KessieWhat you shared is pretty much the truth. Employers & employees have hit an impasse. Employers won't take the time or expense to train people for their open positions. Employees can't afford the cost of the training themselves.
Obama attempted to solve this problem but as always, went about it all wrong. He only made pell grants available to the unemployed and at the community colleges. I honestly think it was an attempt to push people into the professions it was 'thought' there were or would be jobs in. It failed. I've heard story after story from people who tried to retrain in another industry, only to not be able to fine work because they didn't have several years of experience.
Another reason it failed is because, despite what the media keeps reporting, not all the 'hot' jobs are available everywhere. Now, if you want to move out into the middle of nowhere, Kansas, you might be able find a nursing or teaching job. However, in the city - these fields are glutted.
I know the high demand jobs locally and I know why employers can't fill them. They're either so specialized that the person they're looking for already has a job with five offers on the table, or so low paying it isn't worth the time or effort to do them, or they're undesirable for other reasons. So of course, employers are trying to hire for them and can't and just don't understand why, with all the people who are looking, they can't find anyone.
I'm afraid attitudes have to change both with employers and employees. Thing is, I don't think that is going to happen because employees have already sent the message that some jobs - they just won't take.
And yes, I'm among them. That's why I pass on many jobs, which I'm sharing below.
Healthcare - can't stand the sight of blood, run from needles, don't like dealing with sick people and have no interest in learning the terminology.
Babysitting preschoolers. I'm the LAST person you want to leave your infant or toddler with. I have no patience with children under five.
Retail or restaurant. Bad hours. Worse wages. Treated horribly by both management and customers. Besides, there are only three holidays a clerk gets off - maybe - and it ruins Christmas.
Answer phones. People are very rude. I also have a health issue with my ears that makes this a dangerous option. I have significant hearing loss just after two weeks. Includes call centers with a high turnover rate.
Sales. I don't like trying to sell people something they actually don't want or the fact that if you don't sell, sell, sell, you go bye-bye. High turnover, burn out rate.
Glorified secretary. I'm one of those who tell my boss to do it him/her self. There are a number of titles for this including legal clerk, paralegal, medical assistant, receptionist, administrative assistant - to name a few.
Any type of outdoor work. Hate getting cold or wet. Bad allergies that cause sinus migraines.
File/mail clerk. Have spent way too many years wasting my talents in what was supposed to be an entry level position. It never was. Won't do this again if I can avoid it.
Financial industry. Been there. Done That. Good at it. Hate it. Besides, with a bankruptcy, they won't look at me for at least 3-5 years.
Legal. Just don't care for the field.
High tech. WAAAAYYYY over my head. Not something I'm good at.
What I want - a job in Education or as a corporate trainer. Difficult to find due to a glut in education, numerous layoffs or lack of corporate headquarters locally. Would also go after a writing/editing positions, but those are also hard to come by.
Companies just don't come here because of the high cost of living, behind the times transit system, despite the constant bragging it's one of the best. I know that isn't true because I've lived in cities where it's much better. And reason number three, congested highways.
Yeah, I'm really down about the whole thing. I hate job hunting and that's all I've done for the last ten years and worked bad survival jobs. To say I'm disillusioned and wanting to toss the towel in and stay home is an understatement. Just wish I had the option.
The only good thing that has happened is that I've met tons of editors, publishers, writers and artists. The list of who I know is ridiculous. I get a little startled when I say I know so and so and the person I'm talking to is shocked. Had that happen at Conquest when a gal was looking at Theresa Mather's work and I commented I knew the artist. She looked at me and said, 'You do?' I then shared how I met Theresa. DH and I are on good terms with her and her husband. They invited us to drop by if we're ever in their neighborhood.
I'm not bragging. I've just been around enough to have gotten the chance to get to know many of the big names. One nice thing about Science Fiction fandom - you can talk to your favorite authors and artists. I've even gotten to thank several for the help/insight they gave me on my work. Two that come to mind are Christie Golden and Hillari Bell. (No relation.)
Time for me to shut up. I'm just as frustrated as everyone else is with the lack of decent work and not being able to do anything to change my circumstances due to money or lack of opportunity.
I don't mind working. I just need to do something that I don't feel is complete and total waste of my time and talent. And yes, God and I have been round and round about this.