A Perspective on Unemployment and the System Behind It

I imagine my readers might find little interest in my personal experiences with unemployment, and I promise this will be the last time I address it directly. However, it’s important to clarify: this issue isn’t just about me. It’s about shedding light on aspects of unemployment that many who are not in this position might not fully understand. Staying true to who I am, I feel compelled to share this perspective.

Imagine, if you will, holding a job where raises are rare or fail to keep pace with inflation. Now imagine needing a better-paying job, only to land one and then be laid off. Picture not understanding the state of the job market between your previous and new roles. That was me. I had no idea about the complexities of today’s job market until I found myself here.

It’s not out of character for me to question systems, especially given the increasing number of conspiracy theories that have proven to hold some truth. With this mindset, I feel compelled to propose another possibility.

To date, I’ve submitted 262 resumes across various employers. Shockingly, even to me, I’ve only had one interview—and that happened because I took the initiative to walk in uninvited, hear about an opening, and ask for an interview on the spot. The only other time I was unemployed was in my 20s, and back then, I landed a job the same day I applied. Times have certainly changed.

Knowing this, I have some thoughts:

• How can there be hundreds of job boards with listings boasting "hundreds of applicants," yet the same positions remain vacant for months?

• How can someone send out that many applications/resumes and not secure a single interview?

  
  

I’ve also observed disparities within Affirmative Action and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. Governments and corporations often promote anti-discrimination policies, yet seem exempt from abiding by them and what about AI? Sure we know what it is but do we give any thought about how algorithms have some degree of control of the employment market? Who sets these algorithms, and when you fill out an application online, who sees it? In speaking with a few employers, they are as concerned and frustrated about this and long gone are the days where prospect meets employer. I even heard from the employment office that not only does only a small percentage of resumes ever get seen but you have a far better chance of gaining employment if you can tick off the boxes that support all things un-American. A few alarmers for me were:

• Are you latino or not latino

• Are you a Protected vet

• Do you have a disability?

What's worse is that most questions include answer options like: "Do you identify as or do you prefer not to answer?" Are you kidding me? Logic and common sense would only suggest you either are or are not something and why ask the question at all if you don't care what kind of answer you get? This is YOUR employment market!

Should I be concerned about my demographics—62 years old, white, Christian, pro-American, anti-DEI, anti-Affirmative Action, and a former employee of the John Birch Society? Critics may question what jobs I’ve been targeting, but my focus has been on roles that align closely with my extensive experience.

Then there’s the unemployment system itself. While unemployment insurance provides crucial support, what if it’s as flawed as other government-run programs? What if the concept of “helping you find a job” is merely an illusion? Consider this: unemployment benefits are "state-funded," (Paid for by employers) and the same state holds the power to devalue the currency those benefits are paid in?

What if unemployment is just a formality—a system created to solve a problem that the government itself perpetuates? From my perspective, the government often seems more invested in control than genuine solutions. If that’s true in other areas, why would unemployment be different?

I’ve been told the unemployment office would assist me in finding work. Weeks into my claim, they mentioned offering support, but despite my follow-ups, they haven’t followed through. To their credit, every interaction I’ve had with their representatives has been pleasant—they’ve been kind and professional on the phone.

But what if that’s part of the illusion? Beyond the weekly checks tied to mandatory work searches, is there anything more? And when benefits run out—no job, no support, no income—what then?

I’m not someone who typically relies on handouts, but when the job market is this bleak, even those who oppose them may find themselves with little choice. Work isn’t just essential for survival—it’s also how we pay the government its “fees.”

As Idaho’s legislative session begins, maybe it’s time to address these issues. If the government can manipulate currency values, dictate wages, and prioritize corporate bailouts over its citizens, shouldn’t we question the system? These are conversations we need to have—sooner rather than later.