Florida Job Seekers Among the Discouraged

Is your job search so frustrating that you're ready to give up? You're not alone.

In some states throughout the country, almost half of the job seekers who have stopped looking for work have done so because they just don't think they can find anything. In fact, according to an article by U.S. News & World Report, the number of discouraged workers has more than doubled during the last year.

It seems as though Mississippi has the highest number of discouraged workers at about 50 percent, compared to 32.6 percent throughout the country. South Dakota has the second-highest number of unhappy job seekers, at about 48.5 percent. Those looking for a job in Florida, Michigan, Connecticut, West Virginia and New York also rank among the top for being discouraged.

Whether a positive or negative, these discouraged job seekers aren't included in the unemployment rate. Many have gone back to school or devoted themselves to other responsibilities.

Discouraged workers usually think that no work is available or they don't think they have the necessary skills to get hired. Others think they are too young, too old or would be otherwise discriminated against.

Several factors surrounding the current recession could be adding to the rising number of discouraged job seekers, such as negative media coverage of the job market, unsuccessful friends and family and long-term unemployment. Men, younger workers, blacks and Hispanics are all more likely to become discouraged during a job search.

The current housing market also is adding to the amount of discouragement. Workers who might normally move to another area because they can't find jobs in their current location are more likely to give up. Even if they wanted to move, it would be difficult to sell their current homes and afford new ones.