Louis Hale leaves his Gordon Highway motel room at 4 a.m. each day and walks for one hour to a staffing agency office in the hope of getting some work as a day laborer.
This is the second time he has been out of work in 10 months.
The 35-year-old Army veteran and his wife live in the motel because they could no longer afford the rent for their apartment. Their three children are living with his sister until he gets back on his feet.
"At this point in time, I'll do anything. I don't care if it's shoveling poop out of stables. I've hit basically rock bottom. I'm getting frustrated, but there's no need in getting frustrated. Just keep on going. I know a bunch of people that are like me who are getting frustrated about the whole situation," Mr. Hale said.
Before he departs on his trek in the darkness, his wife, Rhonda, makes it a priority to pray with her husband to help him make it through his day. She is unable to work for medical reasons.
At the end of Mr. Hale's walk is Trojan Labor on Kissingbower Road. He signs his name on a list and joins more than 100 people, mostly unemployed men, all hoping their name will be called for a job that day.
"I sit there until they have a job for me until about 9. Then, I go out looking," Mr. Hale said.
He has been applying in person at businesses and taking day labor jobs until he lands something better. When Mr. Hale applies for jobs, he's told that he's either overqualified or underqualified.
"The situation that I've been dealing with -- it's a long, hard road, but you've got to keep on trucking. If you stop, you become stagnant and that's not a good thing," Mr. Hale said.
He'd like to get a job in security, which was what he did while living in Florida and Nevada. The Augusta native moved back in November because of the quality of schools.
It was five months before he got his first job at a North Augusta video store. He was laid off two months ago.
RATHER THAN ENJOYING the Labor Day holiday, many unemployed workers are working on finding a job.
As of Friday, the unemployment level in the United States has reached 14.9 million workers, a 9.7 percent unemployment rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nearly half a million Georgians are out of work, according to state figures.
"Jobless workers could comprise a mythical unemployment line that stretches from Dalton to Atlanta, through Macon and down to Valdosta," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.
Scott LaPorte, the general manager of Trojan Labor, said he sees his own line beginning at 5:30 a.m.
"We work a couple hundred men and women a day. Between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., you might see 150 people walk through my hall. They're all either looking for work, coming to get their assignment ticket or picking up their paycheck from last night's shift. You would think I was a used car lot. I have that many cars," Mr. LaPorte said.
Many of the staffing company's clients are commercial construction companies. Trojan provides workers with jobs in the Augusta area, in addition to Lincolnton, Thomson, Aiken, Waynesboro and Millen.
As Augusta swells with more unemployed workers, so have the number of job seekers walking into the doors of staffing agencies.
"Before December of last year, we would see probably 200 new faces a week. We're probably up to 350 now. Our doors don't stay closed very often," said Robert Kelly, a staffing specialist with Augusta Staffing-Aiken Staffing and Job Shop.
The latest data shows the Augusta-Aiken metro area has 26,600 unemployed workers. That's up from 17,100 unemployed workers since last Labor Day -- and up from 14,300 since the beginning of the recession in December 2007.
"The majority of our jobs are temp to hire. Most would like to take something permanent," Mr. Kelly said.
EVEN HIGHLY EDUCATED people are having difficulty finding something permanent.
Terry Stewart has an undergraduate degree in recreation and a master's degree in hospitality, but she couldn't find a job in her field.
The 46-year-old Evans resident has been looking for a job for two years.
She tried to fill the gap by creating her own business in August 2008, a landscaping firm that flopped five months later. She was out of work again -- as were her six employees.
"Too much competition I guess, and with the economy, when people cut services it's usually (landscaping) or housekeeping. Probably wasn't the best time, but who could foresee what the economy was going to be like?" Ms. Stewart said.
In July, there were 2.1 million unemployed workers in the U.S. with a bachelor's degree or higher, according to national labor data. That equals 4.7 percent of all college graduates.
By gender, more college-educated men are unemployed: 5.4 percent compared with 5.2 percent of college-educated women.
"It's been hard. The economy here is very hard, especially in management. My age is a criteria, I think, for some people, unfortunately," Ms. Stewart said.
Each day, she scours the Internet for job openings, and she also looks in the newspaper every Wednesday and Sunday. She has posted her resume on Internet job sites, submitted applications online as requested and worked with a local staffing agency.
Ms. Stewart has also applied for bartending and other restaurant positions, but she has been told that she's overqualified. She also considered opening a home-based business. Ms. Stewart, a Navy veteran who served in the Gulf War, has experience working in the medical field, but she said her training doesn't transfer directly to the civilian work force.
Her search paid off last week: a restaurant management job at Maurice's BBQ in Columbia, which is a 70-mile commute each way.
She had been debating whether the long commute, gasoline costs and wear and tear on her car were comparable to the salary, but it's the only job that she has been offered, she said.
"I know that's going to be a challenge, but it's push come to shove right now. I need to get back to work, definitely, for financial reasons," Ms. Stewart said.
MR. HALE CONTINUES TO look for work in the Augusta area.
