Americans having difficulty returning to old jobs
Posted October 11, 2010 12:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WASHINGTON — The jobs crisis in the U-S has brought an unwelcome discovery for many unemployed Americans — job openings in their old fields exist, but they no longer qualify for them.
During the recession, companies became more productive by doing more with fewer workers.
Some asked staffers to take on a broader array of duties — duties that used to be spread among multiple jobs.
Now, someone who hopes to get those jobs must meet the new requirements.
Human resources specialists have given the nickname “purple squirrels” to the kinds of employees being sought.
It helps explain why many companies complain they can’t find qualified people for certain jobs, even with 4.6 unemployed Americans, on average, competing for each opening.
