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Single people are finding jobs much faster than married job hunters, the Department of Labor said.

Singles lost five million jobs in the recession and have recovered 90 percent of them. Married people lost six million jobs and just 22 percent came back. And for better or worse, employers might look at it like this:

"Somebody who has a large family or life might be away because of sick kids or mommy-daddy issues," said Michael Hayes with Momentum Specialized Staffing in Phoenix.

Hayes said one reason single people are getting a leg up on married people with kids for jobs is that singles are more mobile and willing to relocate.

"If you're trying to transfer a family of four in from Arizona for a job, you're going to have to pay relocation fees and then their house is going to be upside down," he said. "So how are you going deal with that?"

Another factor in hiring singles is age -- married job hunters tend to be older than singles.

"Most of the job creation has been entirely on the low end and labor intensive," said Hayes. "So, if you're a younger person, obviously you're able to do that, whereas somebody who is 50 years old, are they going to go into a warehouse and stock 1,500 cases in a couple of hours?"

Jim Cross, Reporter

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  • Abuse
    wrote...
    Not Good
    My how the times have changed. I once was passed up for a promotion because I was "of child bearing age and might need time off to have a family." That's just plain wrong. Also, assuming a young single person is going to out perform someone just because they are unmarried and have a do not have family can backfire on an employer. Where's the stability? The younger generation has no desire to be a permanent fixture. Many things are wrong with this whole story. One should be hired due to their past work experience and stability, not just because they are young and single.
  • Abuse
    The Big Truth wrote...
    Stability you say?
    There is no such thing anymore in the work place. Companies drop people all the time, and for no reason. Times have changed. Stabilty means nothing, only money matters....
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    Discrimination?
    You know someone is going to say it. I see the point of why, but I think hiring a married person over someone who is not is to their detriment. I think they are more responsible, reliable and are working to support not just themselves, but their family. It really comes down to money and a poor economy. Less risk is good for companies since things are so unstable.
  • Abuse
    akubra wrote...
    Singles being hired because
    Employers want you to be able to work second shift / third shift and weekends. You can't do that if you are a single Father of a 6yr old! Additionally, these employers have been able to get away with paying peanuts because there are so many people looking and you can't take care of a family on peanuts! Something needs to change!
  • Abuse
    Amishwmn wrote...
    always got a job fast
    because i worked the hours no one wanted weekends holidays late shifts the younger singles would ring the cash register with a pencil eraser tip as to not break her nails for that big weekend date, the singles would always call in sick when it was 1st day of AZ State Fair opened. the old farts like me always showed up on the holidays and work double shifts New Years Eve and New Years Day
    Tribute to None...Let Rome Burn...
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