We have all heard about the staggering unemployment figures and it does not look good. The figures are not showing all the numbers though, at least not in my book. Why are they not taking into consideration those who have lost their jobs, and had to take on a less paying job with companies such as Manpower, Kelley's and so on. Most people who were in a profession for years worth of experience in their field have been thrown by the way side, and it does not look as though anyone really gives a hoot.
What about all the Realtor's and Mortgage Lenders who are now doing whatever job they can manage to land? Most are not even making half the income they use to for the past six years. I think we ought to show the numbers as they really are. What we are being told now, is way off. I suggest we make a list of others that have lost jobs, such as; Automotive workers, Police Officers, Nurses, Health Care workers, Restaurant Hostesses, Hotel staff, and the list can go on and on. Think about it... are we getting all the facts?
Bob,
No, we're not and as long as the info is coming from the news media (and where else will we get it?), it will be biased, inconsistent and downright wrong!
Bob: You make some good points. If we looked at who is barely hanging on, it might be up to 20% of the population. I recently read that unemployment in Oregon had climbed to over 12%. Yikes! The only good news is there are signs of life out there. Employment may not pick up until sometime in 2010 but I'm seeing some positive indicators. After all, our son got a job after months of looking yesterday. Woo hoo!
Bob... I believe we are in a mild depression...NOT a prolonged recession......
The numbers are FAR worse than leaders are willing to talk about...they would be out of jobs if they told the truth....
;-)
Cynthia, you are right on que here, I agree 100% with your statement. Wishing you the best, always.
Bob, and I agree with your input definitely! We need to have the true figures and not the ones that are short stopped by using this quarter and the last, we need to look at the full picture of several years ago when this all started. Thank you for coming by too.
Alex, as usual you hit the nail right on the head. We had talked about this word, depression a few months ago if I remember right. I do believe we "are" in a depression without all the soup lines, but...they are there too, more so than a few years ago. (don't get me wrong, I am thankful for those who are helping), things really may get worse before they get better. I pray things turn around. I just don't see it with all the spending. Take care my Nephew.
I have heard Obama say in speaches latley that things WILL get worse before they get better...wow wonderful for him to notify us......
=-P
Alex - as I recall, a lot of things were also told to us, such as he has the answers, and knew how to get us out of this situation we are in. He also said he would have our troops out of Iraq, now we are still waiting in the same time frame as the Bush administration. I wish some one would just tell us like it is and go on from there. But I do agree, I am glad he told us all how bad it is, and how things are going to get worse, of course he has been saying this since he took office. Oh well, old news is better than none, right? I think not.
Good post Bob- Whole heartily agree with you. New unemployment numbers just came out. We live in northern kosciusko county where the unemployment % is 13.5. The two closet county to our north are Lagrange at 18.9 & and Elkhart at 18.7%(not a typo).
12 months ago all were under 4%, New Menards store is opening in Warsaw they had a couple of thousand applicants for less than 50 full time and 50 part time jobs pying an hourly wage about 50% less than most of those applicants were making.
As long as the same people who release the figures are the ones that have to take the heat for them. You can bet they spin them into the best possible light.
Grace and Greg, I know what you mean regarding the income level. I too have been caught up in the whirl wind of low income. It is only by the grace of god that we have made it. As a long time loan officer for four different banks, I have always practiced what I taught my lending clients. Stay out of debt. My wife and I have chosen to pay cash for several years.
As for these companies coming in and hiring, they know they can pick the best to come, and pay as little as they want. This really gets me. Did you know there are companies out there, hiring people at 7.50 per hour, plus commission to collect loans. And...they make it nearly impossible to hit the commission bonus on a monthly basis....it is happening, it is real...and it is here to stay.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Thank God we do not have to lean unto our OWN understanding, and thank God that HE is still in charge! GLORY! Let us rejoice! EVERYTHING will change for this is the will of God... but HE will never leave or forsake us, and will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are fastened upon Him!
Rest in that and be encouraged.
Hello Bob - I do think the numbers are under reported as well - just in the last month for us persoanlly...we had one deal in underwriting that never made closing because the buyer lost their job and anotherdeal in which buyer had to pull the offer off the table because of an entire company closing (nationwide chain) - to us that means these numbers will be going up with next months data.....
Sincerely,
Grace
Diana, yes I have to agree with you on that one. Thanks for the encouragement, remember what goes up must come down. The issue is how long will we remain "down?" Keep going and best wishes.
Grace - Yes they are under reported. I see little end to this situation we are in presently. I think things are going to get much worse and we had better have a come together meeting with our legislatures to get things going again. We are not on the right track as I see it, we are heading for a very tough road. Take care, keep as positive as you can, and of course, pray very hard.
Bob, you are exactly right in my opinion. There is no end to the number of self-employed who have struggled through this whole breakdown to fall. Many of our work force is gone which is one reason turn around times are so long on mortgages today. I used to be able to close a loan in 7 days, now it takes 25-30. I am told there are just not enough people in our industry now and those that have moved on are not interested in joining forces again. Thanks for you views.
Hi Valerie - You are right on it...I agree with you 100% as our reporting media does not show all the numbers of people that have been hurt by this economy down swing. I see no end in sight, but I am seeing people taking jobs with lower pay, no benefits or if they do have benefits they pay a price which is literally making them work for....insurance for the family.
I hope and pray we can come back to doing what we used to do best...Service clients, make sound loans insured and backed in case of loss, and be able to support our families.