The U.S. economy may have escaped a double-dip recession, but millions of workers have not: They’ve experienced a double dip of unemployment.
Last year, almost 4.2 million workers experienced two or more jobless spells, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week. That represents one-fifth of the 20.3 million people who were jobless for part of 2009 and worked part of the year. The numbers are daunting, and they don’t count independent contractors or freelancers who experienced periods without assignments.
Despite a jobless rate hovering near 10 percent, it’s important to remember that nine in 10 workers still have jobs – and that’s where’s the dual-downsized individuals want to aim, said Duncan Mathison, an executive career coach near San Diego, Calif. and co-author of “Unlock the Hidden Job Market.”
Anyone who’s been out of work for six months or longer needs to guard against identifying with jobless individuals as their main community. “We only hang out with outsiders,” said Mathison. “It can be a lot of networking in all the wrong places,” he said, job search groups that offer support and empathy but little that advances the search. Job seekers must refocus their attention and energies to people and groups that may connect to new openings or opportunities.
Try these tips for revving up the search if facing a second bout of unemployment:
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- Job Search, Unemployment, Vickie Elmer
