Unemployable At 50 Fate Of Present And Future Workers

[GoCubsGo]

98. Mine, too, more or less.

I'll be 52 this week. Got laid off from my research job of 20 years right at the cusp of the recession. Jobs were already scarce at that point. I made do with seasonal work, and occasional contract jobs, but even that has dried up. Most of the jobs open now in my field are regulatory type jobs with state and federal governments. And, they've been laying off people. So, I get to compete with the ones who got laid off, who were regulatory types. Ten years ago, I could have easily gotten an entry level regulatory job. Now, forget it. When research jobs come open, they inevitably hire former students. Meanwhile, with a Masters degree and my employment background, they won't even look at my application for jobs at a grocery store, fast food, retail...

When I'm lucky enough to get an interview, they often ask "What are you doing now?" when they find out that my seasonal jobs are gone. Not working, and that makes me damaged goods, and not worthy of further consideration. And, so it continues... "Shit out of luck", indeed. That would be me, it appears.