More Unemployed Attending Job Fairs

Unemployment has ticked up to a 26 year high of 9.8 percent, and economists expect things to get worse in the labor market before they get better.

Tuesday, October 6th 2009, 5:07 pm

By: News 9


By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Unemployment has ticked up to a 26 year high of 9.8 percent, and economists expect things to get worse in the labor market before they get better.

Oklahomans are turning out for job fairs in record numbers as a result.

Tuesday at Rose State College, the career fair wasn't just full of students looking for work post graduation. People who've been in the job force for decades are also seeking jobs. Recruiters say they've never seen fairs as packed as they have been recently.

Steve Caruso lost his job two weeks ago.

"I can draw some unemployment and be OK for a little while," said Caruso. "If we live very conservatively, we won't go upside down."

But his plans are to find a job quickly, since he's the main breadwinner in the household, just like many Oklahomans looking for work.

"Seeing what's out there, kinda keeping my options open," job seeker Patsy Walker said.

With more than 15 million people out of work, unemployment reached 9.8 percent in September. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan predicts the jobless rate will pass 10 percent and stay there for a while.

"The economy loses skills and people who are out of work for very protracted periods of time, lose their skills eventually," Greenspan said.

Recruiters at the job fair are searching for people with the right skills. The VA Medical Center is in need of nurses.

"We have incredible sign-on bonuses, we have tuition support, particularly for associate degree nurses to go back to school and we get to take care of veterans," Nurse Recruiter at the VA Medical Center, Charlotte Ellison, said.

Meanwhile, Caruso is optimistic. He knows that despite the unemployment forecast, if he's out searching, he'll find something soon.

"I've always been able to land on my feet before and I've been through tough times before," said Caruso. "One way or another I'll land on my feet, I always have."

A few of the most recession proof industries are health care, education, energy and law enforcement.

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