The Recession File

I Need a Freakin' Job is a grassroots movement designed to build a community of like-minded people to express frustration about being jobless and to keep job recovery at the forefront of political conversation.Learn more on their Website and find them on Facebook. … [Read more...] about Join the "I Need a Freakin' Job" Movement

From selling blood to delivering phone books, the gang at Coupon Sherpa has put together 24 Ways to Make Money While Unemployed. … [Read more...] about 24 Ways to Make Money While Unemployed

The new decade is off to a shaky start in New York.  My home state was one of 18 who saw unemployment claims rise by more than 1,000 for the week ending January 9.  The bulk of the unemployed worked in the construction, service and transportation industries."For just one week, it's a tick in the wrong direction," said Tim Quinlan, an economic analyst at Wells Fargo. "But the four-week moving average, at its lowest level since fall of 2008, tells me that we're moving in the right direction."Read more at CNN. … [Read more...] about Unemployment Claims Move Higher

Maintain the Positive Gains from Your LayOffA recent Wall Street Journal article by Dana Mattioli, When Returning to Work Is Harder Than It Seems, underscored an aspect of re-employment that you don’t hear discussed much. There are many positive, healthy gains that people report from their experiences while laid off.The article's main focus is on laid-off people who bonded or reconnected with their children much more than they could while working the daily grind. Being home to hang out with your kids after school and pursuing hobbies together can be invaluable. Other folks reported having time to spend with friends, working on self-care like losing weight or catching up on sleep and generally finding a good balance in work (the job search) and play.A few years ago, I went from working at home alone to taking a contract job on a work site. I had to be there by 7:20, which meant a wake-up time my body hadn’t done in years. I had to re-learn biz culture; sitting in … [Read more...] about Adjusting to Re-employment Can Be Tough

CNNMoney.com says that President Obama plans to hold a job forum at the White House in December to brainstorm about job creation. Those invited to the forum will include CEOs, small business owners, economists, financial experts, and representatives from labor and non-profits. (Jobacle is patiently  awaiting our invite). The president is facing a 10.2% unemployment rate but says there have been encouraging signs of economic growth and a slowing of the loss of jobs in recent months, but also said employers are still reluctant to hire and millions are desperate to find work. Some economists have been arguing for another round of stimulus to ward off sliding into another recession. Not everyone is convinced. And politically, the prospects for passing a single stimulus package with a big price tag are not high. Instead the administration and Congress are looking for smaller initiatives that can be taken both by the government and the private sector. One idea that has been floated to … [Read more...] about Obama to Hold '09 Job Forum