Introducing Sociology

SSCI210

ABSTRACT
Unemployment is very well known in today’s economy. It affects millions of people in different ways. Many people lose their homes, cars, and friends when they become unemployed. People often do not realize the effect of unemployment until it happens to them.

There have been many studies and articles on unemployment recently. Unemployment in recent years has risen exponentially due to our economic malaise. The findings of these recent studies are disheartening according to an article in The New York Times. (The Enduring Consequences of Unemployment March 28, 2012 The New York Times)
It has been found that people who lose their jobs suffer lasting damage to their earning potential, their health and the prospects of their children. The longer it takes to find a job the deeper the damage appears to be. In a article by the Washington Post The-long term impact of unemployment it has been found that people who are unemployed eventually dip into their savings, retirement funds, and in many cases borrow money to pay rent, bills, and buy the basic necessities to survive such as groceries and everyday household products.
With the prices of gas, food and many other products on the rise it seems like people who are unemployed will continue to struggle even after finding a job. According to studies nothing has been seen like this since the Great Depression when unemployment was at its highest in American history. Many people will accept a lower paying job just to make ends meet regardless of their potential and qualifications for their career field. The Yale economist Lisa Kahn has found similar long-term earnings loss among the college graduates who enter the workforce during a bad economy.
Being a parent of three children and another three step-children these findings are truly heart breaking. I am one of the few lucky