Salon: For nearly 15 million unemployed Americans, Labor Day is hardly a holiday

[Amerigo Vespucci]

For the jobless, Labor Day is hardly a holiday
By JEANNINE AVERSA Associated Press Writer

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/business/2009/09/05/D9AH9PT00_us_unemployment_psychology/index.html

Sep 5th, 2009 | WASHINGTON

The nearly 15 million unemployed Americans won't enjoy Labor Day as a relaxing respite from work. Instead, they'll once again need to prepare to get up, hit the pavement and keep hunting for a job.

As the jobless rate nears 10 percent, even those fortunate enough to be employed fret about keeping their jobs. But for those without them, it's a daily struggle with emotional and economic distress.

"It's hard to maintain your focus that you're a valuable member of society when you go three months and nobody really wants to employ you," says David O'Bryan, 59, of Barre, Vt.

The economy is showing signs of being on the mend. Yet that's hardly reassuring to the unemployed this Labor Day weekend. The job market is in lousy shape and will stay that way for a while.

[DJ13]

1. I wish these articles would also mention the under employed

A lot of people are still employed, but have had their wages frozen for two years while seeing their hours also scaled way back.

Yes they still have a job, but their plight should also be mentioned.

[dkf]

2. I actually wish that Obama had focused more on the economy before

he got on to healthcare. I do feel for these folks.

[intheflow]

3. It's not picnic for underemployed people, either.

My non-profit is closed for the day but no holiday pay if you work under full time. And they can't afford to have anyone work fulltime any more, so no one does--hence, no one gets holiday pay. If you normally work on a Monday, oh, well. Too bad.

[Edweird]

4. "Instead, they'll once again need to prepare to get up, hit the pavement and keep hunting for a job"

Take the day off. Seriously. Many places will be closed. The places that are open will be staffed with people without that kind of decision making authority. In other words, people that you are wasting yuor time talking to. If they had that authority they wouldn't be working on Labor Day.