Unemployed Americans say they're stuck in a job-hunting nightmare

In recent months, an increasing number of unemployed Americans have found themselves struggling with prolonged job searches, without the usual recession to blame for their unemployment. Jeremy Spiegel, Jon McCarty, and Kymberly McClain are among those facing this challenge.

Jeremy Spiegel, in his 40s and living in Massachusetts, has been searching for work since losing his director role in 2024. Despite having over twenty years of experience, he has spent two years unsuccessfully looking for employment. He has encountered various explanations, including AI, age discrimination, and ghost job listings. Spiegel now wonders if he might be the problem, as he has heard "It's not you, it's us" so often that he questions his own qualifications.

Similar to Spiegel, Jon McCarty, who is in his early 60s and lives in Virginia, lost his software engineering job in 2022. After 18 months of searching, he has resorted to handyman work and part-time cashier jobs. McCarty suspects that his age may have hindered his job prospects, as he noticed a pattern of rejection after phone and technical interviews, ultimately leading to video interview eliminations.

Kymberly McClain, a deputy director at a small nonprofit, resigned in 2024. She was optimistic about quickly finding another position. However, as her search stretched over two years, she began questioning various aspects of her candidacy, including race, age, and lack of a college degree. McClain recently secured a full-time customer-service job at a call center, making roughly half of what she earned previously.

While this is progress, she acknowledges that leaving the ranks of the unemployed does not always mean finding a job that matches her previous experience or expectations.