eal Life: Unemployment in a Changing Economy

In the late 1990's, the United States found itself in the midst of an economic boom that would have been unimaginable only a decade earlier. Demand for workers continued to grow to such an extent that by 2000, the final year of the boom, were more than 143 million jobs in the nation. Unemployment dipped blow 4 percent.

Looking for Work: During such a period of frenzied demand for workers, some people thought that anyone who wanted a job could get one. They were wrong. Even in periods of so-called "full employment", there are alyays qualified people without jobs.Some companies move, while others fail. Some workers live in areas where there are few jobs available that match teir skills. Take Rick Taber, for example, a highly educated, skilled accountant who lives about 100 miles from boston. When the company he worked for got purchased by another firm, he lost his job. There were jobs available in boston, but rick didnt want to move there. He spent almost a year searching for a job near his home that would match his skills and experience, but eventually had to take a job for which he was overqualified.

Older workers: Sometimes older workers have trouble finding jobs because of the emphasis on youth in the job makretplace. Many energetic mena an women in their 50s and 60s with years of experience in their fields, ahve difficulty finding work because some companies prefer to hire younger employees, who tend to work for smaller salaries.

Effects of Technology: In addition, the technology that helped create millions of new jobs in high tech industries has also eliminated jobs in other areas. Many bank tellers, for example, have lost their jobs because computers and machines do many of their tasks more cheaply and efficiently. Telephone operaters are being replaced by automated phone systems. As technology continues to perform routine tasks more efficiently, more and more Americans will fin themselves switching jobs, and perhaps occupations.