An Associated Press article reported that an opening for a janitor position recently received nearly 700 applications.  The officials at Edison Junior High School in the Massilon, Ohio were indeed startled, but perhaps not completely surprised.

The opening reportedly was a full-time position paying $15-16 an hour plus benefits, providing a small form of stability in a job pool that’s offering much less.  Many of the applicants were recently laid off in the present economic slump and some were even “overqualified” for the position that was ironically more favorable than many of the entry level positions for more skilled labor which are quickly disappearing.

We’ve all been hearing about the economic downturn but it’s frightening to see it begin to manifest itself in such a hyperbolic manner.  Less than five months ago people were talking about workers getting trampled to death in Walmart Black Friday sales but today some restaurant chains report receiving two to three thousand applications in a matter of weeks when posting open positions.  The times are changing and while it probably won’t be as completely catastrophic as many media outlets are making it out to be it’s definitely a time to count your blessings and work hard with what you have.

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch.  Well today somebody’s paying–we just never thought it’d be us.

Link:

700 apply for school janitor job (MSNBC)

Man Dies After Walmart Stampede

via Caleb, 16 March 2009 8:00am | |