WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Amid mixed signals as to where the U.S. economy is going, one set of statistics has been staying reliably grim -- the unemployment statistics.
On Thursday, the unemployment numbers for June will be reported by the Labor Department, with the expectation of hitting at 6 percent or above, where unemployment has stood for months. In April unemployment was 6 percent, in May it was 6.1 percent. According to the Department of Labor, there are currently about 9 million people who are unemployed.
Union groups, such as the AFL-CIO, say the actual number of persons unemployed could be considered as even higher if the 1.4 million "marginally" attached workers were counted. This group includes a large number of workers who are so-called "discouraged" -- those who have stopped looking for work because they believe no jobs are available.
Also, work experts say that there another 4.8 million people with part-time jobs who want full-time work.
One such member of the millions of American workers who are out of a job and are looking for work is Nancy Miller, a San Francisco native, who has had the dubious privilege of being laid off twice this year.
Miller had been a telecom project manager with WorldCom Inc.'s MCI division for eight years until last July when telecom giant WorldCom laid off around 10,000 staff. These layoffs came after massive financial irregularities were discovered which ultimately led the company into bankruptcy.
After nine months of unemployment, she had a short stint working with another telecommunications firm, but was laid off again last Wednesday.
"Twice in one year is a little discouraging," Miller said. "I really don't know what's going to happen."
While laid off from MCI, Miller "probably sent out 100 applications for jobs I really felt I was qualified for. Now getting a job is all about friends."
Her emotions and assessment of things veer back and forth.
Like many unemployed she is reaching the point of realizing that big changes may have to be made in order to get a job. Miller said that she knows there is the possibility that she will have to leave her San Francisco residence.
"If worse comes to worse I guess I could sell it (her condo) and move to Idaho," she said.
For Miller, though, this would be a hard decision.
"I really don't want to sell the condo because my retirement would disappear," she said
Miller added that trying to get another job in telecommunications will be difficult. "I have two versions of my resume. I try to open it up a bit."
Her expertise within the telecommunications field was information technology, and her dream job would be doing further IT and telecom work.
On being unemployed, Miller said, "It's always on my mind. But it's not like I go grocery shopping and think 'I can't afford this, I can't afford that.'"
She added though, "I probably do have enough (money). I can probably get by for a few months, maybe six months. It may be worse if I don't get unemployment."
Because Miller was unemployed for nine months before finding her next job, she used up all her unemployment, including an extension passed by Congress as an emergency measure. She's worried that she may not be able to file again this year or that benefits will be delayed.
During the MCI layoff, Miller said, "unemployment (benefits) paid my mortgage and health insurance."
While unemployed after the MCI layoff, Miller said she had been "willing to take part time work, but it never came up."
Looking at the economy, including the recent Bush administration-sponsored tax cut designed to spark an economic recovery, the San Franciscan said "I'm probably pessimistic. I try not to let that affect how I feel about my prospects."
She adds, "The problem is the deficit is already so huge. I don't see them (Congress and the Bush administration) doing anything to stimulate the economy. The money is not there, it's been spent already."
But while discouraged, Miller has not let the blues beat her.
"I'm optimistic in the long run. I know eventually something will come along," she said.
(Reported with correspondent Jennifer Mehigan)
(UPI will feature profiles of average unemployed Americans from Tuesday through Thursday when the U.S. Labor Department reports the monthly unemployment number.)
