Finding Out Who Americas Jobless Are

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By Peter DaSilva, for USA TODAY

Ray and Laura Burton, who are out of work, have two teens, Jennifer, 18, and Rebecca, 14, right. The girls were adopted by Ray's sister but came to live with the Burtons after she died.

After reading this article in USA TODAY. It seems to me that a lot of Americas jobless have give up hope of ever finding a job or a job the suits them. I believe more people should try to use this time to start over and start looking forward again. I know its tough but, its just as tough at your neighbors in most cases. Take this time to start a small business or go back to school. There are grants available for school.  Small business ideas that suit this economy. Grass cutting, Roofing, Power Washing, Blogging and Websites, Online affiliate sales, Painting and etc. All these thing are still in working order. Most of them don't cost very much if anything to start. Just on a smaller note. You may have to do more then one thing. I run my contracting company and have multiple sites and blogs. I'm still broke but, I'll make here or there. The important thing is that you never give up. Good Luck out the America.   -David Walker..Takejobs.

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

The jobless have lost more than their jobs.

In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of unemployed Americans, most of those surveyed have lost any optimism they will find a job soon or end up with work they really want to do. Two-thirds struggle to pay their bills. Nearly half have had to deal with such major personal problems as moving to cheaper housing or fighting depression.

"One day you have a job, and the next day they call you into a big meeting and tell you in 30 days you'll no longer be employed," says Lakiesha McPherson, 32, of Philadelphia, who was laid off last June from her job as a middle-school counselor. She was among those surveyed. "At this moment, I'll take any job, just to say I have a job."

"I worked for 35 years straight ... and then everything changed," says Ray Burton of Placerville, Calif. During the construction downturn two years ago, he lost his job selling plumbing supplies. "I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. If you've been out of work for six months, nobody wants to hire you. Add being 56 years old to that equation, and it's hard."