Getting People Ready For Work

Jackie found himself overwhelmed in high school. His mother worked as a hotel maid. His father, on disability, drank more than just casually. Neither Jackie, his siblings, nor his parents graduated high school. Jackie rolled from job to job in his younger days, but suddenly in his 50s he finds himself in a pickle. He cannot find work to pay his bills, his medical needs, or his wife's needs.

Not exactly a shocking story today. I did not write about Jackie for shock. Jackie is just another in the millions of unemployed. So, what makes Jackie unemployed? Why write about Jackie?

Jackie is indeed like millions. Unemployed, uneducated, and in need of medical care. Jobs are there and while many would say "do something," Jackie's medical needs unmet does not allow his flexibility or mobility to perform most low wage jobs. Before we lose focus on the jobs issue, how should we approach Jackie's situation?

Many would say training. Before jumping on that wagon, remind yourself Jackie is uneducated. Well, then educate him. Is it that easy? Just educate them then train them? How long will this take? At what cost?

Now that we described a married man with baggage and his maintenance needs, let us turn away from Jackie. I am not sure we can solve Jackie's problem today. We can however, position ourselves to avoid the many Jackies to follow. What about the Susans out there in the same predicament, only single and with children.

Susan, is out of work and like Jackie, uneducated, untrained, and even if in perfect health is not "employable." We have time to develop Susan. We have time to educate and then train Susan. It does take more than just saying "get a job."

More than just a job, Susan needs support. We can hobble our tax dollars, or employers can adopt families. Churches can adopt adults. I am not speaking in legal terms, but in assistance terms. It must be done. Tax dollars are not available today. As painful as it might be, it is far less costly and certainly more loyal to society and the return will be more through this adoption as opposed to taxation.