I knew it was really bad out there as far as work and all go and I have always received calls from guys looking for work. But in the past month, I have received calls from banks, title companies, insurance companies and material suppliers all from seeing a sign on ONE project I have going on!
I really hope it gets better for everyone as when folks like that are calling small, one man shows like me, its gotta be tough!
Mike
Replies
I know it must be tough--because several times I have had different people knock on my door asking to shovel snow this winter.
that hasn't happened since the 1980's
I shovel it all my self-- but as a kid i had a regular snow shoveling,grass cutting route
stphen
Man I wish tpeople would do that around here. I have a lazy 19 yr old that, forgets to shovel when he goes out the door to college.
I guess I should be happy he goes to school!
In order to keep the few remaining building inspectors busy, my county has been having them combing the niehborhoods looking for zoning and building infractions so they can drum up revenue with fines. I've had two different inspectors approach my job asking to see my permit.
I knew it was tough when our state, Mich. announced the unemployment fund is bankrupt for 08' and 09'.
Until this year in my life time I may have only ever seen someone on a street corner with a will work for food sign once in our city. Currently you can't drive a major street corner without seeing one everyday on different corners. These guys aren't your stereotypical, wheelchair,veteran, with raggedy clothes, going on about gov. cover ups. Most of them look like regular tradesmen straight off a winter time work site ready to go to work.
My local hall is claiming 35% of 1500 members out of work on the bench.
Michigan broke the 10% unemployment rate last week with 200,000 unemployed, countries highest at 10.6%.
2 largest hospitals in the area both finished major additions and renovations in the last 6mo. The one I was on totaled 60million plus 3yrs. long. Between both facilities they have laid off over 2000 employees at grand opening. Not due to budget constraints from construction cost, but neither can even fill the bed spaces they had before expansion. That many people have exiled, and or out of work without insurance not going to doctors.
4 of the oldest and larger GM plants in the world all within 5mi. of each other have been dismantled in the last 3yrs. One the remaining plants, GM's most state of the art completed 5yrs. ago that was even slated for a duplicate built right next to it up till 3yrs. ago. announced this week not just the temp. lay off and 2nd shift slow down as expected but indefinite layoff for all but 1st shift and a slow down for that too.
Called State's automated unemployment system where you have a 1hr. appointment window based on your S.S. number to call and certify/claim your weeks of unemployment. Mind you when the computer picks up it's like a 1min. call. System is overloaded and shut down you can't even get through.
A year with record snow fall before it's 1/2 over, the road commission had already announced back in the fall they wouldn't salt or plow without 2" in 24hr. due to budget. Belive me they've stuck to it.
The only company in the area highering literally is the State Unemployment Agency, for more unemployment officers.
I've watched fellow good hardworking skilled tradesmen (including UAW members-but that's another issue-not included in the hardworking part) losing their houses to foreclosure at record numbers, and guys on site taking up collections for them. These guys were not marginal income folk caught up in the sub-prime lending buying new or bigger houses. Most had them well before all that.
Consider this isn't some back woods town that was already teetering either, it's the state capital. Being the seat of state government and Michigan State University on the other side of town are the only remaining sailors bailing this boat out.
Additionally, lending institutions are leaving Michigan now thanks to federal law. Previously Mich. based institutions were capped at 18% APRs for credit cards/unsecured loans. Auto and home where less but by un-incorporating in the state and becoming a national bank the federal law now allows them to charge 34%. Dealt with this last week, one card that was 16% and capped now has a new min. APR of 18 and not a damn thing you can due about it. Same on 2 other cards that luckiley didn't have balances but still cause a credit score hit by closing or leave them open and pay an annual fee.
Some how our mayor still contends the city holds a 10million surplus rainy day fund. If this isn't rain I don't know what is.
Just some signs of the times.
So why are you staying. If it is so bad?
18mo. daughter, all her mom's family is right here, all my family is right here, so a real big chunk of change for day care is taken care of, on top of the family aspect.
Did I forget to mention 40% drop in housing value, if you could even sell your house in the area right now. Being unemployed or even employed and relocating, figuring debt to income ratio there is no chance for a loan big enough to float the loss on this place and moving else where.
