According to the New York Times, the unemployed in the twilight of their careers number more than 2.2 million. Half of these have been unemployed for six months or longer (Motoko Rich, "For the Unemployed Over 50, Fears of Never Working Again, " September 19, 2010) Because it will take years to absorb the massive pool of unemployed American workers, older workers fear they may never again enter the workforce.
Unemployment as Social Death
Long-term unemployment affects many facets of a person’s life besides their income. According to Ernest Becker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Denial of Death, losing our role in our culture is a kind of social death (1973.) In a culture that values hard work and believes that anyone can get ahead who is not lazy, long-term unemployment is a shameful prospect. The person has lost the social contacts once enjoyed in the workplace and has lost the sense of playing a role in society at large. Besides the self-doubts raised by rejection after rejection from employers, the long-term unemployed person faces rejection from society as a whole. Accusations that the unemployed spend their days loafing on their couch and collecting unemployment checks are not uncommon and are a defense of the American core belief that people who are poor only have them selves to blame.
Unemployment as Economic Death
The image of the carefree loafing unemployed person is a myth. For example, the maximum unemployment check in Florida is $275 per week. It is unlikely that the unemployed person can make the rent/mortgage payment, a car payment, or pay down any debts they may have accrued with this much income. If their home is foreclosed on, their car repossessed, and their debts go unpaid, their credit will be ruined and they begin a downward spiral from a once-productive citizen to a marginalized one.
Personal and National Harm of Long-Term Unemployment
According to a study of long-term unemployed persons in Bulgaria, besides the personal isolation and demoralization of the unemployed individual, society as a whole changes in a negative way. “Long-term unemployment deepens the stratification in society, dividing it in numerous poor and few rich people.” (Iskra Beleva, Long-Term Unemployment as Social Exclusion, 1997) According to Laura Bassett, writing in the Huffington Post, research by the Economic Policy Institute shows that loss of employment has a “powerful and negative impact” on an individual.(November 5, 2010) Not only has the individual lost their health insurance, they are subjected to numerous powerful stressors that can lead to ill health.
Helping the Older Unemployed Person
The 50+ unemployed person wants to work and probably has many skills. They have obtained several jobs throughout their lifetime and they know how to apply for them. They probably do not need advice on how to write a resume or find job openings; they have applied many times and have been rejected. Refrain from suggestions that the person should work at a minimum wage job and get “off unemployment.” They have already considered this and may have been repeatedly rejected due to being overqualified, or be physically unable to do this kind of work.
Unemployed persons who are losing hope need to feel included and to be encouraged that they still have worth. Involvement in volunteer work can help, not only to restore social contacts but to provide a sense that they still can make a positive contribution. Online support groups like the Unemployed Friends forum have developed to ease the sense of isolation and provide encouragement. There is really no such thing as job security and those who have been struck by the Great Recession need compassion and encouragement.
