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

[PrairieDog]

I'm 62 and have been in the job market for over 10 years since we moved back to Illinois. All I've gotten are part time jobs, 2 (or 3) of them Last year I was laid off from one and another went belly up. I still had one left, 2 days a week of grueling work for not much money plus reduced unempl bennies. I have a computer sci MS but I was pursuing other interests for 6 years in the 1990s during which the computer world changed a couple times over. You just keep plugging on and hope something catches but it's not worth investing too much emotional capital. I've started taking community college classes to get myself current with something I can market.

[Artemis34]

At 62, you can start drawing social security. Go to the social security office and at least find out about it.

[Lex10]

High end plantation shutters?!?!?!? What's next to go: buggy whip re-braiding?!?!?!

[plumnelly]

Not even funny.

[Lex10]

Oh, yes it is.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Actually these were hot items on high end homes.

[Lorianne]

Actually, that was a very lucrative business during the boom-boom years of homebuilding and bubble equity remodeling of homes. Anything in construction, design, and home improvement was good money during those years.

Those years are gone.

Still, if you are a good salesperson, you can sell anything. You just have to know what is selling well at the moment.

[neworleansralphadamo]

Interesting problem. When Katrina hit I lost jobs with the New Orleans Public Schools and Tulane University. It has taken me several years to get re-employed at a similar level. The experience of age-discrimination is real, I'm sure, for almost all the posters here. It is a particular issue in higher education, where lots of people our ages are retiring and being replaced by persons in their twenties or early thirties, both for economic reasons and to refresh the teaching corps. But I am posting mainly to recommend Donald Westlake's cheerful little serial murder book about a man in the position we are describing here. It's called The Ax, and you will enjoy reading it.

[nomorefed]

As the growth of the financial bubble coincided with the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, maybe it would be wise act to reinstate it as it kept the Banks under control for 66 years.

he's: http://investmintideas.blogspot.com/ absolutely right

Glass-Steagall Act
A 1933 act that prohibited commercial banks from undertaking investment banking activities such as underwriting the securities of private corporations. The legislation was passed to keep banks from entering into nonfinancial businesses (for example, owning corporate stock) and more risky activities. The Glass-Steagall Act was repealed in 1999. Also called Banking Act of 1933.

[SecondBase]

Maybe we're all getting what we deserve - and maybe it's coming in the form of what we have allowed this country to become.

The whole thing is a fraud - top to bottom.

Laws, business, labor, government, religion, education, health, finance, personal finances, sports - everything about this country is corrupt.

Even American popular music (for a long time one of our best contributions, over several different styles and eras) is being made by pitch-correcting and lip-syncing frauds.

There's no mistake or accident here. We are in precisely the kind of condition we should be in. It's called the truth.

[bltmn]

Sad but true. We've all been living on borrowed time. I can't think of any segment of society that hasn't been corrupted to the point of collapse. Maybe things have changed, maybe I'm just getting older and seeing things more clearly. Hard to say.

[Max Wood]

Sorry...I dont feel that at the age of 26 Ive done anything to make this occur or could have dont anything to prevent it from happening.

[coolhandhand]

"if there is no God let us be quick to invent one (Voltaire)' Religion practiced well can check some of those ugly tendencies we have. Ehether the Gods exist or not is another question. Voltaire was simply acknowleding the real world social function of religoius ideas. American hubris believed it could a create a world without the "idea" of the Gods. It has never worked, not working now. We humans need big ideas to protect us from living like pigs. God bless America, please.

[AZBunny]

coolhandhand: PLEASE stop with the religion!

Not all of us require a fairy tale to understand morals. AND just because someone proclaims that they do believe in fairy tales does not make them a righteous person,
there are plenty of examples of that.

There are only 16% of Americans who do not believe in Gods-- YOU CAN NOT blame us for everything that is wrong in this country.

[viktornacht]

Very well put, and I've often thought the same thing too.

America has always had a tradition of get rich quick schemes and hucksters and con men...

But our ancestors also built cities, railroads, highways, invented airplanes and automobiles. There is still a surviving hi-tech industry that makes real things through hard work.

