Unemployed Face an Uphill Battle

Unemployed Struggle to Find Work

A panel of advocates from various agencies, which work to help the jobless, told the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today that many employers are actually screening out job applicants who are currently unemployed.

With the unemployment rates at near record levels all across the country, it has become harder than ever to find a good job. According to statements from the Department of Labor, there are on average nine applicants for every two job openings in the market. For those who are currently unemployed it appears that it is even harder to find work than for those who currently have a job.

According to the reports to the commission, many employers have gone so far as to actually post job offers with statements like ‘unemployed candidates will not be considered.’ Christine Owens, from the National Employment Law Project gave this example as one of many to the commission. Owens went on to say, “This is a practice that, regardless of its magnitude, adds to the difficulty that millions of unemployed workers are facing today in navigating the toughest job market any of us has ever experienced.”

While the exact motive behind these practices is unclear, the practice itself is in clear violation of job discrimination guidelines. The commission will take the information and continue with its investigation in an effort to stop such unlawful practices.