‘I just want to get a job and support my family’
Samuel Hannah, 23, has been out of work for six months. He doesn’t care much about Washington, D.C. He just wants a job.
“I go on the computer and look, but it’s looking pretty blank right now,” he said.
He’s worked at a series of manufacturing plants around LaGrange; all have experienced layoffs.
There are more than 6,600 job seekers registered for services at the center right now. Centers around the state have expanded their hours for the last two months to meet the new demand, opening at 7:30 a.m. every weekday.
“In my tenure, this is the height of what we’ve seen as far as the need for services,” said Beverly Johnson, assistant commissioner for field services. “Right now we’re seeing record highs as far as unemployment insurance claims.”
There’s a steady hum of people in and out of the LaGrange Career Center. The lobby always is crowded; people wait to get on a computer to job-hunt, while others wait for their names to be called for appointments. They hope the job counselors have good news.
There’s a security guard in the corner, watching, but everyone’s civilized. The only thing that comes close to a disruption is when two or more job seekers recognize each other and offer greetings.
“I just want to get a job and support my family,” said Johnathan Allen, 22, who was laid off from a job with a heating and air-conditioning repair company because there wasn’t enough work. He’s been visiting the Career Center for about three weeks. He’d like to get his GED and eventually go into the military.
In the meantime, though, he looks for jobs. Allen comes out of his ap-pointment with good news.
“(The counselor) gave me names of a couple of places. I’m going to call them right now,” he said.
Phillip Caldwell, 57, also waits in the lobby and hopes for good news. The self-employed carpenter hasn’t been able to find work for three months. He now lives at the Ark Ministry, a local shelter for men.
“I lost everything I had,” he said. “I really need some work.”
Caldwell has started applying not just for carpentry jobs, but any jobs.
“I’m willing to learn something else,” he said. “People who have never been unemployed have no reason to understand what it’s like.”
If the economy doesn’t repair itself, however, “They’re fixing to find out,” he said.
Career Center manager Gail Long says the center offers many services to those seeking jobs and to employers seeking workers. Counselors help those out of work file for unemployment insurance and look for new jobs. They post jobs from local employers. Special services also are offered to veterans, recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and other groups, as well as workshops aimed at financial management and staying positive during the job search.
“We have total confidence the economy will turn around,” Johnson said.
In the meantime, even the job counselors themselves are experiencing increased workloads. Ironically, because of a hiring freeze, they’re understaffed themselves.
“We do our best to meet the needs with the state budget cuts,” Johnson said. “Creative scheduling has helped employees balance their workloads.
“Our staff continue to do an outstanding job.”
Reginald Dunn, laid off two weeks ago, made his first visit to the Career Center on Thursday, resumes in hand.
“I’m not surprised to see this many people here,” said Dunn, 32, who has three daughters to support. “I’m hoping to find something quick.”
Hope is all some of the job seekers are left with.
“I read my Bible every day,” said Hannah, who eventually would like to get another manufacturing job and earn enough money to go back to his home state of California.
“My help comes from above,” he said. “I figure most of the people here are in the same state of mind.”
Caldwell says he prays every night, too.
“I put my faith in God that he’s going to send me something,” he said. “Right now God says to wait, but when it’s ready, I’ll be there.”
Post a Comment
