CAMILLA, GA -- It's no secret; there are a lot of people out of work. Especially in Mitchell County which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.
“The unemployment rate right now for Mitchell County is 10.7 percent,” said Sandra Clayton of the Georgia Department of labor.
Bobbie Jean Spence is part of that 10.7 percent.
“I'm looking for a job, I’ve been out of work for quite some time and i need some money to pay my bills,” said Spence.
She's hopeful and so are a lot of other people who came out for a career fair put on by the department of labor.
“We have invited the Mitchell County, Baker County area for people to come if they are interested in school, on the job training, or to apply with some of the local employers,” said Sandra Clayton.
“It's been a great experience today, because we have had quite a few people come in asking how can they get started as far as Woodman,” said Karen Cooper, a sales representative at Woodmen of the World, one of at least a dozen companies looking for potential employees.
“It is a self motivating job, having people come in to be able to do the selling of life insurance, all the way to retirement,” said Cooper.
Many of the job seekers have been long term unemployed, looking for work for more than six months, and they say it's a tough grind, but being here and seeing employees who are actually looking to hire, has been a very encouraging sign.
“You can actually see who is hiring and who needs help and they actually come to one place to look for somebody that needs a job,” said Shauna Simpson who is unemployed.
“If you don't have a job you need to get out here to these job fairs and try to work with these people because they are working with us right now today and I feel good about it,” said Spence.
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