Kelly Hall has been through this before.
In 2005, she lost her job as a baggage call center representative at Pittsburgh International Airport when US Airways outsourced her job. Now her term as an elected union representative is about to expire, leaving her jobless once again.
Her solution: Quit the airline industry altogether, go back to school, get her teaching credential and start a new career -- at age 47.
"It's scary," said Hall, a mother of three who lives in Stowe. "Is it a good time for anybody (to lose their job)? No. Not with the economy and with Christmas coming. But I don't have a choice in this."
Hall is not alone. A government report to be released today is expected to show that the national unemployment rate grew from 6.1 percent to 6.3 percent.
The situation is not as bad in Western Pennsylvania, where the unemployment rate in September was 5.4 percent.
But several indicators suggest rocky times ahead: The number of out-of-work Americans drawing unemployment benefits has surged to 3.84 million, a 25-year high, according to the Labor Department, and the economy contracted at a 0.3 percent pace in the July-September quarter, signaling the onset of a likely recession.
"It gets depressing," said Andi Garnic, 51, of Monongahela, who was laid off in August from an Allenport steel mill. "I'm 51, and I want to know what I'm going to do when I grow up. I thought my life was smooth sailing. ... You get up in the morning, and you just go through the motions and hope you find something."
"It's extremely difficult to make ends meet," Hall said. "I'm hoping that (changing careers) is going to lead our family to something better, where they don't have to make so many personal sacrifices. But it's a gamble. You just don't know."
It's a gamble more people are forced to take, said Jim Hann, site administrator for the Pennsylvania CareerLink's Allegheny East office in Forest Hills. The center, which matches qualified workers with hiring employers, helped 1,075 job seekers in October 2007; that number jumped to 1,380 last month, he said.
"We're seeing a steady stream of people, from high school dropouts to college graduates," Hann said. "That's kind of a scary thing. We always told people to get a college degree to get a good job. And now people are coming in saying, 'OK, I have that degree. Where's my good job?' "
Rick O'Domes, site administrator for CareerLink Alle Kiski in New Kensington, said he has seen more job seekers in light of recent company closings and layoffs.
"Kensington Windows comes to mind," he said. Located in Parks, the company shut its doors Oct. 27, just one day after giving its more than 150 workers notice of the closing. The company made replacement windows and patio doors.
"The people who are coming in, some are looking to upgrade their job skills, some are looking for information, some are just looking for a job to replace the one they lost," O'Domes said. "When they come in looking for a job, it all depends what their skills are, as to what jobs we point them to.
"There always are jobs, but I don't know if anyone is hiring right now."
Area colleges said they have seen indicators that employers are reluctant to add workers.
Nicole Feldhues, director of Duquesne University's Career Services office, said the school noticed a "slight decrease" in the number of recruiting and job fairs this fall. She said she comes across fewer job opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture and construction.
Dianne Stoner, site administrator for CareerLink's office in Beaver Falls, said the center's clientele has grown in the past two months or so. She said job openings are not matching demand, but jobs are available. Her center usually has about 170 jobs posted by Beaver County employers weekly on CareerLink's Web site (www.cwds.state.pa.us).
"Still in high demand are openings in health care," said Stoner. "We still see a need for nurses and other health care professionals. That is a stellar, steady sector."
Feldhues said Duquesne notices more recruiting activity among nursing and health care, as well as pharmaceuticals, and information technology.
Though indicators paint a gloomy picture, all is not lost, said Paul Friday, chief of clinical psychology at UPMC Shadyside.
"We get emotional about things and then give all the reasons why we are right," he said. "But the sky is not falling. When somebody loses a job, they're going to get another job. It might not be right away, but something will happen.
"You're going to have another job. You're going to get work. You're not going to starve. This is America. How many people starve in America?"
Friday advocates realistic thinking over positive thinking.
"Realistic thinking is much healthier," he said. "It will solve your problems much quicker than anything else. The reality is that this is not end of the world; I could take you to my hospital and show you the end of the world. ... But when you're under strain, it is much more difficult to think realistically. And if you do not have a job or are about to lose it, it is much harder to stay grounded."
He advised people to stay calm, think logically, "make a plan and don't expect the government to save you."
No comments:
Post a Comment