MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state reports there are more than 100,000 open jobs in Tennessee. Even though about 17,000 of those jobs are in Shelby County, many people here are unemployed.
“I’ve been applying for several jobs,” said job seeker Brittany Linsey.
After about two months of unemployment, Linsey said she has a few job interviews coming up.
She has warehouse and restaurant experience. For her, the hardest part is waiting.
“Having time, time to wait for them to call and you know different things of that nature,” she said.
Thursday, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development told WREG there are many open jobs in Shelby County in fields like healthcare, computers, and trucking.
“Yeah, that’s really promising, actually,” said University of Memphis student Lauren McConnico.
Still, Shelby County’s unemployment rate was just more than six percent in December, about one percent higher than the state.
Officials said the reason may be as simple as workers not having the skills the jobs require.
“One of the major factors may be the fact that some 93,000 people in Shelby County do not have a high school education and that, for many employers, is the basic requirement they have to hire someone,” said Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Director of Communications Chris Cannon.
Folks WREG spoke with wonder if effort is the problem.
“I think some people are just not really interested,” said University of Memphis student Ethan Middleton.
“I actually believe it’s laziness, maybe,” Linsey said.
Linsey believes that with her work ethic, she will get something soon.
“Yes, I hope. I pray to God I do,” she said.
The state said job centers can help job seekers acquire training for high demand jobs.
Also, the state posts job listings and other unemployment information here.
