Casaundra Bronner, of Hazelwood, Mo., worked in marketing before being laid off in March 2010. She found a job again in March 2011 but is still uninsured and having trouble getting the health care she needs. Whitney Curtis for NPR hide caption
The Road Back To Work NPR is following six people in the greater St. Louis area who started 2011 unemployed and are searching for work.
Special Series
The Road Back To Work
NPR is following six people in the greater St. Louis area who are searching for work.
Randy Howland works in his small office in March, shortly after he began a work-from-home job with a call center earning $10 an hour. Tamara Keith/NPR hide caption
Ray Meyer, 55, had a 30-year career in banking before losing his job. He's been rolling from one temp assignment to the next since February. Tamara Keith/NPR hide caption
Ray Meyer researches potential employers at the library near his home in Kirkwood, Mo. He says the uncertainty of temp work is gnawing away at him. Tamara Keith/NPR hide caption
Before and after shots of Randy Howland. Howland grew out his hair and beard while working from home but decided to cut it off before a job interview. Lisa Howland hide caption
Brian and Jennifer Barfield met at a networking group for the unemployed. This is one of their engagement photos. Courtesy of the Barflields hide caption
Lisa Howland says her husband, Randy, smiles a lot more now that he's working, even though the job doesn't pay enough to cover all their bills. Tamara Keith/NPR hide caption
Annica Trotter prepares for a day at work at her new job as a receptionist. Tamara Keith/NPR hide caption
Roni Chambers, executive director of Go! Network (right), checks in Jennifer Barfield, 47, and her husband, Brian Barfield, 53, at a job networking meeting in downtown St. Louis. Whitney Curtis for NPR hide caption
Annica Trotter, 25, is feeling financially stressed by her job search. She recently had to cancel her Internet service and car insurance. Whitney Curtis for NPR hide caption
Randal Howland, 50, of St. Louis, lost his job over a year ago. Whitney Curtis for NPR hide caption