Joblessness, through the eyes of the jobless
Six people affected by unemployment in different ways are spending this summer writing about their struggles to pay the bills, preserve relationships and maintain hope for the future. Browse their entries by topic with our interactive word cloud.
(Click to explore 'Help Wanted' diaries.)
Stephen Rhymer, 59, Oklahoma
Where did my life go?
I don’t think people understand what happens to someone after they’ve spent two years looking for a job.
Marianne Steffey, 32, Tennessee
Where do I fit in new economy?
The jobs that we lost in the recession are gone. They’re not coming back.
Stephanie Dudgeon, 48, Ohio
Uncertainty galore
As my unemployment benefits tick down, there is a great deal of uncertainty in my life now.
Thera Larson, 33, Maryland
What are we supposed to do now?
There are so many questions and so few answers. I keep tellng myself to hold on, to keep fighting.
Daniel Joyce, 54, California
Our new normal
Yes, our new normal includes much less ability to pay the bills. But what it includes most is worry.
Marc Johnson, 36, Virginia
When I look in my daughter’s eyes
Some days I look into my new daughter’s eyes and cry. I don’t know how I will support her.
More Voices
Jobless offer advice for political leaders
110818 - Atlanta - The line circled the building and extended into the back parking lots. Thousands of people packed the campus of Atlanta Technical College Thursday for a job fair sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus. Stephanie Young, CBC Communications director, said 70 employers were on hand with 2000 job openings. The wait in line was long -- about three and a half hours -- and at least one woman collapsed from the heat and was taken away by EMS personnell. Aug, 18, 2011 Bob Andres bandres@ajc.com?
The longterm unemployed submitted written and audio responses to the question “What is the most important thing our political leaders need to know about the unemployment problem?”
Browse unemployment testimonials by topic
Unemployment by County
Interactive graphic
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this map shows how each county is faring in the wake of the recession.
About the Project
Inside ‘Help Wanted’
In an effort to show the real impact of joblessness, we asked six people to contribute to a reader-powered experiment.
More Unemployment Stories
Left behind in the recovery
These stories depict the crisis for manufacturing and construction workers and explain the pressures that have stalled creation of jobs for them.
Recession road
Michael Williamson is traveling the country, meeting people whose lives have been altered by a flattened economy. Follow his journey.
Tell us your story
Have you, a loved one or a close friend dealt with unemployment? The Post is looking for stories of the real impact of the jobs crisis.
The Post Most: BusinessMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours
World Markets from
Other Market Data from
Key Rates from