Some see it as a curse, some see it as a way to get free money from the government, and some see it as pure laziness. There is a new crisis emerging that is becoming a norm for many, and it is falling upon our society. This crisis is known as unemployment. With all of these different opinions, it is important to understand the facts because, not only is unemployment unhealthy and dangerous for the community now, it can negatively impact the future as well.
Unemployment is “the state of being unemployed,” or for better words, the state of not having a steady income. It is often caused by upgrades in technology, recessions, depressions, and outsourcing. With new inventions being broadcasted nationally everyday, it becomes normal to lose jobs or to be let go.
Since COVID-19 plagued the nation with disease and famine, many people have become unemployed. As a result, unemployment benefits and stimulus checks have been provided to some members of society. Although many search day and night for work, they are not always successful.
In the state of California, in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, “You must: Have earned enough wages during the base period, be totally or partially unemployed, be unemployed through no fault of your own, be physically able to work, be available for work, be ready and willing to accept work immediately.” This does not apply to any person classified as disabled.
Business Daily has stated that the average unemployment rate in the United States is equivalent to about 6 million unemployed citizens in 2022. This meant they were unable to safely fund themselves and their families. They also mentioned Latino and African American citizens are the most affected by unemployment, with their unemployment rates being a respective 4.5-6.4% which is higher than the national rate.
Unemployment and homelessness often go hand and hand with each other, and both factors have taken a large toll on the American economy. USA FACTS also declared that out of the 6 million people in the U.S that were unemployed in 2022, 582,000 of them were also homeless.
If the unemployment crisis is not resolved soon, many people will continue to suffer.