Will work for food is no longer symbolic of people holding signs atop off ramps on interstates and major highways.
It's a neighbor with three young, school-age boys who have tearfully and reluctantly walked the city streets of Greer to get enough courage to apply for food stamps. Out of a job and without benefits the person is securing Medicaid so his children will get healthcare.
Another individual was laid off one month after having shoulder injury. While others in the department were getting tapped on the shoulder and directed to human resources, the company waited one month to break the news to the individual. A company representative said they felt too badly to break the news so quickly after surgery.
Those are among the heart-felt stories that will be shared with The Greer Citizen readers to put a face with the dreadful unemployment figures that show Greenville County's jobless rate at 9.5 percent and expected to hit double digits when the March report is issued. The state's unemployment rate hit 11 percent in February, the State Employment Security Commission reported. The national rate was 8.1 percent. South Carolina only trails Michigan with 12 percent unemployment.
The personal stories will illustrate how losing a job is an emotional and physical hardship. Tips will accompany stories how to enhance the job search. And The Greer Citizen will assist by posting resumes on its Web site.
Since February 2008 when Greenville County's unemployment was 4.7 percent or 10,252, the numbers have skyrocketed. Last month virtually 1 in 10 county residents were without work. That's 21,607 or 9.5 percent
