Pretending

           I receive job listings via email from an electronic Brown University job board that includes work from all over the state of Rhode Island.  It’s something I signed up for more than a year ago while looking for full time work.  Here is the one thing I have noticed about it: most of the positions are listed as part time.  However, the descriptions are clearly describing a full time post, but offer very low pay and no benefits.

            I find this deplorable.  It is obvious that some organizations and corporations are seeking people willing to work for pittance. They are taking advantage of the “sellers market” concept by doing this.  What has happened to our country that this is an acceptable practice? 

            The state of Rhode Island has very few full time paying positions available in any field.  However, I sincerely doubt that Brown students are considering applying for the jobs posted on that board upon graduation.  Any college student in the state would be less than excited about applying for a part time position that offers so little.  This is especially true if one has had to take out numerous loans to pay for the education.  For a state with a large number of higher-education intuitions it is often noted that the students don’t lay down roots here. Gee, I wonder why?

According to the government statistics, our state unemployment rate was 7.4% as of October 2014.  I suspect that it was even higher.  Why? Simple – the numbers reflect the people collecting unemployment, but just because the government financial support ends doesn’t mean that people have secured employment.  It just means that they can no longer collect funds through unemployment. 

Rhode Island has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country.  Our state is very small and it has become necessary for those who live here to seek full time employment opportunities in different states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire.  With opportunities presenting success elsewhere and the positions in the state offering incredibly low pay, how is financial recovery and growth even in sight?

           

This isn’t just a Rhode Island issue; it’s an American issue. I don’t understand how employers justify a course of action that will ultimately ruin the country.  If  the American people cannot survive, never mind thrive, with one full time position that offers the opportunity to feed, house, clothe and care for ourselves and our families; are compelled to take multiple low paying positions that offer no benefits and are forced to purchase said benefits due to government regulations; are unable to educate our children due to the destruction of the public school system and elevated cost of higher-education,  how can our country grow?