How Long Before The Unemployed Find Work Or Give Up?

WASHINGTON -- A new study from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the Great Recession that technically ended in 2009 has doubled the time it takes before the average unemployed person either finds a job or gives up looking for work.

Each month, BLS announces the latest unemployment rate and several other characteristics of the workforce, including the length of time people have been jobless. Last Friday's announcement brought news that the average unemployed person had been looking for work for 39.7 weeks as of May (the median length of unemployment rose to 22 weeks).

According to a new paper by BLS economist Randy Ilg, by the end of 2010 the median successful job search lasted 10 weeks, up from five weeks in 2007. For people who gave up hope of finding jobs and left the labor force, the median search in 2010 lasted 20 weeks. Before the recession started, fruitless job searches usually ended after 8.5 weeks. People who want work but aren't looking because they figure none is available don't count as unemployed for the purposes of the headline unemployment rate, which is 9.1 percent. Add them in and you get 10.3 percent.

"The recent recession has had a profound effect on the length of successful job search," Ilg wrote. "Moreover, once unemployed, the likelihood that one would be successful in one’s job search decreased as the length of time spent searching for work increased."

A chart accompanying the report shows that in 2007, 49 percent of jobseekers found work within five weeks of becoming unemployed. In 2010, that number fell to 34 percent. Over the same period of time, the percentage of job seekers who landed jobs after a full year rose from 2.8 percent to 11 percent.

In May, the number of people who've been out of work six months or longer rose 361,000 to 6.2 million, representing 45.1 percent of the 13.9 million unemployed. As of last October, roughly 1.4 million had been out of work for 99 weeks or longer, which is the cutoff point of unemployment insurance.

Comments

[TruelyFedUp]

03:27 PM on 07/21/2011

Give people land and the resources to create their own free, self sustaining eco-villages.

The United States of America has a land mass of 3,717,813 square miles; the US government holds and controls around 30% of that land and buys more each year. That is equivalent to 1,115,344 square miles and is equal to the combined land masses of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, New Zealand, Ireland, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Liechtenst­ein, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla, and Bermuda. About half of that is equal to the land mass of Alaska alone which is 663,268 sq miles, and the Federal government controls 68% of it or 451,022 sq. miles. That land alone comprises about 40% of the total land managed by the federal government­. But it does not minimize the fact of the remaining 60% on the main land base of America. Now some of that federally controlled land is parks, and some is military bases and some Native American reservatio­ns, there are forest lands and wildlife reserves. Not all of these are properly cared for and there are reports of some being much neglected because of inadequate funding. Get the people that need help living on that land and taking care of it in free, self sustaining eco villages.

[TruelyFedUp]

03:04 PM on 07/21/2011

The federal government controls 30% of the land mass of the United States. Congress is responsible for deciding what happens to that land. People without jobs need housing and food; this is my solution to the problem
• Allocate federally controlled arable land in every state for the creation of free, self-sustaining eco-villages to house and feed those Americans in need.
• Allot funds to hire designers of sustainable constructions to create the building plans and layout of landscaping so the prospective residents are able to build their sustainable housing and common buildings themselves.
• Hire or elect coaches from the prospects group to organize and run work crews to build buildings, prepare and plant organic food gardens and teach animal husbandry.
• Allot funds to purchase materials for building supplies, sustainable farming equipment, seeds, and furnishings for common buildings such as kitchens, cafeterias, laundries, libraries, business centers, medical centers, minimal shared-housing complexes similar to those in university dorms, schools, etc.
• Educate the communities so they can govern themselves, maintain discipline, and provide training and apprenticeships in various skills.
• Create national awards for the best organized and best run communities with another category for the most aesthetic.
In exchange for these benefits require each resident to contribute a certain number of work hours daily to maintain the grounds, buildings and food supplies and meals. Residents may be given training in these skills that result in certification that can be used in later job applications.

[mnmjk626]

10:42 PM on 07/10/2011

You know, it's getting pretty annoying seeing articals like this. All I hear about is people whining about how they can't find a job. Where I work as a manager, we CAN"T keep people. They quit left and right and all I ever hear is please fire me so I can sit on welfare. It's very annoying. I am working 70+ hours a week in order to keep the store running and shifts covered. I hardly have any applications in because people don't want to take the time. No joke. Our applications are online, and we just recieved word that in my district they will be opening 18 new stores each store needs a 5-7 crew. Not the first I have heard of this eighter. Left and right I see job openings and all I hear people say are BS excuses why this or that job isnt good enough for them. You know a paycheck is a paycheck, get it together!

