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Over two hundred people attend a job fair hosted by Workforce Central Florida on Thursday September 25, 2008 in Leesburg.

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published: Friday, October 03, 2008

Unemployment line swells as jobless rate soars

DAVID DONALD

Staff Writer

Jim Ramsey lost his service manager job at an automotive shop more than two months ago and hasn't found work since.

The 60-year-old in Bassville Park was waiting in a long line of job seekers looking for work at Workforce Central Florida's job fair in Leesburg on Thursday.

"For the first time in my life, I applied for unemployment and food stamps," Ramsey, 60, said. "I've worked for minimum wage before, I'll do it again."

Workforce officials said they expected 500 people to attend the job fair. About 490 people showed, waiting in a line 50 yards long to talk to employment recruiters and employers. That's nearly double the number who attended the job fair in March.

"We ended up staying open a little bit longer," said Wendy Jo Moyer, a communications manager for Worforce Central Florida. "We hit it right on the nose."

Stories abounded of people with lots of experience and still seeking jobs:

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Lisa Morgan, 23, of Tavares stood in line in front of the Dollar General store. She managed two restaurants at Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills for four years. She said she lost her $45,000-a-year job two months ago. Nine other executives at the resort were let go as well.

"I was very upset," said Morgan. "I'm a single mom with three kids and a mortgage, the whole nine yards."

With so many people losing jobs, people have very little money to go out to eat. A 24-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Morgan said she's never seen it this bad.

"I've never been laid off, fired," she said. "It was a big blow to me. Right now I'll take anything."

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Tom Fleming, 48, of Clermont, and a single father, worked in contstruction, one of the hardest-hit industries amid a slumping economy. He's been looking for work for five months.

"I've never seen it this bad," Flemming said. "Look at this line, it's crazy."

An electrician by trade, Flemming said he competes with 20 to 30 people anytime he applies for an electrician opening. Flemming said he noticed things slowing down at work more than a year ago.

"It's tough when you've got to kids to support," he said. "I just need a job."

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While many people think it will get worse before it get's better, Robert Gillard, 30, who's worked temporary jobs for the last two year had a more optimistic view.

"As soon as they choose a president, it will get better," he said."

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Beverly Manor, 56, of Eustis, was a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home for 10 years before her employers laid her off five months ago.

Manor said she lost her car and health insurance and is now endanger of losing her house. Family, friends and the church has helped support her and her grandson, she said.

"It just started like a snowball effect in my life," she said. "you got so many people looking for work and nobody's hiring"

Manor said her application for food stamps and public assistiance was denied; and she was told she would have to sell her car, a Chrysler 300 M.

"They overlooked that I'm a single parent," she said. "You're penalized for having transportation.

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James Hazelton is a job placement specialist for Workforce. In his 5 years working for the state agency, he's never seen the job market in such shambles.

"It's very competitive right now," said James Hazelton, a job placement specialist for Workforce. "We've got the job seekers. We need the employers, we need the people who are hiring.