Unemployment Jumped 70 percent in 2008 for People over 55-Years-Old

By Janice Gibbs, tdtnews.com

August 17, 2009

It’s no secret that the job market is tight, but a segment of the population losing jobs at a high rate and experiencing a far more difficult time re-entering the workforce has largely gone unnoticed.

Between January 2008 and January 2009, the number of unemployed workers age 55 and older increased 70 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Temple area is not immune to this problem and local social service providers are seeing more of this group seeking assistance.

Recently, individuals representing social service organizations and businesses met to discuss the problems of middle age and mature workers who have been laid off or have had hours reduced and are now having problems paying their bills.

“It’s a hard age to start over, but there are opportunities,” Judy Morales, Temple Help Center director, said.

Using suggestions and observations discussed during the meeting, officials determined it would be beneficial to this group of displaced workers to hold a workshop with representatives from various groups and businesses all in one location.

Age is just one of the challenges older unemployed people experience. Many have held the same job for numerous years and don’t know how to do a job search, or have limited or no computer skills.

Esther Roque, case manager at Temple Help Center , said she has seen some who have been looking for new jobs for months on end with no success.

“Many have worked all of their lives and have established their credit, but it’s now in jeopardy,” Morales said.

There are seniors at risk of losing their homes.

“The last six months have been the most challenging time in my career as far as what we can approve and how we can go about approving those loans,” said Stan Jackson, senior vice president at Extraco. Jackson has been involved in mortgage loans since 1983.

The credit rating is probably the single most important factor from a lender’s standpoint, and most people don’t know their credit score, he said.

“In today’s lending environment, if their credit score is low, no one is going to help them,” Jackson said.

Vickie Gilmore, center administrator of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, said Workforce provides a host of services including helping those who don’t know how to look for jobs in today’s market.

There is stimulus money for short-term training programs, Gilmore said, but many can’t afford to go into training programs. They need a paycheck.

“For the first time we were seeing machinists and welders laid off, when before there had always been a shortage,” she said.

Hiring has started picking up for this group, Gilmore said.

L.J. King, education coordinator at the Killeen Help Center , said he is seeing veterans who were in civilian contract jobs on Fort Hood being laid off.

Maria Murpree, Killeen HELP Center case manager, said she is seeing more families moving in together.

The outlook is not completely bleak. New jobs are posted and positions are filled on a daily basis, said Tom Elmore, career center supervisor with Workforce Solutions.

The individuals who met to discuss the problem of the older unemployed worker will meet again this week with more agencies represented.

Attendance at the initial meeting included Temple and Killeen Help Centers , Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, the United Way of Central Texas, Extraco Bank, Temple College Business Incubator and Experience Works.

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