Working to Live
By Bryan Weismiller
Recessions shouldn’t be depressing for young Canadians who’ve been impacted by the recent economic downturn. Young adults need to put their jobs in perspective to deal with being unemployed.
It could’ve been shoveling mud in South America that taught Kai Hochhausen to see the bigger picture. Working as a 25-year-old at an international recruiting agency, Hochhausen was laid off when the recession hit.
“It was a really big operation that just got slashed. I mean there’s nothing you can do about it,” says Hochhausen. “Looking at the numbers, I can totally understand.”
Hochhausen’s ability to disassociate himself from his work shows a high level of maturity. Travelling around the world has broaden his perspective and it helped him handle being unemployed. His travel resume includes stops in 32 countries across 4 continents.
“I’ve been so many places and dealt with so many people. I take that back and use it in real life,” explains Hochhausen.
In 2005, Hochhausen was travelling through Central America when Hurricane Stan tore through the region. He was in Antigua, Guatemala when violent weather conditions triggered a large mudslide. Many of the local homes were buried beneath a layer of mud and rocks.
Hochhausen, while studying Spanish, was part of a relief effort that worked to clean up the area. His main job was shoveling debris away from the local’s lean-to shelters. He recalls being shocked at how homes were constructed from five pieces of tin.
“You think- this is what people live in? Holy crap.”
The economic downturn affects everyone in different ways. However, its effects are particularly damaging to young people because of how they value their jobs. According to Isha Sharma, a Mount Royal University sociology professor, young people are more likely to take being fired personally.
“You are what you do these days,” says Sharma. “You base your identity on the kind of work that you do. Being fired really questions your identity. It maybe says that you’re not doing a good job.”
It’s clear that young people are particularly hurt by losing their jobs. It’s a dangerous reality, especially because young workers are amongst the affected by the economic downturn.
Statistics Canada recently reported significant employment losses for Canadian workers between the ages of 15 to 24. From October 8, 2008 to October 8, 2009, employment fell 10.5% for males and 6.9% amongst females.
There was also a 24.8% decrease in employment for workers making less than $10 an hour. Conversely, employment increased for workers who made more than $40 an hour.
If young Canadians continue to be affected by the recession then they need to learn how to cope with it. Life experiences develop the maturity that is needed to deal with unemployment.
“You eventually realize that your work is a part of you, but it’s not all about you,” says Isha Sharma. “You get a broader perspective and realize that there are other people who don’t have a job either. So you tend to blame yourself less and try to understand the larger implications of not having a job.”
Kai Hochhausen is currently 26-years-old and he now works in sales for a large auto-wrecker chain. He’s slightly older then Statistics Canada’s definition of a young worker. However, his perspective on employment makes him a good example for other young adults:
“I’m not only a sales manager. I’m an amateur photographer. I like to write. I like to play sports. I’m not my job. I work, so I can do what I love to do.”
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