Mrs. Hale said that her husband is a hard worker. She prays each day before he sets out: "Lord, you know the situation we're in. Let him please go out today (on a job) so that we can make some money."
A few days ago, Mr. Hale and his wife took a stroll down Gordon Highway to the nearest store, a BP gas station.
Mr. Hale had only $1, so he could only buy a bag of chips. He didn't have enough money for the tax, so the attendant spotted him a few cents.
At the time, Mr. Hale was behind on rent, but he realizes he doesn't have the option of giving up.
"There's a lot of us out here looking for work. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack," he said.
Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.
ONLINE EXTRA
Click here to view Mr. Hale's resume. (As taken down by staff writer LaTina Emerson)
COMING MONDAY
Vida Stapleton has been unemployed for five months, but she still hopes to become a professor. The 49-year-old has become more flexible in her expectations.
MORE LOOKING FOR WORK
A look at changes in the Augusta-Aiken metro area* labor force in one year's time:
| June 2009 | June 2008 | |
| Employed | 235,115 | 244,391 |
| Unemployed | 26,430 | 6,477 |
| Unemployment rate | 10.1% | 6.3% |
*Includes Burke, Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina
Source: Georgia Department of Labor
NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS (BY MONTH)
Millions of Americans unemployed
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June |
| 1999 | 6 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6 | 5.8 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.5 |
| 2002 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| 2003 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| 2004 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| 2005 | 7.8 | 8 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.6 |
| 2006 | 7 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7 | 7 |
| 2007 | 7 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 7 |
| 2008 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| 2009 | 11.6 | 12.5 | 13.2 | 13.7 | 14.5 | 14.7 |
| Year | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1999 | 6 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.6 |
| 2000 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| 2001 | 6.6 | 7 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 8 | 8.3 |
| 2002 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.6 |
| 2003 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.3 |
| 2004 | 8.1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 2005 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 |
| 2006 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.7 |
| 2007 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 8.9 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 10.2 | 10.5 | 11.1 |
| 2009 | 14.5 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
AUGUSTA-AIKEN LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES
| 2006 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
| Employed | 238,301 | 239,752 | 241,259 | 239,306 | 239,266 |
| Unemployed | 14,432 | 14,785 | 13,774 | 13,315 | 13,861 |
| Rate | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.5 |
| June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 238,259 | 240,156 | 239,096 | 239,089 | 239,082 | 239,615 | 241,716 |
| 16,041 | 16,175 | 16,498 | 15,423 | 14,851 | 14,210 | 13,953 |
| 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| 2007 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
| Employed | 241,384 | 240,756 | 242,912 | 244,956 | 243,992 |
| Unemployed | 14,631 | 13,863 | 12,671 | 12,325 | 12,366 |
| Rate | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 243,732 | 242,555 | 240,2888 | 241,687 | 240,786 | 242,767 | 242,370 |
| 12,649 | 15,314 | 14,758 | 14,401 | 14,143 | 13,370 | 14,389 |
| 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 5.6 |
| 2008 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
| Employed | 241,787 | 240,571 | 242,886 | 245,912 | 245,234 |
| Unemployed | 14,878 | 13,972 | 13,685 | 12,924 | 14,460 |
| Rate | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5 | 5.6 |
| June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 244,391 | 244,712 | 241,582 | 241,488 | 240,950 | 240,977 | 240,779 |
| 16,477 | 17,839 | 17,559 | 17,107 | 18,227 | 18,320 | 20,090 |
| 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7 | 7.1 | 7.7 |
| 2009 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June |
| Employed | 236,736 | 236,000 | 236,078 | 237,784 | 236,283 | 235,115 |
| Unemployed | 22,178 | 23,415 | 22,891 | 21,660 | 23,823 | 26,430 |
| Rate | 8.6 | 9 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 9.2 | 10.1 |
WHAT CAREERS ARE IN DEMAND?
Here is a Georgia listing of careers that will have fast job growth, high wages, and at least 100 annual openings during the next 10 years and what they might require:
MORE THAN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE: Administrative services managers; business teachers (postsecondary); clinical, counseling and school psychologists; computer and info systems managers; dentists (general); education administrators (elementary and secondary school, postsecondary); education teachers (postsecondary); educational, vocational and school counselors; health specialties teachers (postsecondary); instructional coordinators; internists, general; librarians; management analysts; medical and health services managers; music directors and composers; pharmacists; physical therapists; producers and directors; veterinarians; vocational education teachers, postsecondary.
BACHELOR'S DEGREE: Accountants and auditors; compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists; computer software engineers, applications; computer software engineers, systems software; computer systems analysts; construction managers; database administrators; elementary schoolteachers; employment, recruitment and placement specialists; financial analysts; industrial engineers; kindergarten teachers; logisticians; medical and clinical lab technologists; medical and public health social workers; middle school teachers; network and computer systems administrators; network systems and data communications analysts; personal financial advisors; physician assistants; secondary schoolteachers; social and community service managers; special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school; special education teachers, middle school; special education teachers, secondary school; training and development specialists; writers and authors.
ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE OR POSTSECONDARY VOCATIONAL TRAINING: Computer support specialists, dental hygienists, paralegals and legal assistants, radiologic technologists and technicians, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists.
