[fintstone]

I think the current 99 weeks of unemployment is a big part of the problem. Many really don't look for work and few are willing to take lesser jobs until it runs out. After staying at home watching the big screen for a couple of years, one becomes used to sleeping in and living on social welfare. Then, you really are not very employable/marketable...even for minimum wage. Lots of folks who get laid off in their 50's who get laid off eventually turn their unemployment into "retirement"... Even if they had no intention if retiring beforehand. They just get used to sleeping in and realize that the money just keeps coming (albeit somewhat less). Someone else's money tends to go farther that what you earn yourself because it is often tax free, there are no work expenses like transportation and work clothes, and you have time to do things yourself that you might have paid someone to do if employed.