UNEMPLOYMENT & VULNERABLE FAMILIES Flashcards
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- What are the reasons for the recent falling unemployment rate in Michigan?
- shrinking labor force (MI has lost 4.6% of labor force since 2009)
- people have left state, retired, or returned to school
- high concentration of baby boomers
- auto industry is doing better
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- Why don’t national unemployment figures “tell the whole story?”
- Unemployment only counts those looking for work- NOT “discouraged worker”
- Mobility of unemployment
- Severely unemployed not counted- Some forced into retirement
- Regional differences-Pockets hit hard are related to industries & cost of living
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- Where does Michigan rank in home foreclosure rates?
- 3rd highest in the nation
- 31% of housing sales were foreclosures
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- What adjustments do families make to maintain their standard of living?
1) women joining labor force starting in 70’s
- 20% of women w/young children at work in 1960
- 60% of women w/young children at work in 1990
2) Increased Working Hours (for men & women)
- DINS
3) Rising Home Values (dependent on homes)
- home equity loans
- refinancing
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- How is unemployment defined?
- individuals do not have a job
- individuals are actively looking for employment [ in the past 4 weeks ]
- individuals are available for work
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- Describe the multi-dimensional effects of unemployment
- loss of savings / retirement
- loss of income/standard of living/networth (change in SES)
- loss of home or business
- loss of medical insurance
- emotional / mental as well
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- What types of income are included when poverty rate is calculated?
- cost of USDA food plan * 3
NO OTHER INCOME, FOOD STAMPS, SUBSIDIES, HOUSING
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLE FAMILIES
- How do younger and older workers compare on length of unemployment?
- younger workers have higher unemployment rates but effects on older workers are greater
- older workers have been out of work for longer than any other group
UNEMPLOYMENT/VULNERABLEFAMILIES
32.How does the recent recession compare to past economic downturns?
- The present recession is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of 1929
- This recession has surpassed all others in terms of duration and severity of loss
- 2 consecutive quarters of decline in a country’s GDP
33-35.B & H
Chap. 5: low income workers.
On what strategies have most policies for poor families focused?
- reducing single parenthood
- increasing labor participation
- eliminating dependence on government assistance
What is the most commoncause of conflict and anxiety for low income workers?
problems with childcare
What was the most common definition of a flexible workplace forlow income workers?
the ability to take the child to work
- Albrecht& Albrecht on poverty:
What were their primary findings?
-education is the most important variable in explaining employment and poverty
Percentage of FEMALES employed is high in countries where:
-the proportion of agricultural employment & service employment is LOW and where manufacturing employment is HIGH
The percentage of MALES employed is:
-related positively to the proportion of the labor force employed in agriculture and manufacturing, and inversely to the proportion of the labor force working in the service sector.
- Ames et.al on rural workers:
what were the key themes identified in the interviews?
(double check review have longer answer)
IMPORTANCE OF….
- education
- non-traditional childcare
- community context
Ames et.al on rural workers:
rural area studied in northern MI low farming & lots of small manufacturing companies- what were results?
lots of women employed or entering workplace
