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Numbers have a way of sterilizing and detaching us so that we don’t think about the human aspect of ongoing problems.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Hawaii in July was 2.9%. Nationally, 4.3% of the population was unemployed that month.

But when one combines what the BLS calls “U-6” or an estimate of unemployed, underemployed and discouraged workers – that is, people who want a job but have given up on finding one — the number is approximately 6.3% for Hawaii and 7.2% nationwide .

As this is an election year, it’s tempting to look at that and say “Howzaboutdat!” and claim, somehow, this is evidence of all being well and leadership that’s working. Perhaps, if you’re already cosseted in a position in life that you’re comfortable enough not to care about anything, then yes, that’s just another talking point that persuades you to not care.

“Meh, the economy is not so bad, at least we’re not shut down due to a pandemic; go ahead and re-elect all the incumbents,” is the thought that’s going through more than just a few minds among my friends, family, neighbors and coworkers here in Hawaii – and probably yours too. You can afford to be passionate about niche, esoteric issues; you can be a devil’s advocate on any side of any policy argument; and you can laugh at the end of the day, no matter what happens, because you’re comfortable.

But if you’re part of the 7.2% that that is underemployed or unemployed, life really sucks right now. If people with good middle-class jobs are complaining about the hike in food prices, imagine how people who are under- or unemployed feel right now. I mention this because this population is becoming more and more invisible to both policymakers and voters alike, and their plight has serious implications for our communities and nation.

Why You Should Care

Forget about all the stupid quotes posted on Instagram and Facebook that talk about how we have to enjoy the journey more than the destination, trust the process, find our vibe and not worry about how old we are and when we will have things or accomplish things. That’s total unacceptable BS. This is the United States of America where the Industrial Age’s enduring imprint on our society is that men and women alike, but especially men, place their self-worth in having a job that pays well and brings them respect.

They don’t tell you in school that the labor market is a complex and sensitive system that can go into wild throes of excess as a result of the slightest changes in policy, systems or environmental factors. They do tell you that you better get a job one way or another, or else no one will respect you. And for many people who want a job and can’t get one, this can be an extremely frustrating experience that can lead to disordered thinking, depression, substance abuse, and yes, sometimes even domestic violence.

As we all know, the world does not stop for anyone. One thing goes wrong for you in a place like Hawaii, and things can snowball very quickly. Political scientists  the “Matthew Effect of accumulated advantage (or disadvantage)” – referring to a principle the Gospel of Matthew 25:29 records Jesus as saying that “everyone who has, will be given more; but he who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.”

The idea here is first you lose your job, then you lose your ability to pay for your medical bills, then you lose your car, then you lose your friends, then you lose your spouse, and so on. That may seem like an absurd chain of events , but I can tell you there are more than just a few people reading this right now who will tell you that when life comes at you in Hawaii, it comes at you hard and fast and it will take you to the cleaners if no one intervenes on your behalf.

As someone who was unemployed for four years, whenever I find out a friend is unemployed, I send them as many job referrals as I can get, make professional networking encounters available for them, and even when necessary help pay for their food and their bills, because I know how much it hurts to be in that position.

When I was in that predicament of unemployment in the 2010s, family and friends treated me like I was anathema. I was called a “failure” and “doomed” by my own relatives. I had to deal with the cognitive dissonance of being unemployed yet having formidable educational credentials and professional skills.

Times like that can turn your soul in one of two directions, where you can become scarcity-minded and self-preserving at all costs, or you can become highly empathetic and swear to yourself that if you ever get out of that pit, you’re going to make sure others never fall into it.

And despite all the talk you may hear about how in 2024 we are all about “equal opportunity” (or even “equity”) and “welcoming spaces,” if you really want to experience racism, sexism, prejudice and outright discrimination, just try applying and interviewing for a job in a competitive market like what we are in now, because all of that will come out of the woodwork with many prospective employers.

This is why all of us who are able should be as generous as we can and as encouraging as we can to the people in our orbit, because when people get knocked down, sometimes getting up is a titanic task.

But it’s not just you and me that need to be thinking about this. Our elected officials need to think about how social unrest, the mental health crisis, and the bad economy are driving under- and unemployment. It’s a crisis because thousands of people in Hawaii and millions of people across the United States are in a bad place right now and it won’t be getting better for them anytime soon unless we do something.

It’s too early to be doing victory laps in this election season talking about how great one has done and how awesome one’s leadership is with so many people vulnerable and at-risk due to their employment situation.

Want to have a population that is agitated, angry, racked with domestic violence and struggling with substance abuse? Do nothing about the labor market and that’s the future we’ll have.

Private charity and family support will help offset this, but politicians need to start talking more about jobs and the economy. When Hawaii’s people are able to work, Hawaii will start working again.