According to Labor Department data; thirty percent of America’s jobless, 4.4 million people, have been out of work for more than a year (these are U3 statistics not U6, where the numbers will be higher). “It really is going to take a concentrated effort of employers to give people a chance who haven’t worked in a while,” said the department’s chief economist, Betsey Stevenson.
Their motivation will be high, but their skills may be dulled or possibly obsolete. Most of the unemployed that I am in contacts with are taking classes and training to maintain their skills.