Jobs everywhere, but can they pay the bills?

Sadly around here I do not see that many as you do, but I also know that the unemployment stats are not counting the ones who are not receiving and or are no longer eligible for unemployment. So this is why it looks like it is going down. As for some job that open up form time to time I seem to have recalled around here that they were paying only the minimum wage, so no not enough to pay the bills but enough to eat, for several weeks during the month, I suppose.

really havenbt been looking but I know the kids that were staying with us used the temp co and they had a very hard job getting a job or for it to last long and most of them pay $8 and up so above min wage I think.

Austin has a fairly low unemployment rate, but you are right, the really good jobs aren't that much around. I have a friend who works temp for a computer company and they just laid off 2 of 3 people this last week. He was the one they kept, but he's got some "survivor's guilt" for doing so.

I work and make only engouh to pay my bills nothing more I am sitting here in a state with out family and friends and a good job a waits me back home but I cant even get the 500 together to get my car fixed to go home and I do need my car for my new job there. In a few months after these people I am renting a room from gets their house sold I will be homeless because I have no one here and know my with my wages i would not be able to afford a apartment or other another reason for wanting to go home I am 59 years old and starting to have health issues where living near family and friends will benfit me i just want to get my car working to leave and go home pray for me

Hi jen... Our guys are also suffering from unemployment problem and now its a burning question all over the country. In my province, most guys are labors and some are in companies. we had some good factories but now most of them are closed and thousands workers are roaming here and there. I dont know when this problem will be solved as population us also increasing in a rapid speed. Have a nice day.

There are a lot of jobs that pay the minimum wage now as people are becoming less fussy. However, it's the YOUNG that are less fussy, i.e. the students. Everyone else kinda expects being paid more (including me) as we're used to it. Having said that, the jobs I've had in Cumbria (and there haven't been many) well, the pay was awful and that was before the recession hit. It all goes on areas of the country here. Carlisle is a city but a small city (although the countryside around it actually makes it the largest city in the UK) but anyway, wages here will not be the same as a bigger city like Newcastle in the East or Manchester further South. A friend of ours has a job in insurance and has to work in Manchester to make any money. He has a flat and bases himself there and comes back to Carlisle for the weekends. He once told me he could never do the equivalent job here in Carlisle as the pay "is a joke" as he puts it. Granted, we should all work for less in these difficult times but, with all the bills going up, so-called "decent" wages aren't even covering those. It's frightening how everything..from food, gas, electric, water rates, telephone, internet..EVERYTHING keeps going up but the wages stay the same. It makes no difference if you're in the private or public sector (unless you're in management), wages are crap. My nephew will do anything but even he can't find work. He will be 22 in December and I worry about him and what the future holds. It doesn't help when he gets the "third degree" at the Jobcentre when he signs on. As he said to me, "if there were jobs available to apply for, I'd do it..hassling me won't help."

I do know around here, the places that are hiring, most are part-time, and minimum wage. If you are lucky enough to find a full-time job, most of them are through temp services and paying just a bit over minimum wage. My husband still has a job, but came home yesterday saying that they are hurting. They have been cutting hours, since Japan's disaster. People have been sent home if their work has finished, they have laid people off, and things had been going pretty good. The news yesterday was not good, they will lay no more off, but will have every other Friday off, and will come in every day, do their work, which is low, and go home. They will be lucky to get 30 hours a week. We are a one income family, how can we live on that? We will see how that plays out. The jobs offered are not paying the bills. But the government says things are getting better, don't you believe them?

our Canadian government is trying to tell canadians about how many people are back to work and how many jobs they have created, however, like you say, most of these jobs are part time at minimum wage.

Sacramento is one of the worst job markets in the country right now. a friend who can't take a standing job (ie no restaurant or retail type jobs) due to physical limitations, cannot find an office job, even at minimum wage. As for me, I'd do the same, take whatever came up, and keep looking....

People live way beyond thgeir means & it will catch up to u sooner or later. There are no good jobs here & w/goodyear closing it's going to be horrible around here for many. I know i sound like ms. doom & gloom but that's what it's going to be. WITH goodyear being the major employer around here & 1900 people losing their jobs all it can be is bad.There will be no jobs that pays anything like Goodyear did. I'm afraid that some of them have not saved a penny, spent everything they made & bought anything that they could whether they needed it or not. It's very sad when people don't ever think about that rainy day but they definitely come around.

