Lack of New Jobs, High Unemployment Rates Affecting Locals

As the list of unemployed US citizens continues to grow, so do the tension these residents feel.

A new report shows that the unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The report states that nonfarm payrolls rose by only 18,000, well below expectations of over 100,000.

There are approximately 14.1 million unemployed people in this country according to the report, including Long Branch resident Rob Attanasio.

Attanasio said he has been unemployed for a year and is currently looking for a job in web design.

"I send out 50-60 resumes a week and nobody ever gets back to you," Attanasio said. "Companies are doing the legal thing and putting jobs out there, but they are not hiring."

Attanasio said he has had jobs in field for the last 14 or 15 years, but said that his amount of experience may actually be hurting his search.

"There are people like myself who are even asking for intermediate pay," he said. "Companies will hire an intern or a recent college graduate and pay them $10 an hour."

He said his unemployment will end next week and that he will have to re-apply.

"Hopefully they take me, or I'm dead in the water," he said.