[matzsusan]

03:59 PM on 07/31/2011

Please, what company is this?

[DaveFell1]

09:17 AM on 06/14/2011

I have a question for everyone. As Americans let us forget politics for a moment and the blame game because it is getting us no where. Try to answer just one question because it seems all the problems of the economy stem from this. How do we produce more good paying jobs in this country. Please keep your answers short and precise. Looking for new ideas because politicians need help...they seem to be stuck in the same old tired solutions. Republicans go on about lowering taxes and shrinking government and the democrats want more stimulus spending. Thanks. Perhaps someone will hit on something that will work.

[demilieu]

05:17 PM on 06/10/2011

I applied for a property manager job here in Houston today on Careerbuilder's website. According to the stats, with 2 weeks left until the close date, they have 370 applications on file for the job. Numbers like that are discouraging.

[Joseph Bulko]

08:24 AM on 06/10/2011

Clearly, we need a better jobs creation solution! To solve the unemployment problem, I've written a proposal that describes a mechanism through which we can fund a massive number of new business ventures by tapping the financial power of Wall Street to create jobs on Main Street. This approach ramps up employment quickly and puts money directly into the hands of the people who need it now: the consumers (whose spending represents 70 percent of GDP). This enormous financial turbo-boost to the economy will reinvigorate economic activity and quickly return the eight million jobs lost during the Great Recession. The purpose of this mechanism is to take a private sector proactive approach to address the expected long-term high unemployment problem. You can read the proposal here: http://jpbulko.newsvine.com/_news/2011/04/20/6500827-a-modest-proposal-to-save-the-american-economy-entrepreneurial-blitzkrieg-as-job-creation-vehicle-

Joseph Patrick Bulko, MBA

[mokvaw]

03:50 AM on 06/10/2011

Playing games with the US economy so Obama has a slighter chance of not gettting re elected.

[WESTistheman]

02:15 AM on 06/10/2011

When will they give up? If Obama gets re-elected, the first Wednesday in November

[solvseus]

03:21 AM on 06/10/2011

So what are those running against Obama going to do for those of us still unemployed? I have yet to hear any new ideas, other than cutting more funding for the neediest among us that still doesn't actually effect the debt much (not that cutting the debt would do anything for the economy anyway). And tax cuts that we've had for awhile now that don't seem to be helping anything either, other than increasing the even widening income gap. The current GOP seems to care more about social issues, and I can't name 1 thing they've done to help us either.

Maybe if Obama would stop trying to compromise with a party that has been calling it's own ideas and policies "far-left socialism" we could actually get something done, the way FDR did the last time this all happened.

[WESTistheman]

12:23 AM on 06/11/2011

FDR took over in 1932. Look at the unemployment from 1932 to 1941. It was the war that reduced unemployment ( all the men were overseas ) not his policies, his policies lengthened the hardtimes. In addition, if Congress thought he was so great, why did they immediately upon his death, make only two terms the law?

[globalguy]

08:18 PM on 06/09/2011

"Under employment" is as big an issue as unemployment.

The education level of the USA is deficient and globally we are being left behind by smarter, hard working Chinese, Indians, Eastern Europeans, etc who work at a fraction of the cost.

Globalization at its best. No ones "fault" per se. These folks have the same righteous wants we have in the USA. We just need to compete better and buck up...

[ander35]

04:53 PM on 06/09/2011

They can give up when they win the lottery. How can they give up?

[Hotness]

05:40 PM on 06/09/2011

You DO know there are deadbeats? The shelters and streets are full of people that made bad decisions.

[demilieu]

06:23 PM on 06/09/2011

And so is Wall Street, but they got rewarded with a nice fat check of American taxpayer's money. Apparently, justice shall fall to a higher power...

[msanonymous222]

05:07 AM on 06/10/2011

Yep, Hotmess, I think we should exclude all those good people who had bad decisions made FOR them, i.e., victims of this Great Recession.

[OldTulsan]

02:44 PM on 06/09/2011

The U.S. is the only major country where medical disasters can lead to personal bankruptcy­...

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/bankruptcy_study.html
Medical Bills Leading Cause of Bankruptcy­, Harvard Study Finds

"...Today'­s health insurance policies -- with high deductible­s, co-pays, and many exclusions -- offer little protection during a serious illness. Uncovered medical bills averaged $13,460 for those with private insurance at the start of their illness. People with cancer had average medical debts of $35,878.

"The paradox is that the costliest health system in the world performs so poorly. We waste one-third of every health care dollar on insurance bureaucrac­y and profits while two million people go bankrupt annually and we leave 45 million uninsured" said Dr. Quentin Young, national coordinato­r of Physicians for a National Health Program.

