Unemployment and National Public Radio

The email came to me a few weeks ago. It was from NPR’s Marketplace radio asking if I wanted to discuss my current lack of employment. Like most emails that come my way, I think of them as spam and usually I do not respond to them. They always seem to be more trouble than their worth. However, since I am unemployed I have that luxury of time and decided it might be fun to fill out their survey. You never know what they might find in my life intriguing.

I filled out the survey and didn’t think about again. I mean when think about it, who would want the opinion of a 49-year-old who is, going on six months of unemployment, who used to work in the high tech industry, and now finds himself twiddling his thumbs and doing the occasional freelance writing gig. Would you care about his situation, really?

So imagine my surprise when a reporter from NPR Marketplace called me Friday morning and asked if I would like to be interviewed concerning my frustrating employment situation. Mitchell Hartman, a reporter for NPR’s Marketplace called and we talked for about 10 minutes. We discussed how I came to be unemployed and how the job market is stagnant here in Southern California.

We went on to discuss the struggles most of us have in trying to find a job in this rough economy. I mentioned that an experienced worker who is approaching age 50, my employment competition seems to be getting much younger, and that finding a decent job let alone any job was a tough thing right now. He asked about my family and how we are all coping with having me be unemployed for so long. My wife who is now the breadwinner and my teenage daughters who one now is in college and the other two are approaching that time. I told him about how important it is for me to keep appearances up and how not to let the down feelings get to myself or the family.

Overall, I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss my situation with NPR Marketplace. However, I know my story is not nearly as dire as many of my friends who are in the same situation. Getting on my soapbox and preaching a bit to anyone who will listen was therapeutic. I hope that maybe someone listening will have an answer to our current economic situation. I for one would much rather be working than just talking about wanting to work.