It's the time of year when a lot of people try to pick up a second job to pay for all those Christmas presents. But with the economy the way it is, how tough is that to do here in central Arkansas?
As businesses keep closing left and right, finding extra holiday work is tough. In fact, for a lot of people finding just one job is proving to be very difficult. Jalisha Dean lost her job at a nursing home about a month ago and still hasn't found work. "I've been struggling. I keep looking for a job and I just pray and hope something comes up real soon," she told us.
The 18-year-old works to help support her mom and her sisters. And she's eager to find a job like the rest of the folks who show up for help at the Arkansas Workforce Development offices around the state. Jalisha said, "I hear a lot of people talking about what's going on and saying they're going to lose their jobs and lose their houses and cars."
Kim Friedman with Arkansas Workforce Development says if you compare January 1 to November 22 of this year to the same period last year, you're looking at an increase of nearly a third more unemployment benefit claims, 28.5 percent. And the rush of holiday retail jobs hasn't taken much of a bite out of that number. FOX16 called around to stores like Target and Best Buy. They say they had some holiday jobs but those are taken. And those with temp agencies say they're seeing fewer holiday jobs available this year.
Jeanette Hurley with the Weststaff temp agency "We've not seen holiday work this year to speak of." Hurley says you have more people competing for fewer jobs. About 30 percent more people are showing up in her office this December compared to last. She says many of the jobs that are available cater to basic needs, like food manufacturing or grocery wholesaling. Medical positions are hot too. That's positive news for Jalisha Dean who has nursing home experience. "I want the world to get better and be back normal like it was," she told us.
Ms. Hurley says you have the best bet of finding a job if you have a positive attitude and you're willing to do anything. But she says be honest with yourself and any prospective employer about the amount of money you're willing to accept.
