The long-term effects of unemployment on a person Essay - 1

The long-term effects of unemployment on a person - Essay Example Spending is reduced to buying basic items because of the uncertainty of getting a new job. Apart from cutting back on buying certain items the individual may also suffer some personal loss. Especially during this global recession a significant number of persons have lost their homes to foreclosure. It is likely that they may also suffer other financial loss. It is difficult to keep up with car payment, for example. In large families where the recently unemployed is the sole breadwinner the financial effect is more chronic. This can affect the lifestyle of everyone including children. Normal situations such as schooling, entertainment and extracurricular activities can be disrupted. Research has shown that long-term unemployment is experienced more among older as well as blue-collar workers. Many persons in these two categories sometimes do not have enough savings to sustain themselves during the jobless period. In the case of the older worker many of them have to use money from their retirement funds. Another effect of long-term unemployment is strained family relations. The sudden loss of unemployment puts a burden on other members of the family. It causes separation and broken relationships in many families that were already on the verge of break-ups. It takes time for both the unemployed and other family members to adapt to the new situation and status. Although they may realize that it is an uncontrollable situation it is difficult to accept the reality of it. Some persons have reported that they have lost contact with friends during their period of unemployment. The inability to socialize with persons due to lack of extra cash can be a factor. Some persons may have to borrow money from family and friends and the inability to repay these loans can destroy friendships and other relationships. Long-term unemployment can also have rippling effect on other aspects of the family such as the health of the children. In many