Watch CBS News

Part 2: Being Unemployed Now

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The economy is recovering, but jobs still seem to be scarce.  They call this a "jobless recovery," but it doesn't feel like a recovery to the jobless.

You don't have to tell Shacora Daugherty (right) this is a jobless recovery.

"When the financial crisis hit, they laid off about 20 employees," she recalls, "and I was one of those 20 that were laid off.   And I've been looking for work ever since, to no avail."

Daugherty has a bachelor's and a master's degree, and was employed for many years, but she's not finding those things much help.

"I'm willing to take anything at this point," she told KYW Newsradio recently.  "It really doesn't matter what field."

As part of her job search, Shacora came to Career Link, a Pennsylvania state employment service where counselor John Casella (at right in top photo) coached her on tailoring her résumé.

"Pretend like you're selling yourself like a product," Casella told her.

Story continues below...

woods-DL
(Career Link administrator Nicki Woods. Photo by Pat Loeb)

Pennsylvania Career Link administrator Nicki Woods (above) says the number of people seeking services has remained steadily high -- 2,500 to 3,000 a month since the recession began in 2007.  She says more jobs are starting to open, but so many people were laid off in the last recession that it barely seems to make a dent.

"For every one job, there's five qualified people waiting to be interviewed," she says.

And Woods says she tries to keep clients upbeat, because she believes a good attitude is essential to getting a job. That's something Shacora Daugherty is willing to believe.

"It's kind of frustrating, but I can't give up. I look at it like it's a new year, I just have to keep on truckin', keep applying, and maybe something will hit," she says.

Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio 1060.


View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.