Fifth of workers laid off since 2009 still looking for jobs, Rutgers study finds

Even though the economy is improving, a new Rutgers study finds that 20 percent of Americans laid off from a job during the past five years are still looking for work.

 

 

Three million Americans have gone without a paycheck for six months or more, and that’s causing big lifestyle changes, said Carl Van Horn, director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers.

“Not only did they lose income, but many of them tell us that they have to had either move in with family and friends, sell their house, miss mortgage payments, declare bankruptcy, and borrow money,” Van Horn said.

Nearly half of the long-term unemployed say it will take three to 10 years for their families to rebound financially. Some don’t believe they’ll ever recover.

Van Horn urges those in that situation to attend professional networking groups or get free government assistance at job centers to sharpen their skills.

Sixty-five percent of employed and unemployed workers express strong support for long-term education and training programs as well as increased road construction to put people back to work.