Half of Americans Report Job-Related Hardships

New research reports what you probably already know: recession job-related hardship.

We all know it’s rough out there on the job, but the experts at the respected Pew Research Center have delivered new numbers on what they’re calling the Great Recession – great not because we love it so much, but because it’s been longer and harder than any other.

More than half of American’s have reported a job-related hardship this Great Recession, according to a Pew report based on U.S. Census Bureau analysis showing poverty rates have jumped to 15%.

“While nearly all Americans have been hurt in one way or another, some groups have suffered more than others,” the report states. Here’s the good news/bad news from Pew:

Great recession job-related hardship

• More than half of households (55%) say they are in worse shape than before the recession began in 2007 under the Bush Administration
• Those with a college education have been less affected by the recession
• Men have had higher job-loss rates than women
• Middle-aged adults have been hit the hardest in home values and loss of retirement funds
• Blacks and Hispanics have received a disproportionate amount of lob losses and foreclosures
• 27% have had trouble paying medical bills
• 49% loaned money to someone
• Young adults have taken the biggest losses on the job front
• Middle-aged adults have gotten the worst of the downturn in housing values, household finances and retirement accounts

Here’s the Pew site and reports.

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