It’s been three months since The Underemployed Life launched. During that time, we’ve solved the problem of underemployment. Our work here is now officially over. Thank you and good night. Wait, what? We didn’t fix it? Underemployment is actually worse now? It’s still a raging fire devouring the globe? I’m exaggerating for comic effect?
So, underemployment…..We all know it’s awful to work at a job that doesn’t utilize our skills or education. A lot of us waste our creativity and intellect in jobs that only give us a paycheck, and nothing more. That’s not good for us as individuals, and it isn’t good for society. A society prospers when it’s citizens are engaged in meaningful work.
“Starting July 1st, we’re adding several new contributors to the site. Young, middle, and older aged writers, from different backgrounds and all walks of life, giving their own take on underemployment.”
We created this website as a response to what we view as an escalating problem. We hear a lot about wage stagnation, student debt, outsourcing, and other issues that dance around the subject of underemployment. However, there aren’t many places that directly attack and discuss the topic head on. It’s our contention, that this problem needs a loud voice. We felt it was important to have a space where this, and only this issue was the center of the content.
Underemployment is also a global issue. It is by no means a problem isolated to the United States. We’ve received messages from readers around the globe who are unhappy with their prospects in life. Many feel there’s little room for them to gain a foothold in their economy. They feel like the good jobs are already taken or out of reach. These are people who have spent a lot of money going to college, and acquiring skills their country told them would be needed. Now, they’re being undermined by staggering debt, and job prospects that are bleak.
This problem is big, but not so big that collectively it can’t be grappled with and resolved. And we really do think it can be resolved, despite data that suggest otherwise. Statistically the numbers are stark. Underemployment affects nearly 23 million in this country alone. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts most of the jobs created in the next decade will primarily be in low paying, low skilled jobs. This is troubling news. It certainly needs more attention than it gets. Young and old alike are rightfully pissed off, angry, and want action.
In the coming months The Underemployed Life will feature more interviews with people we think you’ll want to hear from. We’ll be speaking to economists, documentary filmmakers, business owners, and others who have something of substance to say about underemployment. We’ll also be promoting other voices that are committed to addressing the realities of widespread underemployment.
What we’re most excited about though, is the addition of new writers. Starting July 1st, we’re adding several new contributors to the site. Young, middle, and older aged writers, from different backgrounds and all walks of life, giving their own take on underemployment. We look forward to publishing thought provoking pieces that will engage, entertain, and get you talking.
Being underemployed is a state of mind as much as a job issue. There is no one type of “underemployed” person. We all have our own story as to why we are where we are. That’s why The Underemployed Life has a community message board. We want that board to light up with readers engaging in discussions intended to connect, debate, and find ways out of this seemingly intractable problem. It’s the staff’s hope that The Underemployed Life will become a home where the underemployed can gather to share their stories, and work towards resolving the myriad problems that prevents us from reaching our goals.
We also have a separate message board called Advertise Yourself. This is where you can take some steps on your terms towards the kind of jobs that you want. We’ll be talking at length in a separate post, on Advertise Yourself, and our goals for that part of the website. We think there’s a way for us to create a brighter future without so much bureaucracy. At the very least, we want to make it easier for underemployed job seekers and employers to find each other. We think there’s a better way, and we think Advertise Yourself can be that better way.
Lastly, we want and need your input. If there are ideas you think would be good for us to implement, let us know. If there are people you want us to cover or interview, email us. We’ve been taught that the world is a certain way, and if things don’t work out for you, it says something about your lack of will or ability. We call bullshit. We think there are systemic problems in our world that aren’t being addressed fairly. The shittiest people of the world are winning. We want to reverse that ugly trend. We hope you join us in that fight.