Rutgers’ Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has been following people who lost their jobs at the beginning of the Great Recession (2008-2010).  They found that the overwhelming majority have not recovered!

The ongoing study is called Categorizing the Unemployed by the Impact of the Recession.

They have five categories they ask people to describe their situation as: Made It Back. On Their Way Back. Downsized. Devastated. And Totally Wrecked.

After three years of job searching only 7% claim to have Made It Back.  23% say they’re On Their Way Back.  33% could only find jobs that forced them to be Downsized.  21% are Devastated, and 15% are Totally Wrecked.

Percentages don’t always give a good picture.  The study also gives you the number of people affected.  Made It Back: Up to 700,000 people.  On Their Way Back: Up to 2.3 million.  Downsized: Up to 3.4 million!  Devastated and Totally Wrecked combined: Up to 3.6 million!

The demographic composition (dc) of the study showed that the majority of people Devastated from their 2008 layoff, are people who do not have a college degree.

The dc of the study also showed that it’s no longer a “man’s world”, unless it refers to men being unemployed: 64% of men have been Devastated, compared to 34% of women. There was little difference in age groups being Devastated, between 20% to 30% range for most age groups.  And as far as ethnic groups being Devastated, 63% ‘white’ and 37% ‘other’ (a case of ‘the higher up you are the farther you have to fall’).

The study has other results, like 47% are still in poor financial shape, 58% suffered major economic impact, and 41% believe the economic changes are permanent.