This article is reprinted by permission from NextAvenue.org. It is part of a partnership withChasing the Dream.

Job openings have been at record highs and the unemployment rate has edged down to all-time lows. But its a very different story for older unemployed Americans, especially ones out of work for over six months the long-term unemployed.

A stunning 33% of job seekers ages 55 and older are long-term unemployed, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute. The average length of unemployment for the roughly 1.2 million people 55+ who are out of work: seven to nine months.....More>>>