Job Loss Transition for Families

Economic pressures have led some companies to downsize to either increase their competitive advantage or to survive. Indeed, in the United States in 2010, unemployment approached 10% (15% among young adults in their 20s) in light of a recession that is unparalleled in recent history, and thus the incidence and impact of job loss on individuals and their families is of increasing concern. As the underlying reasons for job loss vary (including layoffs, illness, or injury), so, too, the impact of either the temporary or permanent loss of employment varies from person to person. This entry discusses the impact job loss can have on individuals and families and interventions that can help them cope.