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Unemployed workers watching, worrying about fiscal cliff
A steelworker works at a Baotou Iron and Steel Group steel mill.
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Richard Crowe worked in the steel industry for over 30 years. Then seven months ago, he got laid off. Crowe says his family relies on his unemployment benefits to stay afloat. If Congress doesn't come to a deal by midnight, it could be dire for his financial situation.
"I'll be out here with no job and no money coming in. I can probably survive for a couple of months and that would be it," Crowe says.
Even though his expertise is in the steel industry, Crowe says he's applied to jobs in a variety of fields. But he says going back to school for high-tech training isn't a feasible option for him.
"I need a job. I can't spend two, three years in school," he says. "I need a job now."
I'm 36 years old and was cut off after 2 years in early December. In June, started a "Free" State subsidized Machining/CNC training program under the promise from promoters of the program, in collusion with state workers, that Manufacturing was poised for this big comeback and that employers could not find Machinists. I graduated in December and 1 guy, who was in his 50s, landed a job WITH A NON-PROFIT. That's it? No jobs for the guys in their mid 20's to 30's? Come on. What was funny to me were people who only recently had been laid off, in the last year, were so optimistic and supportive of Obama!!! These same people are now hoping unemployment benefits get extended. What contradictory behavior from these voters!!! The economy is supposedly "moving in the right direction," "there are jobs out there..." yet unemployment benefits need to be extended again and again? My fellow classmates actually believed that employers would increase hiring if Obama were re-elected. Sad, isn't it?
