The current unemployment rate in the United States surged to 10.2% in October 2009, reaching double digits for the first time in 26 years. This translates to 15.7 million Americans now unemployed based on US Department of Labor report.
This bad news also covers Filipino Americans, not just elderly Filipino immigrants, who find themselves unemployed and rely only on unemployment insurance of between US$70 and US$450 per week, until they find a job. However, such benefits only last for a maximum of one year, where the insurance recipients are expected to have found work. Given the current state of unemployment in the United States many of these beneficiaries may be unable to land any job despite diligent efforts. US Congress however enacted a law that extends the length of these benefits to 14 more weeks. The problem is that might not even be enough.
Such news is not a welcome development for Filipinos in the Philippines who wish to “escape” poverty and unemployment in the country and hoping to find better life in the United States. If unemployment strikes even long time residents, job prospects for new immigrants may not be that rosy either.
As unemployment problem hits the masses, the incidence of unemployment scams also rise. Among the common tactic is to offer jobless Americans with “secret shopper” or “work from home” jobs. The unsuspecting applicant then reveals important information by sending through their resumes which contain pertinent data used for identity theft. Instead of helping the unemployed person, his or her identity now becomes compromised.
Undocumented Filipinos in the United States are not covered by government benefits, even if they may have contributed to the economy through taxes paid out of their wages. So instead of sending money to the Philippines, the reverse happens. Relatives in the Philippines send money to the United States to support the jobless Filipinos in the country. While it’s not very common, there are claims that this is an increasing trend for unemployed Filipinos in the United States.
Filipinos are known for their resiliency in times of crisis, but the current unemployment situation still poses a big challenge to Filipinos overseas. To those who find the situation too bleak, they decide to sell properties in the U.S. and return to the Philippines for good. But many others think they can weather the storm and find jobs soon as the economy picks up.
Photo credit: jver64
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