"With national health insurance ('Medicare for All'), we could provide comprehens­ive, lifelong coverage to all Americans for the same amount we are spending now and end the cruelty of ruining families financiall­y when they get sick."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcjMoihbIZc
YouTube - Al Franken on medical bankruptcy

Medical disasters account for over 60% of personal bankruptci­es, even for those who have job-based health insurance.

[Hotness]

05:43 PM on 06/09/2011

Al stuart smalley Franken -- HA

[OldTulsan]

06:05 PM on 06/09/2011

Senator Franken graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1973 with a B.A. in political science.

The real point is that anyone blessed to have a job, even with medical insurance, is one medical disaster from personal bankruptcy.

[unionave]

01:56 PM on 06/09/2011

This ugliness was designed and created with the full cooperation of Congress and they intend to continue the process while asking us to vote for them .

[mjw51295]

03:59 AM on 06/10/2011

And we keep electing the same people over and over and wonder why nothing changes. We deserve what we get. As long as elections are bought by big business nothing will chanage. I think Americans are too lazy to be properly informed about the big issues which impact our lives. As long as we have cheap beer and

[unionave]

07:05 AM on 06/10/2011

f/f ! You are correct . With the help of the media we shot ourselves in the foot .

[stephen allard]

12:56 PM on 06/09/2011

I have been unemployed since Aug. 2008, was diagnosed with liver cancer, after 3 years fighting for my life I have been looking for work. I was a Chef before I got sick, I can't even get a job at McDonald's­. ( to much experience­). Unemployme­nt ran out in December, My wife and I live one day at a time, we now use coupons for everything­, if we can't get it for free we don't get it. We are going to lose our home and car in a few months.
I know we are not the only one's in this mess, What I don't understand is why does the Congress and Senate hold us (the unemployed­) hostage to get some thing they want......­.
All we want to do is survive!!!­!!!

[OldTulsan]

02:46 PM on 06/09/2011

F&F for sharing your story and remind those smug people that a medical disaster can cause them to file for bankruptcy even if they have job-based medical insurance.

[Bertalein]

03:38 PM on 06/09/2011

This is a national disgrace if you ask me. I am so sorry that you are expierencing these awful times. As long as the American people tolerate this injustice and are unaware that largely they are at fault for being constantly misled by the Rightwing policies, i.e. shrink the government and do away with regultions to protect the citizens it will only get worse. All the right wing has to do is scare the people by calling the Democrats Socialists, etc. it will scare them away for voting for their own best interest. What a mess, don't know if it will ever get better here. I am from Europe and the people did not have to worry about simple survival like health insurance etc., 44 years ago it was better there and now it only gets worse here with 100 % capitalism. I really fear for this country and I feel bad for our people.

[MsKitty92]

12:35 PM on 06/09/2011

I have unemployed since July of 2009. I look for work everyday online and nothing. I don't know when my UE benefits will be running out, but in the meantime I take of care of home and try to put a little aside just in case. Its fustrating, depressing and makes me angry. Its my second time in 7 years being laid off and it hurts. I pray everday for myself and those I hear and see out there struggling as well. I don't know how much hope I have left, but Imma keep my head up.

[GoDems2012]

12:16 PM on 06/09/2011

My UE benefit extension just ran out. It's really hard. I am a hard worker and just can't seem to find a job. But I won't quit. I will keep searching until I find something. I will flip burgers if I have to. I survive, just like the women in my family...I'm gonna make a come back. I started a business in early 2007 that faded away in 2009. Since then it's been hard to get back to corporate America. I took a risk and some days I'm glad I did, other days I kick myself for it. But my heart goes out to those with families. I don't have any kids though, so after unemployment runs out I'm on my own. We need more jobs. Clearly, Republicans aren't interested in doing that. It doesn't work to their political advantage to do so. And I'm in TX! We have lower than national average unemployment! Still, can't find a gig. Keep ya head up America. We will survive this. Eff you Bush.

[Hotness]

05:58 PM on 06/09/2011

If you're around South Coast Plaza in the OC we could find something for a hard worker to do. You'd be paid well...hell its only money.

[moroccantreasures]

11:42 PM on 06/09/2011

There are lots of things you can do online for income my 5 year old is an actress and makes money. Customer reviews, testimonials, writing articles, typing and more you might need to expand your google searching if you enjoy working from home there are things out there you can even be a contractor likely I cant post sites but dont give up and I admire your strength!