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I was laid off from my job as a consultant at a geotechnical engineering firm last Monday. The industry is tied directly to construction and development, and as such, had been very lucrative for many many years in the fast growing Portland Metro area. I was given two weeks severence. Unfortunately, I bought a house in August. Washington's unemployment benefits are generous, but amount to a little less than 1/2 of my salary. I will have to turn to family for help after about two months just to keep making my mortgage payments on time. This is clearly unsustainable. I have an advanced degree and recently received my professional license, and am looking every day, but the jobs are not here. I can't leave the area because I wouldn't be able to sell my house, so I feel really squeezed and VERY uncertain about the future.

posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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