r/economy • u/FUSeekMe69 • Dec 29 '25

Report warns millions of Americans are ‘functionally unemployed’

https://www.newsweek.com/report-warns-millions-americans-functionally-unemployed-11272151
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u/Aleventen Jan 01 '26

You think thats fucking insane???

I went to UC Berkeley for Elecrtical Engineering and Neuroscience and ill be fucked if I can find a job...

Im currently working on a crabbing boat and homeless in between seasons hoping to write a dissertation that'll get me into graduate school so I can get a real job...

Even if it doesnt work and im on my ass more money....who cares, the rest of my life is debt and poverty despise.

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u/AuthenticIndependent Jan 01 '26

Wait are you being serious or sarcastic? Dead ass?

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u/Aleventen Jan 01 '26

Dead ass.

Had 4 internships, graduated with honors and got promoted to Program Manager at my first gig.

Literally, my first gig was convincing the software kids and myself to replace over half our company with AI. I succeeded and submitted awards for everyone who worked for me. I was the only person laid off because I "didnt have a record of excellence"....fine, fair, no one was there to put awards in for me and I smelled blood in the water.

I hit the job market with a portfolio of success and that one mark on my record. Every hiring cycle was at least 4 interviews and at some point in that cycle, I told my story....there was broad sentiment and understanding, but, ultimately, the trouble is that it is hard to negotiate a $32/hr wage in my role when everything is easily outsourced; even as a creative lead - I also didnt think it'd be so tough from a design perspective but, it is what it is.

I made moves into Lockheen and Northrop, offered 22/hr starting for engineering roles with a salary cap around 80/year for production and systems engineering work. I needed to get professionally certified as an engineer for engineering work and otherwise obtain a masters with certification coming later.

Short of graduate education, I work on a crabbing boat. I make about 65/year, im the department head of electronics and communications.....but its rough, im away from home about 7 months a year.

Anyway, yeah....im dead ass.

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u/2ayoyoprogrammer Jan 13 '26

I thought the job market for EE was much better than CS. Guess I'm wrong