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March 12, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - North and South Carolina are suffering badly during this recession, according to the newly released unemployment numbers.
South Carolina's unemployment rate for the month of January is now at 10.4 percent, the second worst in the country.
North Carolina isn't much better with ajobless rate of 9.7 percent. That's nearly double what it was a year ago.
"I really believe that tough times don't last, tough people do," said Shalmai Hall, who recently lost her job.
She's one of the newest faces to stand in the unemployment line.
"This is only the second time in my 20-year career that I've had to do this, so this is, to me, just like starting over," she said.
There are thousands just like her who are starting over.
"With so many people in the same situation, it just makes it difficult," Hall said.
Another man standing in line who didn't want to give us his name, said, "The competition is at an all-time high. You've got a lot more vultures on the same piece of meat."
While most companies are downsizing in this economy, those at the Employment Security Commission office have been hiring.
"We've been able to hire some people on a temporary basis," said Antwon Keith, manager at the ESC in east Charlotte.
The extra staff is needed to handle the growing number of unemployment claims.
Keith worries Mecklenburg County's numbers may follow the state's and come close to or hit double digits as well.
In the meantime, Hall is hoping things will soon turn around.
She says she's willing to switch careers, if necessary.
"At this point you really have to take work where you can get work," she said.
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