In Elkhart, Few Signs of Recession's End

CBS News correspondent Seth Doane was in Elkhart in 2008 when the staff learned they'd be soon out of work. Pat Andrews, the cook had grandkids to care for. Sarah Lehner the hostess was pregnant. Jennifer Rambow, a waitress, was worried about how she'd support her three-year-old at home.

By March of 2009, Elkhart's unemployment rate peaked at nearly 19 percent. Now that number has dropped to just under 15 percent.

But there are some signs that Elkhart might be through the worst of it. A good place to look is at an RV manufacturing plant.

At Keystone RV,they've added four new production lines to keep up with sales. Since April they've hired 800 new workers.

But whenever they post available jobs, they're flooded with applicants. Over 3,000 people showed up for just 200 jobs.

Seth Doane's Original Video From Elkhart
Seth Doane's Follow-up Video From Elkhart

The RV jobs are jumpstarting a few others.

Sarah Lehner had her baby, and found a job at Angelo's. After more than a year of searching, former cook Pat Andrews found part-time waitressing work. She makes just $120 a week.

"Every day it looks worse to me - instead of better," Andrews said.

"Really," Doane replied. "Even with the unemployment numbers in Elkhart a bit better?"

"I don't see it better, I really don't," she replied.

At United Way 2-1-1,a call center that connects folks to community resources, they've seen a 65 percent jump in crisis calls from Elkhart.

Former waitress Jennifer Rambow has been desperately searching for work for 16 months. "It feels helpless," she said. "I never realized how much working was a blessing."

There are still too few blessings to go around.

[meincalifornia]

enjoy appreciate the sympathy and stimulus until obama is in office-2012. inflation is not apparent at this time - to whom...i think i know. you/we think we have it bad now and there is no inflation...yeah right. at least we can breathe. 2012 - we'll (ordinary american) be choking and out in the cold. no more help. survival of the fittest.

[JayAdlerMusic]

One thing I can tell you about getting a job having worked in a Madison Avenue Personnel Agency back in 1974 is that if you learn the do's and don'ts of interviewing you may find yourself working faster than you think. I would never volunteer my resume, until the boss asks for it. Most people "hide" behind their resume. You are much more interesting if you can convince that company that you can help them without some tedious reciting off a page that they see thousands of times a year. Do you know how many applicants meekly slither into the interviewing site, slump into the chair and wait for the hiring person to speak. I say stride in confidently sit with good posture and beat him to it "Mr. Jones I have researched your company and I look forward to discussing this position". Then go with the flow. Important, watch the grooming and wear new shoes.

[JayAdlerMusic]

Elkhart, figuratively is Detroit or Chicago, is America steeped in a crippling Recession. If you are a waitress or a porter you are not only competing with hundreds of others for underpaid jobs but it appears that nothing is going to hit the high road soon. Not with massive credit card debt at 20-25% out there with no signs of our government inducing the banks to offer a pay out only rate of say 8%. The banks get a percentage from the merchants also so I am sure they can live with giving Americans a chance to get out of debt. A marketable and producing skills job seeker can always get a job somewhere. I have 30 years of sales experience. If I were younger and in the job market I could work for $100
a week plus commission and make a living. If things got rough I could offer to work for straight commission. Millions of Americans do not have the proverbial "sales personality" and want a steady paycheck. Difficult to find these days.