DALTON, Ga. - It's a tough job market out there.
Just ask Jorge Morales. He's been out of work for a year since being laid off from a Shaw Industries flooring plant. Both he and his wife are looking for jobs, but there's not much available, they said.
On Thursday, Morales and his wife, Karina Ross, were among about 800 people applying in person for 45 Georgia Department of Labor positions that are coming to Dalton this fall.
"I apply for just about everything I see," Morales said. "No one is hiring."
In addition to the 800 applicants who submitted their paperwork in person, another 200 or so have applied by mail or fax, said Sam Hall, Georgia Department of Labor spokesman.
"Typically, there are five applicants for every open position in the U.S.," Hall said. "There were roughly 22 applicants for all the jobs we have open."
The Dalton area has been hard hit by carpet mill staff reductions. Whitfield County has 11.7 percent unemployment compared to 9.9 percent statewide, according to just-released July numbers.
"All the interest is really indicative of the job market in Dalton and Whitfield County," Hall said.
The Thursday job fair was meant to fill 45 positions spread over five job titles, all aimed at helping process disability claims. On Tuesday, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond announced the opening of the Dalton disability services office.
Applicants can continue to apply for the positions via the Internet. Applications still must be printed and faxed or mailed to the Department of Labor. All applications must be postmarked by the Friday deadline.
The state hopes to fill all the positions by Sept. 15 and open the office by late October.
Many of the applicants said they wanted a state job because it is stable and provides good benefits. That was the case for Donna Calhoun, who said she likes her part-time retail job but would prefer something full time.
"It's really depressing when you look at the newspaper classifieds and only see yard sales and trucking jobs," Calhoun said. "Before, if you needed a good job, you could work at a carpet mill, but that's no longer the case. There just aren't any jobs to apply for."