USA: While the government releases a better-than-expected employment report, people at a Los Angeles unemployment center say it's still a hard road to a good job

Record ID: 788944

  • Title: USA: While the government releases a better-than-expected employment report, people at a Los Angeles unemployment center say it's still a hard road to a good job
  • Date: 6th August 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) GILLIAN SMITH, UNEMPLOYED LOS ANGELES RESIDENT, SAYING "You get discouraged a lot but, you know, I'm a fighter, I'm a natural fighter so it doesn't matter what goes down, I'm going to pick myself up but, for the other people out there, I don't know what to say. I know how they do it." VARIOUS OF WORKSOURCE WORKSHOP CALENDAR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY BOARD VARIOUS OF ANGELUS WASHINGTON, UNEMPLOYED LOS ANGELES RESIDENT, SEARCHING JOB POSTINGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANGELUS WASHINGTON, UNEMPLOYED LOS ANGELES RESIDENT "You've just got to try your best and keep on doing it, don't quit, because sometimes it'll get hard, you'll be like, I'm tired of this or ain't nobody calling me back and then you give up but you just got to stay on it. Stay focused and it's going to come to you." WIDE SHOT OF COMPUTER LAB
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Employment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5E8TDIKKNZ2ILDSOQYGEB9TKO
  • Story Text: Despite the fact that U.S. job growth accelerated more than expected in July, Los Angeles residents are struggling to survive in what they believe is stagnant employment market.
    The Labor Department reported Friday (August 05) that nonfarm payrolls increased 117,000, above market expectations for an 85,000 gain. In the same report, the count for May and June was revised to show 56,000 more jobs added than previously reported. The unemployment rate dipped to 9.1 percent from 9.2 percent in June.
    While reports indicate that unemployment rates are slowly improving, Los Angeles is still struggling with 11.6 percent unemployment. Job and development centers are constantly filled with residents vigilantly searching job posts or attending resume workshops as middle-class America tries to get back on its feet.
    For many, the key is to stay positive.
    "You've just got to try your best and keep on doing it, don't quit, because sometimes it'll get hard, you'll be like, I'm tired of this or ain't nobody calling me back and then you give up but you just got to stay on it," said Angelus Washington, who has been on the lookout for a stable job for the past six months. "Stay focused and it's going to come to you."
    While there is a fair amount of workshops, mock interviews and job training offered in local employment centers, some residents need more than that. They are in need of emotional support and people to help them address their growing anxiety during the ongoing economic crisis.
    "The staff that we have here and everyone that participates in our services are really skilled at not only providing the service for employment but also, to really assuage some of the things that the clients are dealing with emotionally like the anxiety and stuff like that," said Joseph Paul. "And, if we don't address those things we really set them up for failure."
    Staff working at the employment centers are also hiding concerns of their own. While they attempt to help local residents, their funding is being cut and their jobs are threatened by looming budget cuts at the federal government level, causing state and local governments to continue tightening their belts. Government payrolls dropped 37,000 in July, a ninth straight month of job losses.
    "It's the best of times and the worst of times at the same exact time," said Paul. "It's the best of times because people can't hide from the issues that they have to face...but it's the worst of times because you have to make these changes in a very critical and hostile environment in terms of employers being very critical and skeptical about hiring you even if you have a great attitude and you bring all the right bells and whistles to the table."
    The slight improvement in the jobs picture will be welcome news in the White House, although President Barack Obama would like to see much more substantial improvement in the economy before standing for re-election in November 2012.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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