Why did factory workers dread unemployment more than other industries?

Exactly! I was pulling in almost $90k with all the overtime but my base was only $55k. The Washington ESD benefit calculation doesn't account for that.

Same situation here. Lost my job at a paper mill and the benefits are maybe 35% of what I actually made with OT.

That's what scares me most. There's maybe 3-4 other manufacturing companies in this area and they're not hiring.

Try expanding your search radius. I drove 45 minutes each way to my last factory job but it was worth it for the pay.

How much does something like that cost? Money's already tight.

It's worth checking out their site at claimyr.com. For me it was worth it just to get answers about my claim faster than waiting on hold for hours.

Yeah my insurance ended the day I got laid off. COBRA is like $800/month for my family which is almost half my unemployment benefit.

Look into Apple Health (Medicaid) while you're unemployed. The income limits are higher now and it's free.

Never thought about that but you're right. I worked swing shift for years and my sleep schedule is still messed up.

Plus when you work 12-hour shifts you don't have time to network or look for other jobs while employed.

This is driving me crazy. I'm supposed to apply to 3 jobs per week but there's maybe 2-3 manufacturing jobs posted in the whole region.

You can apply to related jobs like warehouse work or equipment maintenance. Washington ESD accepts those as suitable work for manufacturing experience.

That's exactly it. I'm 52 and wondering if I'll ever find another job that pays this well without a college degree.

Age discrimination is real in manufacturing. Companies want younger workers who can handle the physical demands.

My place wasn't union. Just straight unemployment benefits and that's it.

SUB pay was a lifesaver when our plant had temporary shutdowns. Made unemployment almost bearable.

Yes! There's something satisfying about seeing what you built at the end of a shift. Hard to explain to people who've never done it.

My dad was a machinist for 30 years. When his shop closed he was never the same, even though he found other work.

Guilty as charged. Always felt like I needed to spend the overtime money while I had it because you never know when it'll dry up.

Manufacturing is so boom and bust. Good times feel too good to be true because they usually are.

Did they help you get answers about the job search rules? I'm confused about what counts as a suitable job application.

Yeah, the agent explained which types of jobs count for my work history. Much clearer than trying to figure it out from their website.

Thank god I'm in the Seattle area so there are other options, but still scary how fast things can change.

I lived through a paper mill closure in a small town. Half the people moved away because there was literally nothing else.

Washington ESD mentioned some training programs but they all seem to require giving up job searching which makes me nervous.

Some programs let you keep collecting benefits while training. Worth asking about Trade Adjustment Assistance if your layoff was due to foreign competition.

15 years of seniority gone just like that. Starting over somewhere else feels impossible at my age.

That's the cruelest part. All those years of loyalty to the company and you're just a number on a spreadsheet when times get tough.

At least this seems like a permanent layoff so I can look for other work. Seasonal layoffs are torture because you can't really job hunt.

Seasonal work made it impossible to plan financially. Never knew if the recall was coming or not.

Everything's computerized now compared to when I started. I can operate the old machines but struggle with the new automated systems.

Community colleges have some good programs for learning modern manufacturing tech. Takes time but worth it.

Good to know there are options. The phone system at Washington ESD is absolutely brutal during busy times.

Anything that helps avoid sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get disconnected is worth it in my book.

This hits hard. Manufacturing was my ticket to homeownership and supporting my family. Without it I don't know what other career path exists.

Exactly. Service jobs don't pay enough to maintain the same standard of living. Manufacturing was one of the last good blue collar careers.