Unemployment

Well, through this recession, I have come to believe the best measuring stick of whether we are doing better/worse is the Unemployment Numbers. Its just my opinion, but I use that because I think it is the data that reflects whether middle income people are doing better or not......more so than other statistics.

As most have probably already heard, the rate increased to 10.2%. Thats very bad. Now, reading between the lines of this article could really lead to some feelings.

First it points out how bad 10.2% is. It then goes on to try to lighten the mood by giving what it calls "Very good news" and points out that there has been a increase in "temporary jobs". How that is a relief to anyone.......a job that could end within a week with no benefits......is beyond me. Especially since the job increase is in white collar temp jobs, which does not help the industries with the biggest losses, which are construction and manufacturing. So, the people in most need of a job see not light at the end of the tunnel and, even if they were to try to become qualified to fill the positions that are becoming open, it will not last long. By the time they completed the courses necessary to take the jobs in the place where they are available, they will more than likely be gone.

Then it goes on to say the healthcare industry added 29K jobs in Oct., and approx. 600K during the recession. Those numbers are obviously the result of poor data collection. Hospitals are closing down left and right. There is no way they are creating jobs. And the jobs that are open are only open to people willing to go full time, have completely open flexibility with their schedules and have experience. Some hospitals have even made it clear they are not interested in LPNs or Associates RNs. This drives up the cost of obtaining a license if you wish to be employed after graduation. You almost have to go for your BSN. I know nursing isn't the only healthcare career and these numbers reflect other fields as well, but I don't see any expansion going on right now in my area.

As far as the 5 cent increase in pay for people in the healthcare field goes.........I defer back to my original point that the unemployment rate is the best statistic to use for judging what things are like for the middle class. Obviously, these increases are not occurring on the labor level. We nurses, our fellow CNAs, housekeeping, dietary, radiology.......everyone on the labor side of things........have been under pay freezes for a long time now. This increase in pay is only happening at the managerial/administrative level. So, the 5 cent pay increase statistic is tainted. 100 workers don't get their 10cent raise, one administrator gets a very large raise, and it all equals out to the healthcare field reports a 5 cent increase.

Finally, and this is the part that will have people standing on the bridge ready to jump, it says that experts predict the unemployment rate will rise to 10.5 by mid 2010. Weren't we supposed to be pulling out of this mess by then? And it adds a little tidbit that that prediction may have been "overly conservative".

I realize I should be grateful that I am in nursing and not unemployed at the moment. A lot of very good people with nothing but a desire to carry their own weight are not able to find work. The recession has effected me in many way though. Moral is toxic at my workplace as veteran nurses feel the need to defend being there as do younger/newer nurses. The freedom to move within the field is almost nill, no one wants to put someone where they may need training as opposed to putting you where you already have experience. The quality of care has suffered due to corner/cost cutting and I am often mad to look bad as a result.

If this is how it is with a 10.2 unemployment rate, what will things be like in mid 2010 when it is >10.5%? I dread the day.