These goals - working hard and making things that have value - need to be hammered into every kid's head, just like anti-smoking propaganda is. And conversely, all the fraudsters and the corrupt need to be made examples of what NOT to do. We're getting close to the end - pretty soon the line of credit to the Nation of Lazy Scammers is going to get yanked.

[kendraro]

Well, Karma is a bitch. I have to admit, looking at the generation(s) before me ( I am 40) I have some frustration. A lot of accepting the status quo, deciding to take the easier way out, making the superficial choices over the substance.­...has lead us to the point we are in today. And most folks do not want to see that they or their lifestyle choices have anything to do with anything. ( I agree the 26 yr olds aren't to blame - it took time to get us here) We had a pivotal choice in 1980, and we made the wrong one, and we had another in 2000 - again wrong choice. And now we are being schooled by our "enemies" in Iran on how a people are supposed to act when an election is stolen! Priceless!

[SecondBase]

Nobody's blaming the children.

[Artemis34]

Kendraro, You buried the lead:

"And now we are being schooled by our "enemies" in Iran on how a people are supposed to act when an election is stolen! Priceless!"

Couldn't agree more!

[johnsonb2005]

"Mr. Dittmann, you obviously are one of those dead beats draining the tax payers coffers. You went from being Peter to being Paul. Now you expect US tax payers to give YOU free health care? Not one dime I say! You're laziness will only make MY wait for the doctor even longer if Obama get's his public heath care plan.' - from the mind of the "not in my back yard" right.

Mr. Dittmann, you are an unfortunate victim of hands you will never touch...an­d sad to say, you are not alone. We need more transparency, more responsiveness and more compassion from our law makers.

Maybe the opposing senators should be forced to live 30 days as many of the nations unemployed to gain some perspective and empathy. If dick Cheney can have the right view on gay equality because of a gay daughter..­.just think how we would all benefit if THEY had to walk a mile in someone else s shoes. There would be no more neocons...­that's for sure.

[Artemis34]

I certainly think they (representatives and senators) should have to give up their Public Option health care if they vote against ours. Let them try to deal with insurance companies1

[chipsaunders]

I don't recall Mr. Dittmann saying he voted for Bush or republicans.
It's a little presumptuous to think that he is a republican just because he is older.

And the blaming people who are from India and are getting jobs here is not a good idea.
They are only doing what anyone of us would do. It's management and company policies that are questionable.

[SiriusGD]

No ones blaming the underpaid, underskilled replacement Indians. I would do what they are doing if I were them. They only want a better life. It's our politicians and greedy corporate CEOs that are selling us out is who I'm blaming. And then these CEOs run the companies into the ground. They should be jailed for this.

[bygollymissmolly]

"I think part of it is my age," he said. "I can't prove that but I think that's probably true.
----------­----------­---
Try being 61 and looking for a new job. I live in an area where it is hard to find a job under the best of circumstances. The chances of my finding another job at my stage of life are next to nil. My only saving grace is that I look a decade younger than I really am, and I will lie on an application to keep them from discriminating against me because of my age.

It's impossible to prove age discrimination and that's why it is so often done.

[markar402]

lying about your age will get you nowhere. Companies of any size or consequence do background checks on people they hire

[julia23]

lying on a job application is grounds for automatic firing too.

[KarateKid]

They cannot ask your age in an interview. But, you don't want to lie, either. There is no law that says you have to go all the way to the beginning in a resume. Cut the experience and former companies off 10 years sooner, then they'll guess you are 51, not 61. But, remember that 51 is considered old by a lot of companies.

My only consolation is that these youngies will be in our shoes sooner than they think and they'll be in the same boat. What comes around, goes around.

