what is the longest you have ever been involuntarily unemployed?

[Godhumor]

Mine was about a month and a half after a decided move to another state (and another job) was canceled at the last minute.

I needed to work to pay the bills, so I took a temp job while looking to find my "real" job. That took 6 months.

[Quixote1818]

1. Since graduating from college 20 years ago, maybe a month

Never had trouble finding a job.

[liberalmuse]

2. Two weeks.

But that is because I'll take any work, no matter what it pays.

[JaneyVee]

3. I graduated from college 6yrs ago, put in 3 resume's over 3 months, have been employed ever since.

I guess about 3 months.

[sagat]

4. Going on 17 months, currently.

[pipoman]

5. Never..

during times I wasn't employed by someone else or running my own business, I ran ads to mow lawns and do yard work, or set up at flea markets and antique shows, usually my hobby but have made enough to get by a few times..

[evlbstrd]

6. 18 months

During the Great Recession.
Just starting again, 2 weeks into this go-round.

[TlalocW]

7. I think 3-5 months

I know I got on unemployment for a while. I applied all over the place, but no fast food place was going to hire a person who has spent 10 years as a computer programmer to work for them since they would be out the door the first offer that came along. We finally had some tech support places move into the area that took everyone... and once I started I redoubled my efforts to find another programming job once I realized how incompetent and shady the company was.

TlalocW

[bemildred]

8. A couple weeks I think, but I like being "unemployed". nt

[olddots]

9. 12 years

what I did for a living is long gone but I'm still here and unemployable at 65 which is a drain on society brought on by repukian greedy bastards .........

[cantbeserious]

10. 5 Years - 2000 Through 2005

eom

[CurtEastPoint]

11. 2 years

I used it wisely and fairly economically and enjoyed every minute. Got a wonderful new job at age SIXTY ONE!

[Godhumor]

13. Congrats!

Hope more people get those same kind of chances in the upcoming months!

[CurtEastPoint]

14. Yes and this week is my 2 year anniv w/the new position. Not so new anymore!

[oldhippie]

12. Never. Graduated from college in 1970 .....

Retired in 2010. Was never unemployed. Closest I came was 3 months while I took an education break, but I also did consulting at the same time.

[ananda]

15. 6 months

I was laid off and collected unemployment. I had a good time doing what I wanted for about four months and then I got my first teaching job and worked for 33 years. Then I retired and took off a year, and now I sub quite a bit in good niche jobs. I keep saying ill quit for good, but then I meet wonderful people, or I start feeling insecure and decide to renew my sub status. In any case, relatively speaking, it's a good life. Pure luck, I guess.

[frylock]

16. 14 months in 2004-2005

[GP6971]

17. 7 months. n/t

[Warpy]

18. I got caught in Nixon's 1974 megarecession

when they didn't even bother to ask where you'd applied for work when you signed for your check, there was no work to be had.

Between the layoff and a couple of health crises that followed it, I was out of work for a year and a half.

[Le Taz Hot]

19. Three years.

Female, over 50, over-educated and over-experienced. They're not exactly making a pathway to my door. At the moment I'm working 2 extremely part-time jobs for a total of MAYBE 20 hours a week.

[Starry Messenger]

20. Two years, 2004—2006

It sucked.

[badtoworse]

21. 9 months in 1983