When unemployment becomes endless

Aug 21, 2026 · 25m

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least 1.8 million Americans have been actively looking for a fulltime job for more than 27 weeks. That’s over six months. In this episode, two people tell us what it’s like to navigate a never-ending job search. Plus: A surge in lone star ticks threatens the cattle industry, McDonald’s keeps huge amounts of data on frequent customers, and the national debt passes that $40 trillion threshold. Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter. Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future. Read the stories in today’s episode: The national debt hits $40 trillion Ticks increasingly threaten the health and livelihood of ranchers An Alabama cattle farm with a bird-tourism side hustle “Put me in, coach”: Navigating long-term unemployment in the low-hire economy How the McDonald's mobile app compiled 515-page dossier on one reporter

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