Local job seekers react to unemployment numbers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Northwood University Junior Brandon Strassburger's summer job search has stretched into summer.  On a Friday afternoon, he's on-line at the campus library. "I'm actually replying to a job offer right now through e-mail."

He knows how hard the job market is right now.  It's so tough, his friends are asking him for leads.

"I feel bad for people who just graduated because of how hard it is to get a job now I'm happy I have two years left," said Strassburger.

Northwood's Director of Career Services Kelly Blaggie says students are preparing earlier than ever for life after college.

"If alums can't get the job right away, they're more willing to take an internship just so they can get their feet wet within that company," said Blaggie.

In one of the classrooms, finance professor George Stamas is writing on  a chalkboard. "The numbers today indicate the economy is stalling."

Stamas believes the stimulus package hasn't been working as the Obama administration hoped and adds you can't spend your way out of a recession.

"It's got to come from productivity and the business sector which is right in here and that's the challenge for Washington is to figure out how to make that sector grow," said Stamas.

Other economists believe that without more government help, the recovery will sputter.  Professor Stamas said there's a chance the U-S could be in for a double dip recession.  That happens when the GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, drops back into negative territory after a positive quarter or two of growth.

"The unemployment situation will only be cured whenever we're able to deal with small companies and give them confidence to invest in future," concluded Stamas.

Now there are some individual success stories out there.  Recent Northwood graduate Hanne Abada is doing marketing and sales for a West Palm Beach company.  Her advice to job seekers is to take advantage of the resources around you.

"The best way just like my professors say, networking is the best way to find a job," said Abada.

But right now, there aren't enough stories like Hanne's to paint a brighter picture for the economy.