More than 750 Americans between the ages of 18 and 76 who have recently struggled to find work shared their experiences with Business Insider. Those insights illustrate some universal frustrations with the job hunt, despite different locations, ages, and experience levels.
Through emails and an online form, readers shared stories of fierce competition for white-collar roles and lower-paying gigs alike. Many older respondents said they couldn’t secure a decently paying job after layoffs, and some Gen Zers and young millennials said they couldn’t land a job in their field, despite advanced degrees.
Nearly all respondents were worried about their finances, from single parents who had to skip bills and enroll in SNAP to put food on the table to those who drained their retirement accounts, were forced to downsize their homes, or moved in with their relatives.
In September, job openings fell to the lowest level in over three years. The unemployment rate has been low, but …