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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
If you look at the most recent unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you might find something to celebrate. As of February 2017, unemployment in the US is just 4.7 percent, considerably lower than 10 percent unemployment seen in the heart of the recession.
But that 4.7 percent statistic overlooks a few important realities of unemployment. One of those realities is the fate of the long-term unemployed.
It’s a tricky situation that millions of people find themselves in. The longer you don’t have a job, the more difficult it is to find a traditional job.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. If employers won’t offer you a job, it’s up to you to create your own job. Working from home can be the solution millions of US residents are looking for.
Work at home and telecommuting positions are quickly becoming more popular. The New York Times reported that 43 percent of Americans with traditional office jobs spend at least some part of their work week at home.
The gig or freelance economy is also rapidly growing. More than 15 million people were self-employed in 2015, up from 14 million the year before.
People are turning to the freelance or work at home life not only in response to a more limited number of on-site or in-office jobs. Working from home after being out of work also offers people more flexibility and independence. You might not earn the same salary working at home or get as many benefits, but you have more control over how you live your life, including when you work or not.
A quick internet search will bring up lots of work from home opportunities, from customer service roles to proofreading gigs. Other popular work at home jobs include being a virtual assistant, testing websites, and transcription work.
You can also customize your work from home experience and focus on promoting yourself and your skill set. If you are a good writer, you can launch a blog or website to highlight your skills. If you love animals, you can start a business that involves pet-sitting people’s cats or dogs.
Losing a job is tough and struggling to find work is even tougher. If you haven’t had much luck with the traditional job application and interview process, give looking for at-home jobs or starting your own business a try. Odds are you’ll end up happier and healthier than you would be when stuck in a traditional office job.
