Here in Arkansas our unemployment rate is about 7.1 percent, lower than the national average of 9.8 percent. Companies are still hiring. Many are finding themselves without jobs one day and with a better job the next.
"You got to have faith," says Reginald Walker. "I appreciate the opportunity. They won't regret it.
Layoffs cost Reginald Walker his truck driving job Thursday. And Tuesday, just four days later, he landed an even better job with Southern Tank Transport.
"I gave twelve years of my life for the company. I was kind of like, 'What do I do now? I have a family to take care of,'" said Walker.
"I've hired drivers who have lost jobs because the companies are going out of business in Arkansas," said Ranae Smoak.
Luckily, Southern Tank Transport is in a position to hire, but the down economy is still affecting some areas of the company.
"Our terminals, the ones that are hauling mostly cement, are slow; the cement industry is down, building is down, that means less cement is being used," said Smoak.
So the big question that everyone keeps asking is when is it all going to turn around? Experts say by 2010 or 2011 things should be better. And around the same time home sales will return to where they were in 2007.
But Reginald and the rest of the new hires don't have to wait that long. "We're glad we can offer jobs so these workers can work and provide for their families," said Smoak.
For more information on these jobs log onto:
www.sotank.com
