Memphis, TN - According to officials at the Memphis Career Services Center, the outlook for jobs in the Mid-South is currently bleak.
As of Monday, June 22, 2009, we found a mere 70 job postings for Shelby County in the center’s database. There are usually four times that amount.
Nationally, there are many companies adding employees right now, including some in the Memphis area.
Robert Floyd got laid off in April and says it’s been tough finding work.
"It's agonizing. I'm stressed out and about to lose my truck. I’ve gone through my checking account and 401k," says Floyd.
Although the pickings are slim, some companies are hiring. AT & T is looking for a customer service rep in Memphis and a retail sales consultant in Covington. MetLife is hiring a reverse mortgage specialist and ITT Tech in Cordova is adding an associate dean, educational recruiter and digital game design instructor.
These aren’t exactly jobs everyone is qualified for. That is why Robert Floyd says he is going back to school.
"The job postings are either for entry level or you need a skilled trade for the job and that's what got me thinking about school because I was sitting here for hours and hours," says Floyd.
Of the 70 jobs posted at the career center, pay ranged from $60,000 a year on the high end to minimum wage.
We found a variety of other jobs posted in the career services databank, including lifeguards, physical therapists and day care teachers. The other companies adding employees nationally include Kmart, ACE Hardware and AFLAC.
