Tagged: Unemployment

Science & Technology

If a depression begets depression, will the concept of mental illness be altered?

For the last several decades, depression rates have been on the rise at a rapid pace. At the same time, the economy was in a boom. Socioeconomic status is a variable that has been shown over and over again to affect the likelihood to experience depression; there is an inverse relationship between income/wealth and depression. If the economy was better a few years ago and depression rates were up, it is imperative that we think about what is happening and...

Class & Stratification / Political & Economic Sociology / Sociology of Organizations & Work

Extended Periods of Unemployment Ahead?

Unemployment data indicate that 3.4 out of 14.8 million Americans have been unemployed for one year or more. In other words, 23 percent of Americans have been seeking employment for at least one year. Director of the Pew Fiscal Analysis Initiative Ingrid Schroeder explains that an inverse relationship exists between duration of unemployment and likelihood of securing employment. People experiencing longer periods of unemployment are less likely to find jobs than people experiencing shorter periods of unemployment. Schroeder comments: “People...

Class & Stratification / Political & Economic Sociology / Sociology of Organizations & Work

Smuggling Tunnels in Gaza Strip

by smteixeirapoit Palestinians have created hundreds of tunnels under the Gaza Strip-Egypt border to circumvent the Israeli blockade. In the border town of Rafah, Palestinians secure employment in these tunnels, smuggling goods such as food, livestock, appliances, and electronics. The work in the tunnels is not only dirty, but also dangerous. Sometimes, Israel bombs the tunnels or the tunnels collapse. Oftentimes, workers are buried alive. One might question: Why would Palestinians choose to work in these conditions? In the Gaza...

Political & Economic Sociology / Sociology of Organizations & Work

Unemployed in America

by smteixeirapoit In 1962, economist Arthur Okun stated that when the economy expands, employment rises at a predictable rate and when the economy contracts, employment declines at a similar rate. Recently, Lawrence Summers, Director of President Barack Obama’s National Economic Council, commented that “Okun’s Law” may be incorrect. In the United States, employment rates decreased faster than Okun’s law predicted. Although Okun’s law suggested that the unemployment rate should be around 8.5 percent, it is around 10.0 percent. A recent...

Gender & Sexuality

Mr. Mom and the Recession

by socanonymous The current recession has been dubbed the “he-cession”, referring to the fact that it is predominantly males that are being laid off.  The female unemployment rate has been relatively stable in certain industries.  A role reversal in some domestic household activities has taken place.  The notion of female breadwinners is not a new phenomenon but it does provide for a unique opportunity to closely examine the effects of an economic downturn on changing family structures.  Power relations and...

Political & Economic Sociology / Sociology of Law, Crime and Deviance

Check The Box

Due to the current state of the economy of the United States many individuals across the country are concerned about job security.  With the current unemployment rate in the U.S. climbing to 7.2 % (U.S. Labor Department), those who are unemployed are finding it extremely difficult to obtain employment with so many competing in the job market.  For many, maintaining or obtaining employment is on their mind from the moment they awake until they fall asleep, with some even finding...