[glogrrl]

You are not legally obliged to put your birthdate on an application. I am 66 and just got laid off from being an admin at a steel mill in January. I, too look a decade younger and have a perfect work record...n­ever absent, never late...for the 4 1/2 years I was there. My previouis job I had for 14 years until the company closed. So, I am not a job hopper. But it's my opinion that anyone over 50 cannot get hired in this country unless it is for minimum wage or as a CEO. I am healthy, experienced, well-informed, "with-it", hardworking, personable and reliable and will do anything that is legal if asked by my employer. All my employers and co-workers have thought very highly of me. And now, since I am past 65, I have my own healthcare (Medicare) which I can afford, so I wouldn't even cost an employer for healthcare; however, I recently had a job interview for a low-wage and suggested that since I had my own healthcare policy, perhaps they could pay a couple dollars more per hour for the position, and boom! The next day I got an e-mail saying "Although you are a wonderful person, we have found someone whose qualifications more closely match the position." Read: My god, didn't know you were THAT old....jus­t go away and die. See what I mean? Good Luck!

[camanokat]

If your employer runs a credit report, which many do, your dateof birth will show up. Don't lie.

[lyta]

Exactly and also usually have your jobs listed as well.

[saintaug1]

I'm 56, and been unemployed for 7 months. I am college educated with strong technical and project management background ( just what so-called shovel ready projects would need) but no luck. I spoken to recruiters that receive hundreds of responses to posted internet ads only to review the first 20. You're lost is the blizzard of resumes of all ages, many not meeting the minimum requirements for the position. Obama talks about retraining, talks about green jobs, I have experience is project from $500k up to $100'sM, including solar. Nothing. The green job hype is just that, most will be lower paying jobs and all depend on financial subsidies to be considered viable. In Florida, the "Sunshine State" no money allocated for photovoltaic or solar thermal rebates. Don't be mislead on the "green revolution", it's over sold. All said, you have to keep the faith and keep charging ahead.

[IssuesInFocus]

Interesting comment but where is answer for this group? They still represent the best educated among us and with a real work ethic.
It would seem the only people with jobs to go are those in government. We have to overhaul this political system as it appears it has no place for the 40+ among us. The bigger question is: are we living in the richest country in the world? Think... before you belch up an answer. And do not be shocked by what one might have to accept as a reality. Nevetheless, just the thought is frightening.

[w8aminute]

did you see this one? might get lucky and end up in Titusville

http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=74789170&q=solar&FedEmp=N&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&pg=1&re=0&AVSDM=2009-05-16+12%3a32%3a00&rc=4&TabNum=1

I live just south of St Auggie, am over 50 and job hunting same as you. I keep going to usajobs hoping they won't discriminate against my age. Scored a 96 on an IT one but didn't get called yet.
Hang in there...at least we live in a beautiful area.

[TerrapinCB]

after my house was destroyed by hurricane Ike in 9/2008, I moved back to the DFW area. I was driving through Irving, TX the other day in an area called Valley Ranch (where the Cowboys have a covered practice field that was just blown down a month or so ago). After talking with my brother about the changes in the 14 years he had lived there.

About Valley Ranch, he said people now refer to it as Delhi Ranch.

80% of his American neighbors have sold/had to sell, and look who's buying...

[KenKo]

Many countries including yours and mine overreached and over spent. The only thing left of value was the land, and now that the piper has come calling for the bill to be paid, that too has to go. At least there were some still around to buy the properties, Delhi Ranch or China Ranch, or it would have been a ghost town. Let's stop blaming others for our own mistakes.

[julia23]

Aren't you quite the bigot.

[TruEngineHearing]

I'm thinking about you Steve. I want you to get a break soon and I hope it happens even sooner. Best to you both. Be lucky.

[thewho77]

The economt will geet bad the next ten years. It's all gonna be about who gets cut, and the old make the most and will be cast off. This has went on the last 10,000 years

[thewho77]

Dittmann gets what he deserves, and what he voted for the last 30 years

[plumnelly]

I'm a democrat and I don't take pleasure in any American losing their job.

[bluevase]

How do you know how he voted? Beware of bad kharma -- his story could be yours.

[thewho77]

The young will not get an "upper middle class" lifestyle like he did. They will have to pay for his voting for these idiot Republican governments that ran up these deficits!

[bluevase]

Why do you assume that "upper middle class" people vote Republican?

[sixchair]

Yeah, and the "Bush" Supreme Court just made it all but impossible to suefor age discrim.

[LadyBeryl]

Exactly right, In his earlier role, Judge Thomas also assisted by letting age discrimination cases expire.