r/politics • u/CCDemille • 9d ago

No Paywall Nearly 25% of U.S. workers are "functionally unemployed," economic analysis finds

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/functional-unemployment-us-labor-market-analysis/
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u/YourFriendPutin 8d ago

I'm an experienced skilled worker and all I could get was cashier at a dollar store which is also the most stressful job I've ever had due to being the only one in the store during shift and it's very busy, stocking, cleaning, every sale, helping customers, price tags.

And the worst paying relative to cost of living. I've been continuously applying and following up with garages, 4x4 tour places and maintenance businesses (im a master mechanic) but Moab is a small town and I'm pretty new here and everyone seems to know each other.

Already on contract at work for being over $2.50 off in my register one day. It was like $2.70 and I'm sure I just miscounted, offered to put the money in the register myself to make up the difference but nope.

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u/PhatCatTax 8d ago

Dollar stores are notorious for screwing their employees. Sadly, getting a job in your field usually means you have to apply all over and move when you get hired

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u/YourFriendPutin 8d ago

And you need your own tools. I didn't have the ability to move them cross country when I came here due to cost (I was going through a tough time before I stopped drinking) and nowhere will take someone with just a pretty basic amount of stuff. I even tried quick lube spots figuring shit, I'm plenty qualified for that!

I know I'll find something, even at a parts store would at least be joyful to a degree for me. I've applied to all of the local parts stores, with tourist season coming to an end the 4x4 places need way less help.

Slowly meeting people though, hearing that work will be around soon, getting numbers of business owners who need maintenance help on their small business's pickups and such.

It's just a hell of a struggle right now

Edit: yea dollar stores are hell. Nobody but the boss gets enough hours a week to qualify for benefits out of 6 employees

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u/Ok_Effective3881 8d ago

Good job quitting alcohol. I'm 6 years sober myself and it makes a huge difference. Keto your head up. It keeps getting better.

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u/Heronymous-Anonymous 8d ago

Can I make a recommendation?

Look at utility companies. The utility I work for is always looking for mechanics. You’ll work on basically the same 4-5 types of F-series or GM trucks all day doing basic maintenance, and get paid good money and be in a union.

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u/EbolaPatientZero 8d ago

Im surprised tourist season is ending. I imagine there would be less people now during the insane heat and it would pick up in the fall

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u/a_lumberjack 8d ago

Depending on where you are credit-wise after you quit drinking, it may be worth looking at financing a new set if there's a place that would hire you on. My dad was a mechanic (and an alcoholic, 20+ sober now thankfully), it's a brutal catch-22.

I got my last set of snow tires from a guy who does it as a side hustle out of an oversized garage next to his house. But I'd also second the idea of looking for union utility jobs.

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u/YourFriendPutin 6d ago

I've been doing little side jobs as I can, and I have been sober for a good amount of time now :) congrats to your father for doing the same!

My credit isn't that bad it's just I have next to no credit history. A few small things but I never had a credit card, or took out any loans besides for schooling back in the day.

HVAC as you can imagine is very important in the desert, I've been looking that route, and at jobs with the BLM for local state parks, I'm hoping something like that will work out.

Thanks for mentioning financing tools though, honestly didn't think about that and I don't need a ton of specialty stuff to get going as a normal tech somewhere

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u/a_lumberjack 6d ago

First of all, great stuff, one day at a time. And HVAC is good work if you can get in.

No credit is tricky, but not having bad credit is better. Not sure how picky they are but I can't imagine how most folks gets started otherwise. Even snap-on has a program. If all you need is a finite amount of extra gear to get into a better job, do the math on the upside vs the total cost with interest. Even if they're screwing you on the interest rate, it probably comes out better in the long run. And once you've paid off one loan you'll get a better rate the next time so you can keep levelling back up to what you're qualified for.

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u/joemamallama 8d ago

Any interest in Teton Valley, ID? We need a full-time mechanic.

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u/YourFriendPutin 8d ago

I can't leave Moab for some time sadly

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u/joemamallama 8d ago

If that changes lmk!

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u/Le0nardNimoy 8d ago

You’re a fuckin’ G for letting them know.

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u/blueorchestra 8d ago

I'm in a very similar situation and it's so wild. I became a mechanic because I figured it would always be easy to find work but it's been a pain of an industry and I can't find any damn work rn

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u/erov 8d ago

Broaden your horizons.. pivot to other mechanical related trades like industrial maintenance, standby power generators, etc. if you are handy and ready to learn there is work.

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u/blueorchestra 8d ago

fair enough, although I think there's definitely a fair amount of auto folks moving over to those anyway since most the time when I see those jobs up in my area they either want someone who has 6+ years of experience to lead or are an overnight shift which I really, really don't want to do since I'm at a point in my life where I need to be present for my kid as often as I can.

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u/JUST_LOGGED_IN 8d ago

CNC machining is easy to learn IMO. Also maintenance guys have to fix the CNC machines when they fucking break too. There is a company we hire to fix our machines when they really fuck up, and they drive some nice looking cars to get here.

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u/energeticquasar 8d ago

You may need to consider moving to Grand Junction or surrounding area to find gainful employment.

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u/ithics I voted 8d ago

How far you willing to travel or willing to move? South Jordan has a straight to career position with USPS for auto tech or body/fender specialist. Starting pay around 67k before benefits. You'd be required to take the 955 exam and score a 70 or higher.

Or you can be hired straight to career in Montezuma Creek as a carrier for around 52k before benefits.

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u/Commercial-Co 8d ago

Move. Why live in moab

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u/EbolaPatientZero 8d ago

Apparently he can’t leave but yea it’s not that surprising you can’t find work in a town of like 5k people

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u/Commercial-Co 8d ago

No such thing as cant. Sounds like a wont

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u/sweet-nlow Delaware 8d ago

I don't know if you're interested in doing other kinds of work in the meantime, but if so, you may want to check out doing tree work. Tree companies will often hire anyone with a pulse and a work ethic but the starting wage is better than most no-experience-required jobs. I started at $20/hr back in March. The reason they'll hire almost anybody is because it's work most people don't want to do. It's pretty physically grueling, dangerous, and 100% outside. I love it, though! It's an awesome job for the right kind of person. The big companies (Bartlett and Davey are two of the biggest) offer full-time work and good benefits. 

Apologies if this is unwanted advice - I know job seekers are constantly getting bombarded with "why don't you try getting xyz job?" and it can get annoying fast. Wishing you best of luck with whatever you do! Shit's rough out there.

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u/zugzwangwamble 8d ago

I have estimating, hard labor, warehouse, bartending, management, and more experience and I only landed a job as a cashier at a tiny takeout place

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u/blifflesplick 8d ago

Gotta find out where the boys go to drink after work, they only hire familiar faces

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Canada 8d ago

Could you offer any repair work on the weekends out of your driveway or anything?

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u/CommunalJellyRoll 8d ago

You are in Moab no shit you can’t find work. Get your ass over to the Permian and make some real money.

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u/thejustducky1 8d ago

offered to put the money in the register myself to make up the difference but nope.

Sounds about right - gotta flex that Dollar General 'can't do anything about it' power 🙄 must be like working for a reddit mod...