I’m reviewing the June Employment Summary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning.
Overall, the report sounds pretty positive. “Payroll employment increases by 288,000 in June; unemployment rate declines to 6.1%.”
But there’s one statistic I always look for – and then break out in a cold sweat when I see it – “Discouraged Workers.”
Each quarter the Bureau compiles the current employment figures with a breakout of some interesting segments. Here’s a snippet:
“In June, 2.0 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, down by 554,000 from a year earlier. These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
Among the marginally attached, there were 676,000 discouraged workers in June. Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them.”
That’s the actual terminology from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What do you do if you are in fact a “discouraged worker?”
No matter how it happens, a job loss is painful. Maybe you were caught up in a corporate downsizing, and it’s nothing personal. Maybe it was personal; your boss was an insensitive jerk who didn’t recognize your talent. Either way, it’s easy to start questioning your self-worth at such a time. You may wonder if you’ll end up homeless, never to contribute in a meaningful way to civilization again. In 30 days, your savings will be depleted. Are your old office workers laughing behind your back? Are your neighbors looking at “the loser” when they see you at home on a weekday?
Well, don’t get caught up in the negatives. This will only sabotage your immediate future. Here are some tips for breaking the downward spiral of discouragement:
- Release Your Anger. It’s OK to be angry at the unfairness of the economy, the government or the world. But don’t stay there. While you may have been treated unfairly, sharing that will only make potential new employers uneasy and prevent them from wanting you on their team.
- Evaluate Your Life. Take advantage of these transitions to take a fresh look at your life. What is unique about you? How important is time flexibility? What income do you want? See this as a time to move up and forward; not down.
- Network Constantly. Start each day with an action plan. Get out there and meet people. Talk to anyone you can who might offer suggestions on how to improve your job search. Don’t be embarrassed to let people know you are looking for work. You are selling a product, and that product is YOU.
- Don’t Make Excuses. You are not too old, too short or missing a degree. Excuses tend to become self-fulfilling after a while, and mentally you can become your own worst enemy in the job-search process.
- Create other successes. Our success tends to spiral up or down together. Career success leads to financial success, more social and family success, etc. The opposite is also true. Don’t allow a job loss to turn you into a couch potato. Stay sharp physically and mentally. Keep developing your important relationships.
- Stay in the game. Don’t disengage. Show up at a construction site and offer to do clean up. Contact 8 companies and offer to work by the hour in your area of specialty. Don’t ask for a “job,” just wow them with your unique talents. Post the contents of your storage unit on eBay. You may discover a niche where you can purchase at garage sales and resell online.
Honestly, I think these numbers are inaccurate. A lot of these people who drop off the government radar are finding opportunities in small businesses or starting their own. The Labor statistics don’t have a way of categorizing the approximately 543,000 new businesses being started each month. Is that accidental entrepreneur “discouraged” or experiencing the thrill of a lifetime?
Did you move from being a “discouraged worker” to something better than ever before? Tell us what happened?
I agree that these numbers are inaccurate. This report also highlighted how many companies are now transitioning to part-time work instead of full-time positions. Kind of scary.
This resonates so perfectly with where I’m at in my stage in life. For the last several years I felt discouraged by the lack of innovation, resistance to new ideas against my team members, and dysfunctional corporate culture. However, I’ve been implementing many of the advice you suggested and it seems like it’s getting better. One thing I’m trying to improve is not making excuses. It’s so easy to point the finger and make excuses rather than owning up. Any thoughts how to overcome this?
To the point of “Create other successes”, I recently had a
co-worker who lost her job after 22 years. Prior to this, she had lost her
passion for the job and felt that she no longer was serving a purpose. I had
encouraged her in the past to look for another job. However, due to the fear that she would not find a job that would pay her current substantial salary and fear of her age preventing her from getting a job, she would not even look. It was sad to think she was going to stay where she was, although unhappy, just for the sake of what she thought was a “safe” employment place. As we know, no “job” is safe and guaranteed.
While she was looking for a job, we talked about her not having all of her “eggs in one basket” and creating different streams of revenue going forward. She started a part-time venture with her son doing property management. She also started thinking about getting her real estate license.
The good news is she found a great job with the pay that she
needed and terrific folks to work with. She has found meaning and purpose in her work again. As a side note, she did not have to beat the pavement looking for a job. She received a job offer from someone she knew through a professional organization she belonged to for years who heard she was looking for a job. They basically called her and offered her the job because they already knew her. No interview required! Of course, she accepted. J
Even though she has found a job, she plans to continue to work on her new ventures. This way she is not tied to and relying on her new job forever. I know she has a bright future ahead.
Dan, it was a THRILL to share this blog as so many folks NEED to hear this message. Being in these types of situations can bring us down so easily especially as it can touch on our self worth as you mention. It is not uncommon for shame and hopelessness to follow when one is in this type of situation.
SO THANKFUL to have read not only 48 Days to the Work You Love to find a great job in a downturned market after I lost my job (also including turning down several offers and MANY interviews), but also No More Mondays AFTER I got my job as it opened my eyes to what COULD be.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the tips you lay out. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
Dan, thanks for this positive message in a time where most of what we hear in the press and in the new in very negative.
As someone who found herself out of the mainstream employment circle over a year ago, I go through my “discouraged worker” moments. I am now an entrepreneur who is trying to build her clientele; some days, particularly when the income is slow, I get very discouraged. Other days, not so much 😉
Yeah that’s the typical entrepreneur life. Exhilaration one moment and terror the next. Celebrate the successes and they’ll start to multiply.
As someone who was recently laid off in April 2014, I am learning to take one day at a time. I decided to launch out on my own into coaching and speaking, after doing it on side for the last couple of years. I have made it work so far the last 3 months. I have not missed paying a bill yet, however, I know I need to step it up a notch to create the true income I desire to have. I hope to make one of your premier coaching events soon Dan.
Markeith,
Congratulations on moving into coaching and speaking. There’s so much potential there – it will likely make you thankful for being laid off. Our last open Coaching with Excellence event is coming up August 28-29th. Wow – I just checked and see you live right here in Nashville. No travel expenses, no hotel – can you join us? https://www.48days.com/liveevents/coaching-with-excellence-live/