Two percent of people have an unusual form of the ABCC11 gene, which hinders armpit odor. Even so, 75% of these lucky fellow humans use deodorant to mask perceived eau de underarm.

Additional research shows that most people won’t leave the house without a hefty spritz of deodorant even if they shower daily, don’t do strenuous activities, and spend their days in temperature-controlled environments.

Lately I’ve been wondering if I’m a bit stinky, which makes me undesirable to employers. Perhaps, it’s simply a symptom of the current job market.

Recently, I worked on two short-term, part-time projects. My on-boarding was half an hour with the expectation that I immediately roll-up my sleeves, understand the technology, and start writing, no more than 3 to 4 hours a day. I was able to quickly create the content, which for the most part was approved with few edits.  

Just as quickly as the project started, they ended.

The International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook highlights the United State (U.S.) gross domestic product in 2023 is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels; although, unemployment is forecast to increase .3% to 3.9% by 2025.

With a U.S. working population of nearly 168 million people, a .1% jump in unemployment is 1.68 million people, half the population of Uruguay.

While it’s easy to say that employers aren’t responsible for creating jobs and avoiding layoffs, the other side of the coin is the reduced purchasing power of the unemployed, working poor, and those below the poverty line. In 2022, nearly 38 million Americans lived below the poverty line with another 9.5 million considered ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). In September, nearly 6.4 million US workers were unemployed with many having given up on looking for a job.

The numbers are staggering and so malodorous that they can’t be overlooked or marginalized.