Job security in 2009

[oenophile]

It seems every day we are bombarded with bad economic news. Some economy watchers say that things will start to improve late in 2009 and national unemployment numbers will not exceed 10% as it did in the early 1980's.

Others say that we could be in for a deep ten year slide.

So, how do you feel about your own personal "economy"? What are you doing, if anything, to prepare for the possibility of a long, painful downturn in the business cycle?

[pond]

NY has always been the last to recover , this state reliance on wall street has dictated a slower reocvery in every recession.

and now we have a huge huge debt we can not pay our governor is calling for RADICAL cuts, trillions are needed.

I moved to an apartment that has utilities included, I am paying off my credit card debt and not putting anything eles on debt.

living low as far as meals and trips etc.

praying we will get well soon.

[waysider]

Well, I found out in early 2008 that I never really had any job security to begin with.

At least I have a head start on some of the newly furloughed on how to deal with unemployment.

[leafytwiglet]

Having lived through the last down turn the one for late 70's to early 80's

I know we will get thru it to the other side as will most people.

Like pond we are being careful with our pennies and watching our dimes and praying daily that we will make it to the other side

I suspect it will be a bit more than the end of 09 for a recovery but I see sparks f it here in CA in the real estate market but we were fully engaged in the recession two years ago when the press was still denying a recession as was the government so I suspect we are a head of the curve.

BTW there is no real job security it is just an illusion. (yes i know I am a cynic)

[George Aar]

Well, just call me Mr. Sunshine! I don't think we've even begun to see how low this can go.

We're entirely in uncharted waters now. The unprecedented deficits, the foreclosures, the unbridled generousity to the uppercrust moneymanagers and the disipated base all make for a strange, real-life, morality play.

What I don't understand in all the economic forecasting is: WHAT is going to bring us out of this mess? HOW can things turn around when there seems to be nothing in place to DO the turning?

We don't manufacture anything in this country anymore. And, as a result, we don't create any wealth here anymore either. We shuffle paper, shuffle investments, and stick our fingers in our ears and sing "la, la, la" anytime anybody points out those unpleasant facts. Performing services DOESN'T create wealth. MAKING things does. And we sold off even our capacity for manufacturing decades ago.

We've given up our role as world leader when it comes to much of anything, except for starting pointless wars. I think we're going to have to get used to playing second banana to China when it comes to financial might, manufacturing ability, and economic resiliance. We've followed the Pied Pipers of "Trickle Down" and "Supply Side" Voodoo economics and now we're going to have to pay the price.

I don't think it looks very good...

[waterbuffalo]

Oh well, Obama will save us

[Bramble]

We are okay as far as jobs go, and we are glad we stayed in our little house instead of moving up to something more expensive. I don't expect either of us to lose our jobs in 2009, but if things don't improve I could see a department cut or lay off in 2010, I think.

Health care expensies are what kill us--health insurance goes up yearly and they get around paying thousands by stating our small town is more expensive for a service than our "region" which includes cities with more than 1million population. So we are never free of med bills.

We do plan to double the size of our garden, and we can apply for another garden plot at a community garden. Hunting can put meat in the freezer, though usually we don't hunt since a friend of ours gives us free meat from his game processing plant.

[pond]

Oh well, Obama will save us

lol

I cant tell you how many times I have heard that said since he was elected.

he sure has a big plate !

I always thought the political powers are the people to come up with new ideas and improving , I didnt see to many MIT grads apply for the job tho.

it takes something other than brains to run a country I suppose.

[markomalley]

I would suggest that anybody who is looking for some job security look for a government job.

Not the best pay, but very good benefits and almost zero chance of getting laid off (even if the specific job is eliminated, they work very hard to place you in a similar job elsewhere).

For example, I looked for jobs in the state of Washington and came up with 873 hits. In addition, there are a lot of jobs where they will pay for moving expenses (although sometimes you have to get "into the system" at your own expenses and, then, as a "career" person, the jobs with relocation expenses increase dramatically).

http://www.usajobs.gov

(Oh, by the way, post office jobs are not posted on that site. They are posted here: http://www.usps.com/employment/)

Of course, none of the above will help at all to cure an ailing economy, but if you need employment, this might be a good place to check.

[GrouchoMarxJr]

I work in a field that, up until recently, I thought was "recession proof"...I manage a retail store that sells gas, cigs and beer...I think no matter how tough things get, people will still be buying those things...

...but then...I agree with George when he says we are in unchartered waters. The whole shebang could collapse like a house of cards. The auto industry is sucking the pipe, our financial institutions are going belly up, retail chains are going out of business faster than you can say "my credit card's no good anymore"

I'm thinking of dusting off my Mal pack...

