'Now calling Future Rock Stars 548, 549 and 546,' the announcer's voice boomed over the din of rock music. Some 750 people sat in fold-out chairs and a hundred more milled about, all patiently waiting for their number to come up.
Witness the scene inside the cavernous special events center inside the Florida State Fairgrounds. But at 9.4 percent, unemployment is still high enough to draw thousands for a chance at a job, many of them paying roughly equivalent to typical service jobs at restaurants and hotels. 'I heard there's also 700 (call center) jobs coming up in Lakeland, so I do believe the economy is getting better,' said Dube, a Lutz resident.įlorida's unemployment rate has fallen from its Great Recession peak. After more than six months on a job search, Dube said she feels things are looking up.
