Challenges of the many long-time unemployed

In the not-so-distant past, being laid off meant getting a nice severance package and taking a few months off to relax before stepping into a new opportunity. These days there is no guarantee that you will receive severance pay and landing a comparable position often takes much longer than expected. Just ask the 1.7 million Americans who are long-term unemployed, meaning they have been out of work for at least 99 weeks.

Long-term unemployment impacts workers of all ages but older workers, those over 55, have been hit hardest. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, older workers make up more…