everyday fox news is complaining about jobs, jobs, jobs. where are they? we need tax breaks in order for private sector growth......blah blah blah. the January unemployment rate dropped lower than anyone projected. 8.3%. the lowest it's been since February 2009. now since this state is a little behind in getting their January 2012 rate so we will have to deal with December 2011 rates. They are as follows: Gibson county - 11.9% Madison county & Jackson, TN 8.8% & 8.7% (respectively) Weakley County & Union City 12.1% & 15.2% (respectively) and finally Carroll County at 11.7%. Now the most disturbing thing I heard despite these still inanely high unemployment rates came from a friend who keeps up with these kind of numbers. the number of women unemployed in Carroll County is around 11%. now this might not seem so bad considering the aforementioned numbers, but we are ranked with the highest unemployment rate for women in the entire state of Tennessee.
this disturbs me. why you ask? because I am an unemployed female in Carroll county. I am a college graduate with extensive work experience. I have fantastic work ethic, and could an would do anything no matter if most people thought it to be below me. I have to help in supporting my family. it isn't something my husband should bear alone. I have had 2 interviews since I started actively searching for a job after leaving my last position de to scheduling conflicts with school. so in 3 months I've had two interviews. one of which would have had me driving 40 min one way for minimum wage and 20 hours a week. allowing me to contribute a measly 300-400 dollars a month that would have not helped very much (and was only a temporary position) and another that would have been ideal seeing as it was 4 minutes from my home, but according to careerbuilder's statistics in the 4 days it took for me to get called for an interview it had over 250 applicants. making my odds even slimmer. I've been continuously called by employers and having them tell me flat out that I am over qualified, they need someone permanent, and that someone like me would be actively looking for something better. I practically did everything to convince one woman that I would do anything to get this position (a medical receptionist) since it paid more than any other job i had seen in this area (a whopping 11/hr). I came to tennessee to go to school. I worked almost the entire time I was in school in some form or fashion. I left a job in Chicago making 15 an hour with full, great, very little out-of-pocket expense to me, and instead took a 50% pay cut with my first and every following job since I moved to Tennessee.
more recently, another red state that my family and i are considering relocating to has called me non-stop since applying for positions. I made a trip to Texas last week to fit in five interviews with five different companies that i was able to choose from that were interested in me. I was essentially offered one on the spot and was told I would hear back on the others this week. so this brings the question....why would I want to stay here? my representative is more concerned with passing gun, pro-bullying, anti-gay, anti-union legislation than something that would legitimately promote job growth. I had one friend who is a liberal say well here we pay no income tax. I responded with neither does Texas and they pay no sales tax on food. here our governor proposes ideas that would save the average Tennesseean just over three dollars a year with his grocery tax reduction. 3 dollars? keep it. instead he wants to get rid of the estate tax all together. probably something he or his family will benefit from in the future since they are millionaires. you know, someone who could afford to pay an extra tax. not someone like me. so while my president had been decreasing the unemployment rate republicans in this state are more concerned with ridiculous, outlandish waste of time legislation than helping people like me. ones that are being turned away everyday for not being G.E.D. or high school diploma only recipient or even a high school drop out. someone who wants to work. someone who has the experience and education to back it up. so andy holt, Curtis halford, bill Sanderson, Stephen fincher when are you going to get YOUR constituents back to work and stop your nonsense and ridiculous antics? until these statistics change you all continue to fail me and my neighbors. do something or these people will vote you out later this year. this unemployed woman will do everything to guarantee that. that I can promise!
