an awful lot like Steve wouldn't have hired Steve.