Unemployment is feeling utterly useless as far as one's contribution to society is concerned.

Unemployment is seeing everyone else with a job, a purpose, while you wander around aimlessly.

Unemployment is having to face the indignity, time and time again, of signing on with the same DSS assistants.

Unemployment is the guilt of having to rely on society's money in order to simply exist.

Unemployment is the shame of bumping into colleagues in the city, former workmates from the times when the going was relatively good.

Unemployment is seeing that one's clothes are wearing out and yet not knowing where the next set is going to come from.

Unemployment is getting a pair of the cheapest shoes in town, smelly and ill-fitting and looking cheap.

Unemployment is having to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, not knowing how you're possibly going to get through or fill the day.

Unemployment is often absolute loneliness for hours on end.

Unemployment is seeing a new book you want in a shop and knowing you cannot afford it.

Unemployment is wanting to go to see a play at the theatre, or a film at the cinema, and knowing you cannot afford it.

Unemployment is experiencing the distance of relatives and friends, because they also do not know how to cope with the despair and desperation of the situation.

Unemployment is suddenly losing friends who simply do not want to know you any more, or relatives who simply can't be bothered to accept the pain of caring enough.

Unemployment is being too old for even Restart to bother with you.

Unemployment is taking it out on the wife because you've no-one else to take it out on.

Unemployment is an unshakable whinge and whine and moan because you don't know where else to put your frustration.

Unemployment is to be kicked about by DSS and Council officials without any status or redress.

Unemployment is to be told you don't qualify for benefits even when you've followed all the rules.

Unemployment is being offered the dirtiest, noisiest and most vulnerable flats in town.

Unemployment is having to borrow from friends in order to survive until the next dole cheque.

Unemployment is absolute terror when the dole cheque doesn't arrive on time.

Unemployment is simply surviving one day at a time.

Unemployment is to lose yourself in drink or cheap sex as sheer necessary escape.

Unemployment is to seriously consider suicide.

Unemployment is sometimes to feel that the whole world has forgotten you.

Unemployment is to get washed and shaved in the morning for you do not know what.

Unemployment is to stop wearing masks because you no longer have the energy to maintain them.

Unemployment is to find a strength and a courage and power and a will-to-live within yourself that you never knew you had.

Unemployment is time to review the past for what it was, even if you cannot see much of a future.

Unemployment is developing a hard nose to take any blows the world may hurl at you.

Unemployment is a determination to stick up for one's rights whatever the cost.

Unemployment is a coming closer to God, a going deep within yourself and finding the deepest spiritual roots.

Unemployment is seeing prayers answered in little ways every day.

Unemployment is seeing the unmistakable hand of Providence at work every day.

Unemployment is potentially a unique destiny granted by God.

Unemployment is an opportunity to become spiritually grounded like you've never been before.

Unemployment is seeing the society around you with the eye of Spirit: greedy, grasping, materially obsessed and insane.

Unemployment is making yourself rich by making your wants few.

Unemployment is being appalled at society's worship of consumer idols, its superficial and empty vanity, its utter lack of meaningful values.

Unemployment is seeing clearly "I'm all right, Jack" and "What can I do anyway?"

Unemployment is seeing the futility of laying up treasure on earth instead of treasure in heaven where rust cannot corrupt.

Unemployment is finally accepting the gift of the desert, the urban slums where life - and values - are turned inside out.

Unemployment is seeing:
In the desert, a highway ...
In the desert, a flower ...
In the desert, a fountain.

(Geoff Smith)