I’ve been unemployed for four years. But I do have an important job – to act as a warning to others | Antimony Deor

Writer Antimony Deor has been unemployed for four years. In a new opinion piece, she describes applying for hundreds of jobs. Most employers never replied, and some sent generic rejections weeks later. She says her mental health got worse as the rejections piled up. Over time she stopped trying so hard. She now writes honestly about feeling lost and stuck in an old, cold share house. Her piece is a warning about what long-term unemployment does to people.

Long-term unemployment means being out of work for a year or more. It can be hard to escape, because employers often prefer people with recent experience. The longer someone is jobless, the harder it can be to be hired. Australia's job market has been mixed in recent years. Some industries are short of workers, while others are cutting jobs. People without steady work can lose confidence and skills over time.

Many people know someone stuck without work. The piece shows the human cost of endless rejection and why job support and understanding matter.