Mine is broke out into 2 other rental units, 1 rented so month to month is manageable. Mine and the third unit are renovations I'm picking away at. Also leaving it not in a condition to sell even in a good market.
I'm young, fit, and skilled with my established network of contacts for the construction field around here that I can draw on.
Regardless of economy, being laid of in Jan. doesn't leave much prospect around here for construction. Now belive me if I'm not back to work by mid summer my line of approach will change. But for now I just got off an over 3yr. project with 40hr. plus weeks and no vacation.
I had offers from that out of state employer to maybe continue in NY/Calif/Penn. but they won't offer enough above current pay/bennies/travel/and relocation to only come back home for a partial weekend every two weeks at best. Was I still single or long time married and kids out of the house, absolutely I'd do it.
Not always so easy, that's why I'm staying.
Minnesota isn't quite as tough as Michigan is but we're not far behind.. When I was first laid off the people who look for jobs were telling me that it might take up to 18 months to find work at my age..
My last meeting they were saying it might be more like 2 1/2 years even if I continue at the rate I've been contacting people..
I used to go apply in person anytime I heard of anyone hiring.. I found out that was likely to get me rejected rather than help my cause.. someplaces cut off applicants at some number like 1000, 400, etc.. and simply ignore them.
I've stopped applying for most positions out of my field because they are swamped with those who have done exactly that type of work before and aren't willing to take anyone who can't hit the floor running.. (and likely bring a client list with them)
I've known it was bad out there for awhile now too. Distant cousin of mine got caught back in the corporate downsizing of near retirement aged employees. 55 years old has a PH.D. in business and the irony is I think he worked for Little Caesar's or Dominos' Pizza, and was down sized couldn't find anything else so him and a friend opened a pizza shop and has seemed to be doing fine for a couple years on his own.
All of this and I just hear that Tampa and the NFL spent $85k to resod the stadium field for the Super Bowl. Now I am a football fan and live in Tampa (not going to the game however) but c'mon, where is the logic in that?
I guess at least someone got some work out of it...
Check on what Superbowl advertising is selling for. A subpar game caused by subpar turf would be bad. Even if the Stillers are gonna win by 14.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
At least they got something for it. When Detroit hosted, can't remember last year or two ago they spent millions, not the Lions but the City of Detroit. You'll never guess what impressive investment in the city they made.
First you have to understand the stadium isn't really in down town. Than you have to realize just blocks from the main drags where they anticipated thousands of out of town/state/country visitors/and potential investors as they thought would happen to cross, exist areas never revitalized or even torn down after the 12th street riots of 67'. If you've ever seen the movie "8 Mile" that is Detroit they didn't have to use a movie set. The area is really that run down there are bocks of 2-3 story connected store front buildings burnt out with just an outer shell and rubble pile in the middle. Some literally have a wall left at either end of the block, back wall and no front. Detroit simply has been depressed for decades.
Well the cities big plan went like this. In a hush hush plan they contracted millions to be spent in erecting temporary scaffolding, construction fencing and lighting for these pedestrian scaffold tunnels. What they where doing was trying to give the illusion and pretend the city was undergoing wide spread construction and renovation, while covering up these areas hoping to attract investors. Sorry but there aren't enough tarps in the world to cover the blight of Detroit. It didn't work with GM's world headquarters renovation on the river in the 80's calling it the Renaissance center and didn't work during the Supper Bowl.
NC, Where in Michigan are you?
We've seen a huge spike of spam phone messages. They aren't supposed to call businesses but I guess they are just harvesting by internet or something. Even getting them on the cell phone.
We've been harassed by a paralegal company for months, Flat rate of 1500.00 but they want to be paid up front because I guess they aren't that good at collecting accounts when they are due. Since they called us I'll just assume they are scammers.
Nearly every big box store is throwing contractor appreciation days where they give out free cold cuts and pigs ears on buns and try to sell you new products. In a city of 140,000 people, Barrie has 3 lumber yards and 3 big box building supply stores... I'd be amazed if more than 1 is left after this.
The ironic part is last year when I sent out faxes prompting them for pricing none could even bother calling back let alone sending pricing. I was totally on ignore last year... why so eager this year?
Ohhh, this year they WANT our business...!
L
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