Unexpected unemployment

" I have to applaud people for making changes to their lives. If people are fed up with the situation in K-falls, then move. Go somewhere with more people which in turn will mean more job opportunities. I moved from Klamath to Portland after a month of being laid off (I had savings) and I found a job within a week of being in PDX. "

" Where is the one time help for home0owners having trouble with their mortgage for a month to prevent foreclosure forever. It seems crisis center, Hud,Welfare, unemployment, united way, League of women voters, all help the poor, where the Big Bucks are for administrative costs. But us Lower Income range or single mothers, have to wait for most desperate times POOR before we get help. How many Jeld Wen Men laid off and H&N employees are getting assistance within 30 days of unemployment. KF is known for bullying single mothers in employment and domestically, it is not surprising how far this county reaches. Perhaps we can start an organization here to support those not poor for one-time assistance or inform me of what that organizations name is. "

" to Roxanne:
Have you looked in the paper lately? Anywhere from 19 to 35 jobs . . and how many unemployed do we have in the basin? WAY more than that.

I agree that many people, not just here but across the nationa, have learned to work the system. But for those of us who WANT to work, there either are no jobs available or minimum wage jobs. Sorry, but minimum wage even in Oregon DOES NOT pay the bills and buy food for a family. Add taxes and insurance into the mix and we pretty much don't eat more than once a day now. "

" The inflation is WAY beyond any pay increases. Also, although I have a job today, I have no assurance it will last til retirement age although I have been employed by the say outfit for 31 years. Last years salary increase was such that I have had to reduce money going into a retirement account and my savings in the bank is almost gone. "

" In response to LE's comments...a degree only hurts you here in Klamath Falls/southern Oregon. I have lived in many areas of the country, and in other areas a college degree is required before employers will even look at you for a salaried position. So do not be discouraged - you will be glad someday that you have the degree. I do agree though, that being an educated person in Klamath Falls hurts your chances at getting many jobs where the employer feels you are "overqualified". So what is a person with a degree supposed to do, start all over again and get a different degree just to find a job in our town?? It is sad to read of the recent graduates that are just biding their time until they leave town...I go back to my earlier comment - we need more employers in town so that we are not just tied to one employment sector (so when, say, the building products market is low, we may have a market that isn't affected). This would also result in competition for employees, which would make current companies pay more to keep qualified employees. "

" I have been laid off for 2 months now. I'm unable to find work. Keeping a roof over my sons head is a constant struggle. I have had to move in roommates to pay a share of my monthly bills. I have to sell my valuable posessions whenever new bills are due. I just sold my car. This economy is destroying the lives of too many in our community. "

" I am out of here on 6-15-09. The job market is bleak for everyone but especially so for new grads. I have invested too much time and money in my education to sit in one of the dead end crap jobs that are available. I will also be "overqualified" for many of the open positions. I have two options, stay at my current job with great hours, decent pay but terrible conditions. Or I can go to graduate school and hope the job outlook improves.

Im taking the get out of town option. "

" Employment opportunities here in the basin are few and far between. With the exception of the medical and academic fields, there are few skilled jobs available. What's left is minimum wage or near minimum positions, with no benefits; often only part time.

Applicants are herded in like cattle and subjected to three and four interviews with extensive background checks. The final rule being, "don't call us, we'll call you!"

Perhaps it's just the volume of people out of work that makes it such an employers market. What we need is more manufacturing or semi-manufacturing jobs to level the field for employees and provide a more "living wage". "

" I graduated with a 4 year degree in 2007 and then moved out here to be close to my mom who is disabled. I have been looking for work full time since last october and am still looking.

Having a 4 year degree has not helped my job search. If anything it's hindered it, because no one will hire me for lower end jobs such as clerical work or retail because I am "overqualified" for those positions. I have had to move in with my parents and my student loans are unpaid and gathering interest.

Employers no longer care much about your level of education. Unless you plan on going into the medical field I would suggest you skip the university and go through an apprenticeship or trades program instead. "

" I've been in on the interview process at my company for the past several weeks. We had one opening at our company and we were overwhelmed with people who applied. I felt terrible that we couldn't hire all of the applicants- so many of them desperately need medical coverage and a decent paycheck to take care of their families. Everyone we interviewed was very nice, nicely dressed, arrived on time and conducted a good interview. The majority just didn't meet our very specific needs, but we did manage to find several outstanding candidates. This was probably one of the most difficult and heartbreaking processes I've ever encountered in Klamath Falls. There are so many qualified people out there for good honest work- why don't we have bigger companies that OUTSOURCE to Klamath Falls? We don't have the cost of living that some areas have and we have lots of qualified people who could do outsourced technical or financial work. We have many many people who have degrees and lots of work experience and a clean background with no drugs or alcohol problems. Here's my challenge to McCain and Obama- bring outsourced jobs to rural areas like Klamath Falls! You will be employing AMERICANS at a a living wage who are qualified and just want a decent chance at the American Dream! This is breaking my heart after meeting so many good people! "

