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- 02/19/2026 Newsletter: Is Long-Term Unemployment the New Norm?
02/19/2026 Newsletter: Is Long-Term Unemployment the New Norm?
02/19/2026
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Meme of the Week
Article of the Week: Is Long-Term Unemployment the New Norm?
New Job Opportunities
Win of the Week: Volunteers Rescue 51 Large-Breed Dogs From Collapsed Animal Shelter
Bummer of the Week: How Sustainable Are Nike and Adidas?
Meme of the Week
Article of the Week
Is Long-Term Unemployment the New Norm?
Giphy
You know that age-old question when you’re reentering the workforce: “How do you explain this gap in your resume?”
Maybe you can explain it by saying you became a parent, went back to school, or made a major career change. But here’s a thinker: how do you explain a long season of unemployment you didn’t ask for? When you’ve been applying for jobs like it’s your job and nothing has shaken out?
We gotta talk about the rise of long-term unemployment.
Over the last three years, long-term unemployment has been on the rise in America. Today, one in four unemployed Americans has been looking for a job for longer than six months.
The trend is a symptom of the state of the job market in the last few years. New jobs are down, layoffs are up, and people with jobs are less likely to leave them right now. All of this comes together to make job searching, which is already difficult, even worse.
On top of that, the longer you’re unemployed, the less confident you feel. It can take a serious toll on your mental health and lead you to make big life changes, like moving somewhere less expensive, moving in with family or friends, taking on part-time work, or lowering your job standards.
Yikes, this email got bleeeeeeak.
Gif by workaholics on Giphy
In the next few weeks, we’ll talk about how to combat the impacts of long-term unemployment, pick yourself up, and get back out there.
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Win of the Week:
Volunteers from the Nashville-based Animal Rescue Corps carried out a large-scale rescue operation to save 51 mostly large-breed dogs from a derelict shelter in Ashdown, Arkansas after a court ordered their surrender, transporting them to a dedicated rescue center for medical care and long-term planning.
Bummer of the Week:
Want to dress like an Olympic athlete? Unfortunately, major brands like Nike and Adidas are still not doing enough to address their environmental impact or working conditions. Click below to see how they stack up and explore more sustainable athletic brands.