>There are a lot of reasons why it takes months to find a new job, Marcia, besides not wanting to.
>
>There is also the (not very good IMHO) reason that someone does not want to take a job that pays less than the one they last had. If one is not bringing in an income, any job is better than no job.

You haven't been job hunting lately, have you?

Estimates that I was reading/being given was that for someone looking for a 40K - 50K per year job would be out of work approximately 6 months (depending on area), for every 10K above that, add 2 months. Just because the job is available and YOU are available for the job does NOT mean you get the job, especially when (at least around here) 75% or more of the jobs listed are handled through a job shop. Want to work at Dell? You'll temp through a job shop, IF you get on. Want to work at Motorola? Job Shop. About the only major employer in this area that doesn't work primarily through a job shop is the Government Sector and that's fine, if you don't want to be able to afford to live in this town.

Most people have to have a job that will allow them to eat, keep a roof over their heads and get to said job, so if the job doesn't pay enough to do that it's about as bad as having no job at all.