" and let's not start on some of the crooked employERS around here. Just a reminder to business owners- if you want to drug test potential employees, you can't make them pay for it. BOLI says so. When you take FICA, SS, taxes and unemployment insurance out of people's paychecks, you aren't supposed to put that money in your pocket. "

" The unemployment rate in the Klamath Basin is always above the national average. Why? The type of population the basin has. There are many people living here who will never work, by choice. They live on the system, and have learned generation by generation how to work it so they can live without working. There are a lot of lazy people in the Klamath Basin. People with very poor work ethics. When you are hired to do a job, you should expect nothing more than your paycheck for doing that job. Anything above and beyond such as a bonus, or a free turkey at the holidays, or paid vacation, or sick leave, is only icing on the cake. It is not required! Until people change their attitude from "you owe me" to "I will earn it" there will always be a problem. So if you're whining about unemployment - look at the want ads in the paper. Be creative. There are jobs for people who are WILLING to work. "

" One thing I noticed when I was unemployed was it is not what you know in this town, rather who you know. I applied at many jobs and never even got a call back. I have seen people go in for the same job I applied for with less qualifications and get the job because their Aunt Sally knows the hiring persons Uncle Jack. Honest hardworking people such as myself get pushed aside not because of our credentials but rather because they don't know us.

KCC has wonderful ideas for expanding and helping out the economy. I am an alumni of KCC and the funding they wanted from the community to help the community was fair and reasonable, but no-one wanted to pan out that kind of money. It's rather sad because the same thing happened with our healthcare to those who truly needed the assistance and our public schools. It seems that many people love living in a sales tax free state so much that they don't want to dip into their pockets for a few measly cents per day to better our economy, our community, and have pride in where they live.

I have only lived in Klamath less than 10 years, but there are many who treat me like I shouldn't have moved here, that I should go back to where I came from, regardless of where I moved from. I hear a lot of Klamath residents complain mostly about the Californians who move up here- but they move here to better their lives, not get treated poorly because of where they are from. And then people wonder why big companies don't want to move here? "

" msn subscriber, I have no dependents and I qualified for financial aid. All i did was fill out the form online and submit it. I didn't cheat on it. There are grants and scholarships available (free money you don't have to pay back), as well, although finding them is time-consuming. There are a million excuses why one can't go to school, of course. I know because I yammered them off for 20 years, myself. If you aren't willing to do the legwork to better your life, your life will always suck. "

" It is very hard, if not impossible to get financial aid when you have no dependants. I tried. And also very hard to go to school and work a full time job because you have to to keep a roof over your head. Not everyone had the option of getting public assistance to support them while they go to school and not everyone qualifies to have the government pay the cost for them to go to school. And I am sorry, but the thought of taking out a bunch of loans when you cant garantee you will find a job to pay them back is very scary. My point is that is not that simple to just "go back to school" or "move away". "

" The last thing small business needs is government intervention. Why rely on government to recruit businesses? What sucks is county government soliciting a COB plant and offering them millions in tax breaks, while constantly foreclosing on good, honest, working lifelong county citizens. Government is the last hurrah we need to explore for bettering our area. 3 people are going to decide for the rest of us? 3!!! I'm a local high school grad, have a 4-yr. degree in Business, and can't get an interview, even when applying at a local wood shop asking for anything. Seems that businesses here are looking for outside help to help them get ahead. Local educational institutions usually help teach to keep educated youth locally. Not Here! Our business leaders have zero faith in our local educational systems. Why else are they telling their own kids to MOVE AWAY?! Now, because back in the day...Timber and Agriculture were so booming that it did not matter if one was educated or not. Manual Labor paid high dollars. It did not matter what stores charged for products/services. Everybody could afford it. BUT...when timber almost disappeared, and agriculture is suffering, Local Businesses and government did not want to give up their cash cows to look after their local residents. Lavish business and government lives are what's more important than what's really important to the masses. Stand up to Big Businesses that fund the pockets of local politicians. Sure, they aren't experiencing grief or strife through the rest of our turbulent times. They're making the big dollars. Both Big Businesses and the Politicians. Stand up with the rest of us little people that PAY THEIR BILLS!! They do not want the educated around here, because of what we know. They are out of their cash cow, as soon as we get a foot-hold. We are here for the masses. I love it here and want to see it prosper again. But when the big-wigs keep us down, the rest of everybody else stays down, too. EXCEPT THE BIG-WIGS! They remain in "Power!" I'm just looking to help the masses. Then the payoff will be the greatest! "

" I agree with the Anonymous post - we need more large companies to move in... until then, it is very hard to justify staying.

