Unemployment Woes

The problem with finding a job is not so much that there is no income (though this is a problem) it is quite frustrating and for lack of a better word, embarrassing. Following the completion of a master’s degree from a reputable university, I moved back in with my parents. I thought more education meant less future dependency on others—I guess the key word is ‘future’. I have enjoyed my education and I have marketable skills but the first thing anyone asks you is “so what are you up to” or “what have you been doing”. I can’t very well answer “absolutely nothing”. It becomes necessary to fabricate my life in a way that somewhat sounds respectable or appealing. Luckily, I have a few things up my sleeve that sound cool enough and distract conversation away from my employment doom and failure. I have started taking French lessons and dedicate about an hour a day to its study and I am trying to get into shape and lose weight. I have already lost 5 pounds (darn what is that in kgs?). I have spent time reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen in awhile and have just returned from travels in Europe.
Can’t you see the bountiful amounts of questions that can come from this discussion? All of which are distracting from the inevitable feeling of disappointment. I don’t have to even return to the unemployment conversation because the discussion can easily go another way but still, there is something lacking in myself that I can’t avoid it. I am not the only one who is unemployed or underemployed. I know that the market is a difficult one, thanks for all the reminders, but that still doesn’t change the fact that I have an education—an expensive education both in time and finances—and that I cannot use my skills. Why am I to blame? I am asking people, companies to allow me to work but they don’t want the skills that I have. I think the new wave of thinking should not be directed at individual failure but the failure of society and the economy to compensate. Why are people who have already worked 50 or even 60 years of their life still working and clogging up the system? I know that they need income and no one can really depend on Social Security anymore but why aren’t we blaming the poor grannies that are working well beyond their years when there is ample supply of skilled workers waiting to enter the market and pay for their pension benefits. I am willing to work and therefore not to blame. I think the market needs to adjust to accommodate new workers, which unfortunately may mean gramps needs to go on a cruise and take a well deserved break!