I’m sitting here watching the state of the union address and thinking about what has happened in our country over the past few years. The roller coaster ride we’ve taken as Americans in this struggling economy. It seems like we went from a community where companies were hiring constantly, jobs were abundant; to a community where college graduates can’t even get hired at a local convenience store because there simply aren’t any jobs.
I worried for my children, what will happen to them if this country doesn’t make an economic turn around. Fortunately, we are seeing some sign of hope. Slowly but surely, companies are starting to hire again. Austal right here in Mobile for example, with a new contract to build littoral ships, hundreds of new jobs will be created. But, will we ever see the type of employment we did just four years ago? Many businesses are realizing they can get the same amount of work done with half the staff. Salaries have been slashed, benefits cut, matching 401k’s and pensions eliminated.
My hope and prayer is that in a few years, it will be the same America economically it was several years ago. It may take a little time, we know it’s not going to happen overnight, but we will see the successful workforce that has made this country the success it is.