I currently work 5 (yes 5) jobs. My day job, 2 part time jobs, and 2 side businesses. My husband works 3 jobs - His day job a part time job and a side business.

Our day jobs are not low paying - but to get ahead and stay ahead with rising costs we've found it necessary to branch out.

There work is out there - sometimes you have to create it, sometimes you have to work hours you'd rather spend with family and friends, sometimes you have to do work you really do not enjoy. "

" Where's the severe judgement about financial aid? "

" Wow...you people are very judgemental. I am assuming that the people that wrote the severe comments on drug use, financial aid, etc. have never been in a situation where they have lost their job. In this town, it does not always matter whether or not you have an education or whether you have never done a drug in your life - opportunities are very limited. Easy for people to say "just move", but if you have a spouse in a good job or a family tied to the area, that is not always the best choice. There are plenty of hard working, honest people that have trouble finding employment in this area. Rather than being judgemental of the comments from folks, how about we talk about what would help the area? Only having a couple large employers does not help the future of the town...our government needs to be actively recruiting employers to the area. Should not be hard - we are half way between San Fran and Portland, with wonderful weather and natural beauty. Having the town tied to more than one employment sector is what will help in the future. Personally, I am an educated person with a spouse that has a great job in town...but the professional opportunities here are non-existent. I am looking for a job outside of Klamath Falls - we would love to stay, but until the area offers decent higher end jobs, it is tough to justify staying in town. "

" Pete,
I couldn't agree with you more. Technical proffessional education is drastically needed to "survive" downturns in the economy. I wish other would listen. KCC tried to pass a bond levy this spring, that would have drastically increased their space for these very kinds of education, providing labs for medical training, etc. Unfortunately, the voters looked at it as costing them more money, (ie, the equivalent of a couple going out to a decent dinner twice a year!) and said no. The businesses in the area have the need, and they understand how important it is.. (did you notice how many "yes on KCC" signs there were at small businesses around town???) Lets hope the voters actually think of the long term ramifications of their short term voting habits before november. "

" Someplace along the phases of human development, I believe we all become teachers. I've reached back to my teens when I was part of the old "Consciousness Raising" groups at home parties, to my college days when I studied PE & fitness, maybe private lessons in kayaking (touring, not too much whitewater) for those over 50-lol. Teaching is uplifting work a kind of celebration to what I've learned in life and would like to pass on to others, but I sure have to work at it. "

" This wave of unemployment was not unexpected. The signs were all around us but few people want to flex with the times. When a sector is downsizing, like manufacturing, the workforce has to retool, rethink and CHANGE! We want govt. to change but many times, we are not willing to choose another path. I agree with Pete that now is the time to acquire new skills and training. Clouds can have silver linings but it is never easy to change careers. "

" Jennifer there's this thing called financial aid you can apply for to go back to school. "

" I disagree with Pete that the reason for people not being able to find good jobs is due to alcohol/drug abuse, or laziness. I recently lost my job due to the economy, and I assure you it was not because of drugs or alcohol. i personally would love to go back to school, but not being able to come up with $6000 for tuition and finding the time to do it when you live pay check to paycheck and it takes all your time just to try to pay your bills, let alone go to school. And it is not that easy when you have no savings to just pack p and move somewhere else to seek work. It has nothing to do with laziness or drug use. "

" I fully agree with "Any Work". I also say: dig in and get more technical or college training. Lots of technical, medical and other areas need qualified workers...But you have to study and prepare which is more work than it seems many people want to do. You have to not abuse alcohol or do drugs. And, many of us have had to move around to get the better job and advance to higher pay levels. "

" My first technical professional job was lost in the 80's in a big city and I went to work cleaning houses for people. I made $10/hour when average wage was about $5 doing. I could clean so fast and so thoroughly that I did it by the job and it averaged way above the hourly rate. I still managed to pay for my health insurance (high deductable)and my house payment (which was manageable).Drove an old clumker car and didn't eat out or anything like that. It kept me alive in the time when others were moaning about no work and I have several college degrees. Nothing, and I mean nothing, that is honest work is below me when times are tough.
I went to college in the 1970's recession and hauled and stacked wood to earn money. It's all in your attitude. In my husband's family, they ALL had jobs as kids and contributed the $ to a central fun to help pay for things when times got tough. "