Are Unemployment Benefits encouraging people not to work?

New applications for unemployment insurance reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November, a sign that employers are likely cutting jobs again as the economy slows. It makes one wonder how many are enjoying their extra unemployment benefits instead of looking for work.
   . . . June

Signs of a faltering recovery August 20, 2010 at 6:44 AM By Christopher S. Rugaber Associated Press WASHINGTON - Employers appear to be laying off workers again as the economic recovery weakens. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November. It was the third straight week that first-time jobless claims rose, and the news Thursday helped drag stocks down for the day. The jobless-claims numbers suggest the private sector may report a net loss of jobs in August for the first time this year. Initial claims rose 12,000... Unemployment rate continues to increase; Is jobless recovery on the horizon? August 19, 2010 at 6:27 PM The U.S. Department of Labor released a August 19 report, stating that initial claims for jobless benefits rose by 12,000 last week to 500,000, which is fourth increase since the week of July 29. Following the four-week average, jobless figures have increased from 8,000 to 482,500, making last weeks claims, the highest average since December 2009. Is the U.S. Economy Creating Jobs, At All? The rapid increase in unemployment claims, suggest the economy is creating fewer jobs than in the first half of this year. More than a 100,000 jobs a month are needed just to keep up with the growth of the working-age population, even without reducing the millions of Americans who are already unemployed.... Sen. Schumer will support Americans Want to Work Act, US trains 3000 offshore workers August 19, 2010 at 5:10 PM Let me again apologize for the poorly designed and implemented Examiner "upgrade". This upgrade process has been taxing on both writers and readers and it is the main reason why I have not published as frequently. I plan to write more regularly starting next week. I will also be moving content of my posts to http://layofflist.org, which offers a more robust platform for videos and graphics. Thank you for your patience. Update: There's been some news of late about where legislation for 99ers – benefit exhaustees- currently stands. Since Chuck Sen. Schumer (D-NY) has spoken repeatedly about the need to help benefit exhaustees, I felt it important to get information directly from his office. I... Sen. Schumer may introduce 99er, Tier 5 unemployment legislation, US trains 3000 offshore workers August 19, 2010 at 3:16 PM Let me again apologize for the poorly designed and implemented Examiner "upgrade". This upgrade process has been taxing on both writers and readers and it is the main reason why I have not published as frequently. I plan to write more regularly starting next week. I will also be moving content of my posts to http://layofflist.org, which offers a more robust platform for videos and graphics. Thank you for your patience. Sen. Schumer may introduce 99er, Tier 5 unemployment legislation once Senate returns from recess There's been some news of late about where legislation for 99ers – benefit exhaustees- currently stands. Since Chuck Sen. Schumer (D-NY) has spoken repeatedly about the need to... Initial requests for jobless benefits jump to 500,000, highest level since November August 19, 2010 at 10:50 AM — Employers appear to be laying off workers again as applications for unemployment insurance reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November. Initial claims for jobless benefits rose by 12,000 last week to 500,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the fourth increase in the past five weeks and evidence that the economic recovery has weakened. Homebuilders and other construction firms are laying off more workers as the housing sector slumps after the expiration of a popular homebuyers' tax credit. State and local governments are also cutting jobs to close large budget gaps.... New Unemployment Claims SURGE, Hit Highest Level Since November 2009 August 19, 2010 at 10:25 AM WASHINGTON (AP) -- New applications for unemployment insurance reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November, a sign that employers are likely cutting jobs again as the economy slows. The Labor Department said Thursday that initial claims for jobless benefits rose by 12,000 last week to 500,000, the fourth increase in the past five weeks. Wall Street economists forecast that claims would drop. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose by 8,000 to 482,500, the highest since December. There... This email was sent to dyna999399.task999@blogger.com. Delivered by Feed My Inbox 230 Franklin Road Suite 814 Franklin, TN 37064 Account Login Unsubscribe Here

TaskRabbit Sounds Like A Win / Win To Me!