WORK EXPERIENCE IN A RELATED OCCUPATION: Cost estimators; detectives and criminal investigators; executive secretaries and administrative assistants; food service managers; supervisors of landscaping, lawn service and groundskeeping workers
LONG-TERM ON-THE-JOB TRAINING: Coaches and scouts; electrical power-line installers and repairers; mobile heavy equipment mechanics; telecommunications line installers and repairers
MODERATE-TERM ON-THE-JOB TRAINING:
Advertising sales agents
Source: Georgia Department of Labor
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back 
A master's degree in "hospitality?" And she wonders why she can't get a job?
I have 15 years experience as a heavy equipment operator and I can't find work in the construction industry because I don't speak spanish-can't communicate with the MAJORITY of ground workers.IF the government was concerned about unemployment,they would make an effort to remove the 30 million illegal workers from the work force.
Teaching jobs are NOT in demand. Au contraire, teachers are losing jobs.
Shame a crying shame, everyday I also wonder if I will be working or not. I have been lucky so far. I am hoping my luck contuines until the US can get out of this slump. I know it can take years to happen, but lets hope the up hill climb starts soon.
Your stimulus dollars at work folks......yes we can...
I have been looking for a job since april and now i've found a company that will hire me.most trucking companys arent hiring new out of school- drivers.I fell i just want my foot in the door of any company to get a job .I am paying for my insurance out of pocket right now but i get that discount.
he moved back to Augusta because of the "quality of the schools"??? OMG, I'd hate to know how bad the schools muct be in Florida and Nevada.
Wizzardx1, it is the same all over the world, except most have to learn English in addition to their native language in their OWN country if they want a job. You can sit around and complain all day that your experience is being wasted, or you could learn Spanish.
Nice resume. Why doesn't he mention his military service, and why did he get out?
Here are two jobs ... http://www.shepeardblood.org/index.php?pr=Page_15. I think that there should be no problems getting jobs. Workplace ethic is a skill that is lost among most workers. It shouldn't be hard to replace the work force with people that want to do their job correctly.
hi, as a retired man on social security, my heart really does go out to all my hard working, and looking for work, ladies and gentlemen. it is tough and no one seems to care. obama got a pile of crap when he took office and is trying to find the right thing to do. in the meanwhile, i want to wish all these hard working, good family people the very best. you do not deserve to be where you are. if GOD will listen, i'll keep you in my prayers and wish you all the very best. peace and love, tom
Seabiscuit he is definitely not trying to find the right thing. He is trying to turn us into a socialist nation. One where hard work is not rewarded, but NO work is rewarded.
People's actions and choices have consequences. This guy has made a lot of bad choices and made the choice not to educate himself or learn a marketable skill.
I have never wrote a comment to Augusta Chronicie, but to say this man made the choice to not educated himself, is a lame excuse on your part. I have 16 yreas in Food and Beverage, and 16 years of working in an office. All of my jobs have been as a manager. And yes I have been to higher education I am about to lose my home and my car. I have a disable husband and I look everyday for a job. Give this guy a break. Or better yet give him a job.
The Big O ... this country would not function if everyone made the choice to educate themself. Who would do the low paying jobs? You couldn't rely just on teenagers and college students.
Sounds like this man has a stellar work ethic... I'd hire him.
Louis Hale is a liar and a thief...he got a dishonorable discharge for going awol after less than 2 years of service...he was also fired from Mae Video for stealing merchandise and money...it really sucks that people like him can get away with lying to Augusta Chronicle staffers and the people of the CSRA...the Chronicle paid for a week of rent at Motel One for him and my sister Rhonda...and they have been given cash and been taken grocery shopping by the gullible fools around the area who like sob stories
The 35-year-old Army veteran and his wife live in the motel because they could no longer afford the rent for their apartment. Their three children are living with his sister until he gets back on his feet.
They lost custody of their kids...no one is keeping their children from them...a judge gave them 3 years to get their ducks in a row...Simply ordering Louis to prove he can keep a steady job for more than a year and Rhonda to keep a clean house...neither of them can do that...and the 3 years are up in February
They live in the same motel I lived in for 3 years...they don't pray...at least not to the Christian God anyway...I just don't understand what he does for the extra 4 hours when the motel is a 20-30 minute walk from Trojan Labor...you know what Louis...you shouldn't tell things like this to people and then tell someone else something completely different because Karma doesn't like that...oh and btw who did you supposedly kill in Iraq for the C.I.A when you were 16? You are a fantastic liar you know that. Maybe the rest of the world should do what you do...people believe your baloney and you get the world handed to you...
Louis Hale just recently started at Trojan Labor...he hasn't been out in person looking for jobs...and that sob story about no money and having to buy chips for lunch...if you didn't spend $50 dollars a day once a day on chinese chicken wings you might be able to afford to buy groceries and get pothead ross out of your room...
Teacher jobs are in high demand because the turnover is very high. It's incredibly hard, it's very stressful, and more and more kids are coming in with problems. If you care about the kids, it's grueling work.