American Dream
It’s been eighteen months since they finalized the factory closing where I had been working for more than fifteen years. The company decided that workers in Central America could do the same job for less than half our wages in the US and with little to no benefits. Should I have uprooted and moved down to Mexico in order to provide a decent life for my family? My unemployment benefits ended six months ago and I’m rapidly seeing my family's stability slipping down the dark hole of the unknown. For generations my forefathers have been trying to build it’s way up into middle class society only to have everything slowly wither away over the last two years. Is this the expected outcome for the New American Dream? There was a time when this small midwestern town was booming with industry and good paying job opportunities. Now the only jobs available for head of household job seekers like me are minimum wage retail jobs. How many retail jobs would I need to pay the mortgage? Learning a new trade while trying to provide a future for my family in my 50’s just isn’t a realistic solution. The fear, stress, and anxiety we’re waking up to everyday are overwhelming. What are families like ours expected to do to survive? Sorry for all the pessimism but I really need to vent my frustrations today. Thank you.
I understand your frustration. I worked at the same factory in the Midwest for twenty five years and it closed in 2013. 300 people were told to find work elsewhere while the business overseas grows. It took me a year to find a stable job at half the pay. I know some who are still looking. A lot of us moved to other towns or even other states. I wasn't happy about starting my life over at 50 but I've chosen to look at it as a time to reinvent myself and my life. Good luck to you.
There are special programs out there. They have programs to help guys in their fifties use the latest technology. You can get a certificate in a year and an AS in two. And then you can get a pretty good job.
There are special programs out there. They have programs to help guys in their fifties use the latest technology. You can get a certificate in a year and an AS in two. And then you can get a pretty good job.
Tim, vent as much as you want because I understand your frustrations. I'm in a similar situation now trying to find a job right now at any pay and level as long as I can work 40 hour or more. There was a big report on NPR about the negative economic impact left by American companies exporting manufacturing jobs. Your right it is unrealistic to take time to build new job skills when you have a family depending on you but today it's a necessity in order to remain above water. Get what's available, retail or other, but make sure your also getting new skills training on or off the job. Take a look at the job qualifications and skill requirements for the better paying jobs in your area then search for free, low cost, quick training courses at your local community colleges in those areas where your deficient. Take action and try not to lose hope.
Tim, this is the new reality that exists in America today. The key to surviving it is flexibility. Either to moving, or changing career, or working non-traditional hours. But the situations middle-aged workers are losing at a growing rate cannot be recovered or duplicated. They're gone forever and the key to succeeding is to let them go and be open to new opportunities and malleable enough to adapt yourself to them.