Current United States Employment Situation
The
official
United States unemployment rate[1]
of 3.7% in June 2019 is only 0.1% higher than the April and May rates of 3.6%,
which were the lowest since 3.5% in December 1969. Official measures indicate
that jobs are available for persons willing to work who match employers’ needs.
The
Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
reported on July 9th, 2019 that “job openings” were “7.3 million on
the last day of May.”
This
seems great for workers. But, some other news for workers is not good. Many persons
work at part-time jobs or jobs with relatively low pay compared to factory jobs
in past decades. Often employees work two jobs or in some cases three jobs to
keep bills paid.
The
United
States minimum wage[3]
which is current $7.25 has not been raised since 2009. I already
wrote supporting raising the minimum wage,[4] and I also support improving
the overall treatment of workers.
But,
workers need to be willing to work, to be dependable, to avoid abusing drugs,
etc. This article focuses on being willing to seek work, since it seems to me
that far too many people are not taking active steps to enter the labor force.
And, those not actively seeking work are typically not included in the
unemployment rate.
Working and Benefit Programs
Whenever
possible, I feel honest persons would prefer to be working at a job that helps
others, instead of being idle. However, unemployment benefits can be a
wonderful blessing. They help persons temporarily out of work meet basic living
expenses.
Similarly,
different programs benefit the elderly, disabled, caregivers of preschool
children, and others who are unable for various reasons to work at an
income-producing job.
But,
unemployment benefits (and benefits from other programs) are not designed to
let able-bodied persons sit idly at home drawing a government check instead of
performing some useful service. Unemployed persons can devote time to seeking a
job, doing volunteer work for a church or other organization, and taking
constructive actions to develop skills in whatever way is reasonably available.
If
you suffer from depression or some other problem, get help. Need job skills?
Job training programs are available. Also, if your geographical area lacks job
opportunities, please consider relocating.
I
believe persons typically live happier, healthier, and longer if they are
productive, doing something that benefits themselves and others. If you doubt
my belief, check online and you can find numerous articles about scientific
studies that indicate the same thing.
I
encourage persons drawing unemployment benefits not to wait for their benefits
to run out. Instead, search for jobs, do volunteer work, read informative books
and other literature to better oneself, etc.
My Personal Experience
I’ve
been blessed to always either have a job or to have friends and family who
voluntarily helped me out, in addition to access to other resources that
enabled me to get by without ever seeking or accepting unemployment benefits. I
am grateful for that help and hope it freed up funds to help others who needed
unemployment benefits more.
By
the way, I don’t want the unemployed to be forced to take any available job.
For example, due to my personal beliefs, I would not want to work in a liquor
store selling alcoholic beverages. As basically a pacifist, I wouldn’t even
desire to work in a military job, though I commend the numerous soldiers who
serve faithfully: establishing peace, keeping the peace, doing good
humanitarian work following natural disasters, etc.
My Recommendations
Though
I don’t urge persons to take any available job, I do urge the unemployed to
seek to find a job. Seek to “find a need and fill it,” to quote words credited
to Ruth Stafford Peale, wife of Norman Vincent Peale.
Folks,
please use unemployment benefits wisely, and only when necessary. Private
companies and the government do not have unlimited resources. The resources
expended on unnecessary unemployment benefits could be used for something else,
maybe even pay raises for workers.
The System Has Weaknesses
By
the way, one of the saddest things about unemployment benefits is that many of
the people who in theory might need them most are ineligible due to not working
enough hours per week at a job prior to becoming unemployed, not working long
enough at a company, being self employed, etc. Furthermore, some employers seem
to seek to avoid paying unemployment benefits by extensively relying on
temporary employees, part-time employees, etc. Abuse of unemployment benefits
is a problem among both employees and employers.
The
system definitely isn’t perfect. The people who have been actively but
unsuccessfully seeking work, struggling to get unemployment benefits, and
meeting numerous obstacles and major financial difficulties know that better
than I do.
Despite
this, I am very thankful that we have a system—and that it is probably much
better than whatever system existed centuries ago. Please don’t abuse it. If
you are drawing unemployment benefits and are able to work, please actively
seek work—and don't just “go through the motions.” Perhaps try doing it like
it's a full-time job that requires a lot of effort. After all, in a sense it
is, as numerous writers of articles and books on searching for a job point out,
and as many unemployed people find out.
Retirement/Closing Thoughts
Even
after retirement, the happiest and healthiest people seem to be those who
remain active doing volunteer work or performing some other useful function. What
I call a “Christian work ethic” leads a person to be happily doing something
beneficial until God calls him or her home.
I
hope I will always be willing and able to do useful work as long as I live—and
enjoy doing it. It is a blessing to be doing labor I enjoy that benefits others
as well as myself. I am truly blessed to be doing a job I love (writing) and
over the years have enjoyed a variety of nice second jobs to help keep the
monetary bills paid. I hope you are all similarly blessed with productive,
enjoyable jobs!
ENDNOTES:
[1] “Labor Force
Statistics from the Current Population Survey”; United States Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (monthly unemployment rate January 1948-June
2019); data extracted on July 21, 2019; website accessed on July 21, 2019; https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
[2] “Job Openings and
Labor Turnover Summary”; United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics; “For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, July 9, 2019”; website
accessed July 21, 2019; https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm
[3] “Minimum Wage”;
United States Department of Labor; website accessed July 21, 2019; https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage
[4] James Edwin
Gibson; “Raise the Minimum Wage in the United States? Yes”; Google Blogger;
October 9, 2008; website accessed July 21, 2019; https://oneopinionsomeviews.blogspot.com/2018/10/raise-minimum-wage-in-united-states-yes.html?m=0
(The
author has also written other articles supporting raising the minimum wage.)
NOTE:
This piece being
submitted to Google Blogger on July 24, 2019 is virtually identical to one
submitted to Craft News Report, a website operated by the author's friend Paul Craft, on
July 21, 2019. That article was adapted from a chapter in the author’s book True Christianity: It May Not Be What You
Think. The author has also written similar information for other sources in
the past.
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