Labor Department Finds Laid-Off Workers Take Pay Cuts in New Jobs

Most people who lost jobs during the past few years and found new ones aren’t earning as much, according to a report from The Associated Press.

The story cites a Labor Department report that found that only 56 percent of Americans laid off from January 2009 through December 2011 had found jobs by the start of this year. And more than half of them took jobs with lower pay, the story says.

Which makes us wonder: what’s been your experience during the so-called economic recovery? Have you or someone you know lost a job and struggled to find a new one? If you’ve found a new one, what’s the pay like? And even if you’ve kept your job, how are you feeling about your personal finances?

We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.