I think things are opening up here as well for the Spring season. I remember back afew years before my mom got sick. I had set a goal for myself. I wanted to work at Sears. It was a customer service job and one where you called people and got them to pay their bill. Good money and good benefits. I wanted it because it was a tough one and I wanted to push myself. So, I got a chance to take their test. Did so and passed and went on to the interview. And passed that. Ya, I got the job. I was so pleased with myself. Then we got the news my mother was sick. Dying of cancer and hospis put her in a home. I am an only child and felt very responsible. So I quit this great job I had pushed myself to get and took a part time celisitor job working in the mornings and visiting mom in the afternoons and evenings. You never know what is going to happen. I think if people really want to work they will find a job and if it doesn't fit they will move on. I get so irritated with people who won't take just any job and started bringing in some money. They have to have just the right one. I want to pop them up side the head and lecture them.

there is a ton of minimum wage jobs. and the immagrants take them up because they are not as picky like some of us and dont have as high a bills. most americans have gotten spoiled to cutting back on certain things. i say most because 2 of my kids have learned to do this and have the minimal wage jobs. thats because they take in others and jam up like the immigrants do. most mexicans here have way to many family members live with them that all chip in. but thats how it has to be done these days. some just cant get to that point. families need to pull together and most americans wont, sadly. also, my youngest would not take a job that gives him less then his unemployment. im not sure what can be done about that. my youngest daughter though says, her unemployment just deducts from her job. not sure how that works. didnt know you could do that. now if something could be set up like that, many more would probably work.

The Australian government released the annual budget and this time it is targeted towards getting more people off welfare and into jobs which is very commendable but there are issues with no answers. I watched a financial minister being interviewed this morning; when the interviewer asked him how mothers who want to go back into the workforce but cannot afford the astronomical childcare fees should cope, his reply was, and “Well...We must make the most of what we’ve got...” What kind of answer is that? Women need to work because bills are so high these days but cannot afford to go...Go figure...

Jen- Years ago when I worked in the restaurant industry to help pay for college bills I made around 2.75 an hour because tips were said to make up the difference and provide me minimum wage. A lot of places still do this with their wait staff though we never hear about it. It's a rough way to earn an income and why I've always tried to make sure I'm providing an adequate tip. The entire situation in America is just sickening if you ask me. The problem I face is that I'm over qualified. I cannot get a low wage job to take me because of my education, and currently I've not found any schools willing to pay for me because I'm too costly. It's just a rough time all around. Namaste-Anora

Well, the nice thing is I do have a job, but am also looking for something different more closer to home. I have even been privaledged enough to have a couple of Job interviews along the way as well. I have had interviews most of the time for at least what I am making now, and a couple of them were even better, but then there was one that was just over minimum wage as well. (That one was the most demanding as well.) I think personally it really depends on what a person needs that will work for them, and really depending on where you live, etc. depends on if something could help pay all the Bills for you as well. Just wish for everyone there could always be an easier solution.

If your country is anything like ours, the majority of people, even those on welfare handouts live pretty well. Mind you, I don't think those on welfare pay many bills but they have late model cars (I have no idea where they get them or how they keep them), are always going somewhere, they have computers, mobile phones and smoke and drink and eat out most of the time. The job situation in your country will get a lot worse before it gets better. It's time to tighten your belts and look at your situation because there are some hard times ahead. Many families will have to give up most of the luxury in their lives. Household and personal spending will need to be heavily reduced and entertainment slashed totally. I'm not talking everyone of course but I'm thinking of those who live from pay cheque to pay cheque, who spend money they don't have using credit cards, those who have no savings, those who spend their money with no thought of saving something for a rainy day those who think nothing of having a second car or buying anything they see in shops or on-line like EBay. It's hard to do but it can be done. I eat very plain food. A treat is toast with jam. I don't go out anywhere, I browse through charity stores for clothes if I need something, I buy goods second hand and I go without many repairs and make do however best I can. I do volunteer work and I have my critters to keep me company. I find it very strange that people are being fussy about taking jobs. A low paying job is better than no job at all....surely people can see that.

Most of the jobs here are minimum wage and with gas prices the way that they are and most jobs part time, it is hard to find jobs that pay you to work. I live in a rural area and I have to drive about 20 miles to a job and then if you are only working a few hours a week, you really aren't making a salary at all. It is sad that things are like this.

Dear friend, Here is also jobs are available, it is South of India. But at times if it is in private the work load is much more. Moreover the security of job is less. Most people here tend to get jobs either in government or in some reputed MNC companies. There are also small scale and large scale business men here. Some also are self employed. But the life style compared to other much developed countries is much far. If one search for job there is job but mostly people want jobs that they see there is some place in the society. Most people here job that is mostly gives them respect from other people.

great points, Jen! I see the same thing in my area as well. Many people don't want to take those jobs because they make more in unemployment benefits than they would at the job. I think the people on welfare face the same challenge. A job in a restaraunt is usually well under minimum wage and the worker relies on tips. On a slow day, one could put in 8 hours and yet only earn less than 10.00 for the day. A lot of these places only hire part time or temporary help so that they don't have to pay benefits as well. I know for myself that it would be very difficult for me to take even a small cut in pay. I haven't had a raise in a long while and with costs of everything going up, I am stretched to the limit as it is. And that is just paying the bills and getting a minimum of groceries.....no extras. I think the unemployment numbers are decieving. They don't really,truly reflect how people are doing financially. In my opinion the economy is horrible regardless of those numbers. Then again, I work in a convenience store and it just amazes me how many people come in and regularly blow away 80.00 or more on lottery tickets or don't think twice about spending over 5.00 for a half gal. of icecream etc.

Unions have cost Americans so many jobs. Now big and small companies are outsourcing everything overseas. Unless you want this country to become a welfare state, it's best to get some real needed training for today's challenges.