[Bramble]

Can't raise poultry in city limits, but you can raise rabbits...

[waysider]

Can't raise poultry in city limits, but you can raise rabbits...

Yum!---Hassenpfeffer and spaetzle---Bring it on!

[coolchef]

i thank god every day that i am retired

[Zshot]

I agree with Mark said about employment. I work for the Federal Government, Dept of the Army to be specific. I enjoy working for the Government. It is hard and demanding work. I have found that what a Drill Sargent told me back in '79 is still true: There are 3 ways of doing things, the right way, the wrong way and the Army way. I am sure that saying applies to all Federal jobs.

If you are looking for a job working for the Military, do a search for the military installations in your area, go to there web site, look for a link to there civillian personell office. Here is one of my area: http://www.cpol.army.mil/

[ChasUFarley]

I've become 99% self-employed as of this year and business is booming. I've been working as a vidographer and meeting minute recorder for my town's committees and board, including the school boards. I've also been working on web design and some administrative projects. I've been turning work down as of late simply because it's so busy right now. Things will slow down in the summer months but I prefer it that way so I can focus on the kids more.

So my job security is pretty good - I'm more confident about it this year than I was a year ago.

[Twinky]

I'm a property lawyer.

And I lost my job end of last March.

Absolutely zero prospects of getting taken on in that field for foreseeable future.

Am looking at insolvency law right now.

Am also looking at anything else that will bring in a legal income.

[Ca_dreaming]

I feel very secure in my job, as a kithen supervisor at a public school. The summer is where I will have to look elsewhere for extra income. If push comes to shove I can dust off my razors and scissors and get my blow dryer out and do hair. Everyone needs their hair done!!! :D

[kimberly]

Call me Mr. Sunshine told it like it is..."we don't manufacture anything in this country anymore." We are now a service based country. Even though most law enforcement, i.e sheriff, deputies, police and health care, i. e. nurses, doctors, and teachers, at least in my area, have job security, it is still serviced based.

The last time I called AT&T for internet help I could hardly understand the service rep. Jobs like those have gone overseas, also.

Ca_dreaming, my friend who is the librarian (excuse me, now called Media Specialist) at one of the elementary schools daycares some children, from her school, in the summer. It has proven very profitable for her.

[oilfieldmedic]

Working "Contract Work" for the past 10 years, I go from one job to next...

Thank God He states in Psalm 37:25..."I have been young and am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread."

The way I see it, I can't loose!

Smokey/oilfieldmedic

[Kit Sober]

I personally am in a pretty good position job-wise, and almost in full agreement with Mr Sunshine above.

I do believe that there are things we can build and make right here (electric cars and other ecological products for example), natural resources of oil and coal we can develop. I do think this country still has a lot going for it -- including the great stalwart souls who frequent these forums, who may use their wisdom and intelligence to help produce the solutions the Lord has available and is waiting to give.

I am now a certified internal auditor, and should be able to find another job if the current company shrinks me out into unemployment. (Business at our company has been really bad, with no great signs of improvement.)

I am also searching out strengthening my education in the Accounting field. College in Nevada offers a senior citizen discount for 62 and over, for which I qualify, so it's more easily affordable than previously. :)

I think the most important thing personally is maintaining a wide fulcrum (big feet) so as to not get easily out of balance.

I have been reading Daniel G Amen, MD, a brain physician who has researched and teaches the personal strength and healing from a healthy brain.

(On Friday, 10 days after surgery, with 10 more days of a $100/day medicine required + $250/visit physical therapy required, the pharmacy tells Fred my insurance is cancelled as of 12/31/08. We can't do anything until Monday, so to stew all weekend, although tempting is very hurtful and does no good. Somehow God has brought us through the hurts and dirts of the years, and the chances are 100% that He will do so again. Why is it so hard to trust Him?)

Thanks for listening.

[waysider]

Cuyahoga Sheriff's Office Lays Off 21 Employees

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28471857/

[Mister P-Mosh]

Cuyahoga Sheriff's Office Lays Off 21 Employees

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28471857/

The ones they got rid of are probably detectives who investigate murder, rape, abuse, etc. and they kept the ones that sneak around giving people speeding tickets.

[markomalley]

The ones they got rid of are probably detectives who investigate murder, rape, abuse, etc. and they kept the ones that sneak around giving people speeding tickets.

Darned "closed shop" (union reference) county!

If they were in a "right to work" county, they'd get rid of those, too, and go with red light and speeding cameras!!!