A Bad Kind of Change: Lost Jobs

As the US jobless rate rises, I’m getting the jitters.

I shouldn’t be getting the jitters.  I work at a company that makes products for medical and other scientific research.  Our products are in demand.  Both public and private funding for research - especially medical research - has suffered little.  I’ve found out that research on cancer does not stop in a recession.

Here’s a section of the latest of an otherwise dismal Statement on the Employment Situation by Keith Hall at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:

” Health care employment rose by 26,000 in October and by 348,000 over the past 12 months. Mining added 7,000 jobs over the month. Since a low in April 2003, mining employment has increased by 246,000 (nearly 50 percent).”

Even with positive words from our CEO at a recent company meeting, I’m not comforted.  Even living in Massachusetts, where the job market is not suffering as deeply as in some states, I’m looking around for some anxiety meds.

Why?

• Because especially in a declining job market, losing my job would be devastating.  At 50 years old, finding a job would be difficult.
• Because my 401k has been trashed, and losing my job now would mean not being able to contribute to it. Fuel to the fire.
• Because I’ve been with the same company for 26 years, and I really like it there.

I’m wondering how others are feeling about this.  Do you feel secure in your job?

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