TaskRabbit does sound like a good idea. Basically it helps out those who need a job and have time on their hands and it helps out the people who need help with chores and are willing to pay for it. So what is the writer of this article complaining about?

June

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TaskRabbit: The US Economy Really is in the Pooper
by Drea of Business Pundit, Aug 5, 2010

I ran across TaskRabbit, which matches you with people who can run your errands for you–or hooks you up with people who need errands run–while reading this excellent Wall St. Journal article on work-at-homers. With TaskRabbit, you put up a task, price it, and a “runner” (errand runner, rabbit, person who does your errands) picks it up, usually within 30 minutes. Once the task is complete, you pay and rate your runner.

There are currently around 300 runners, most of whom earn around $15 per errand, according to the WSJ. Most runners are self-employed, unemployed, or work-at-home parents. TaskRabbit currently operates in Boston and San Francisco, but is looking to expand.

Recent tasks on the website include:

$10 – give me + a few things a ride
$25 – Pick up Jacket left at Fillmore Theatre
$15 – pick up rent check in downtown SF, drop off on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland

I understand that a service like TaskRabbit is helping create jobs and all, but let me rant for a moment. In many less-developed countries, it’s really easy to find someone nearby to get something done for you–whatever you need, really. When I lived in Ghana, we had a lady come to our door and sell us bread; we had our laundry done whenever we wanted by a nearby man; if we wanted something fixed in our rooms, we just had to put word out and a guy would arrive with a hammer and toolbox and take care of it. We’d pay them cash in return. It was convenient and effective.


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Would you sign up to do some of those jobs? For that matter would you post jobs there?
Leave a comment


June

Can TaskRabbit Help Solve Unemployment?

What a great idea! This makes absolutely wonderful sense in this day and age when so many people have lost their jobs or are only working part-time. So can TaskRabbit help solve unemployment? This business hires people who can take care of small jobs for a fee and they are placed with matching people who need those jobs filled. As an online business it's a brilliant concept and has apparently been very successful. They have recently moved their headquarters to the San Francisco Bay area. The following article from the Christian Science Monitor tells us more about them.

June

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TaskRabbit: New Part-Time Work For People Without Job
By Alissa Figueroa, Correspondent / August 5, 2010

Is TaskRabbit the solution for America’s unemployment problem? No, but it might be a lifeline for some jobless Americans.

The new website offers quick jobs and fast cash to its more than 300 runners – people with time on their hands who sign up on taskrabbit.com to run errands for those who don’t. They’re paid a mutually agreed upon fee for each task, which can range from picking up groceries or laundry, to transporting a pup across the country and finding someone the perfect roommate.

Call it local outsourcing.

About 70 percent of the runners on the site are unemployed or underemployed, says Anne Moellering, chief marketing officer for the online service.

“A lot have lost their jobs, or had their hours reduced, and are using us as a way to supplement their income,” says Ms. Moellering.

But a quick buck isn’t all the site offers its runners – it also brings a sense of purpose to people who may have just gotten laid off, or have been looking for work for months.

“What’s fascinating to me is the incredible human connection that people make,” says Moellering. “Our runners realize our customers are across the board and really need help,” she adds, recalling one time when a runner went out to help with a grocery trip and learned upon arrival that the poster was blind and visiting the store for the first time – she needed help tracking where the aisles were.

Right now the service only runs in Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area, but TaskRabbit is looking to expand. The company has asked its more than 1,000 fans on its Facebook page to vote on the city it should move to next. New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles are in the running, although Moellering also mentioned Austin as a possibility. Of those cities, Los Angeles could perhaps benefit most, with the highest unemployment rate at 11.6 percent.

How can you get in on movement? If you’d like to list a task, you can do so for free on the company’s website, though you do have to sign up by providing your zip code, phone number, and e-mail address.

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My concern would be about allowing a perfect stranger to help you with a task - especially one in which you allow them into your home. Apparently the people they hire are checked out with an interview and a full background check.Still I'd be cautious. What do you think? So can TaskRabbit help solve unemployment?  Leave a comment

June