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Jan 9, 2009 5:23 pm US/Eastern
Unemployed In Pittsburgh Find Help At CareerLink
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Nearly 525,000 Americans lost their jobs in December, including many here in Pittsburgh.
AP
Nearly 525,000 Americans lost their jobs in December, including many here in Pittsburgh.
While this region seemed to fare a little better for most of 2008, there is now a feeling of catch-up, as some high-profile employers locally lay off workers.
The last time America lost this many jobs in a year -- World War II was ending -- and the Great Depression was only a decade old.
And while this time some think Pittsburgh fared better, don't tell that to the 500 laid off workers at UPMC, or the 350 workers no longer at West Mifflin's GM plant, or ALCOA's 13-1/2 percent workers losing their jobs, or the 15 percent of Nova Chemical's employees soon out of work, or even the sales clerks at the Macy's stores about to close around here.
"Every day you have to pray. You have to keep smiling no matter what happens," says Taneka Eason of North Versailles.
Eason lost her job at a local newspaper, but she hasn't given up hope of finding a job.
"Just searching, you know, trying to keep my hopes up," she said.
For the many who are out of work, there is help locally. It's called Pennsylvania CareerLink, and it's a web-based system, computerized, designed to link job seekers with employers who are looking for good workers.
Jim Hann runs one of the four local centers, this one in Forest Hills.
"We've seen a steady increase in folks coming in," he told Money Editor Jon Delano. "We've seen a change in the demographics coming in. Our job seekers today represent more of a some college level and college degree level."
In fact, the weekly numbers of job seekers are up more than 60 percent over a year ago.
"I can come and use the computers," says Susan Dernorsek of McKeesport. "I've been posting resumes, and I've actually had a couple call me back, so I'm pretty excited about it."
And one unemployed gentleman -- who went back to school to become a welder -- hopes Congress approves the Obama plan for infrastructure construction.
"I think it's going to be a bright future for me. I really do. I'm excited about it," says David Obradovich of West Mifflin.
The state-sponsored Pennsylvania CareerLink is open to everyone -- free of charge -- and worth checking out if you're out of work or looking to change jobs.
While national unemployment is 7.2 percent, the latest state figures won't be out for a couple weeks. In November, unemployment statewide was 6.1 percent -- and ever lower locally -- but everybody thinks it's going up.
For more information about CareerLink, visit
www.careerlinkpittsburgh.com or call
1-866-317-JOBS or
1-877-TTY-JOB1 for TTY services.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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