In recent weeks, Parker Taylor reached a grim milestone in his work history. The 29-year-old had been employed consistently since he was a teen, first on a factory floor and most recently in medical sales. But the St. Petersburg, Florida, resident hasn't been able to land a new gig after losing his job shortly before the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday. Taylor is now one of the more than 1.8 million Americans classified as long-term unemployed — which the government defines as jobless for at least 27