As unemployment runs out, education may be key to career success

Careers in the News:As originally reported by MSNBC, a growing population of Americans find themselves on the brink of exhausting the government maximum of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Aptly termed “99ers” in reference to their new status as out-of-work job seekers who are not eligible for government unemployment benefits, these Americans have lost everything from cars and houses to cell phones and personal computers.  In many cases they are forced to use credit cards for the most basic of day to day expenses, with little to no cash available for food or shelter, let alone an exhaustive job search effort.

While some “99ers” previously working in professional fields are returning to the most menial of employment, washing dishes or working in fast food, many others refuse to accept lower-paying, lower-prestige jobs.

Many of these “99ers” have gone out on a limb and returned to the classroom in the hopes that they may be able to reinvent themselves as nurses or technicians in high-demand industries. Still, the increasing cost of education deters many more, who debate the benefits of taking on more debt when they are already struggling to make ends meet.

For some “99ers.” cost-effective online education courses can provide valuable career training and certifications that significantly enhance the prospect of finding new employment.

Careers.org Online School Finder can help unemployed workers find affordable online education opportunities that fit their needs, as can our in-depth Continuing Education forum.

Image by AFL-CIO via Flickr