The Hill News

Dear Congress: While you are obviously focused on trying to create new jobs, have you missed the bigger picture of the under-employed? Many of the jobs that are returning are, in many cases, a shadow of their former selves. We know that employers are seeking to do more with less, so when jobs reappear, they are offering these juicy morsels to a hungry unemployed workforce at much less than previously. Those that survived the recession were often asked to take lower level jobs with lower pay. Often these jobs did not fully utilize their pracademic skills - acquired in school or through practical application on the job. 

The “I am thankful to have a job” worker is seething behind those politically correct clenched teeth forced into a smile. They have been humiliated and harassed by companies who feel that they are in a position of controlling their destiny. This diminished worker has had forced furloughs thrust on them, have been mandated to use their PTO, ! and has had salary reduction or freezes applied to their wages. They are beaten down and angry about it. They are hungry for upward mobility and for resuming their career aspirations. Much like 401(k) plans became 201(k) plans, the under-employed workforce took major steps back and now wants to get back to where they were at. 

This in-place, under-employed worker is a force to be reckoned with as a competitive threat for those trying to enter or return to work. A lack of job creation and job growth finds the Boomer staying in their jobs longer leaving fewer openings for Xers to move up, and not opening lower level positions for Millennials. This is creating gridlock in the workplace. No way in, no way out and no place to go.   

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