Boyce

Boyce, 39, watched his steady job as an electrician crumble after 19 years of success. Boyce has worked only 12 months in the last two years, most recently in November 2003. With four children to raise, and ineligible to receive social security until age 69, Boyce is not happy with the jobs situation in America and wants to see a change.

My Story
For the 17 years before 2002, I could pick and chose my jobs. I was always working close to home and received steady pay and benefits. But two years ago, the jobs just disappeared. Now, no one is hiring, and given the huge number of applicants for any job that does pop up, it’s a struggle to work at all.

At this point, I’ll take any job that’s available, even if I have to drive two hours each way and at a severely decreased wage. Of course, the very opportunity to work is incredibly sparse. I’ve only worked a total of twelve months in the last two years.

My unemployment benefits ran out in January and paying the bills is only getting harder. First, I had to spend my savings on COBRA and my home payments. Now, I’m forced to borrow money from my mother and mother-in-law to prevent losing my home.

It’s not easy on my kids either. Though we’ve been brought closer by the experience, it’s always hard when they ask, “When will we get our allowance back?” My wife and I can no longer do the things for our kids we’d like to. We never buy them new clothes, only patch the old ones and rely on hand-me-downs.

I sometimes consider going back to school, but living in this economy has made me a skeptic. A friend of mine went back to school after being laid off and can’t find a job even with his new degree. If the jobs aren’t there, what’s the point of retraining?

And all we hear from our president is that the tax cuts worked and the economy is back on track. I’d like to ask President Bush one question, “Where are the jobs?”