Local economy remains worrisome for many

Randall Parks, who has been out of work since May 2009, said he remains hopeful of landing a job.

"I can see things improving just a little bit, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like it's coming fast enough," Parks said.

Others at the WRAL Joblink Career Expo in downtown Raleigh were less optimistic.

"They keep saying it's getting better, but I don't see any evidence," said Raymond Piatt, who has been looking for a job for about a year. "If I don't get a job soon, I'm going to lose everything."

"When you talk to people on the street, there's clearly a lot of concern and worry," said Tim Minton, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

Minton said he sees positive signs in the economy. Residential building permits were up by 16 percent in Wake County through the first eight months of this year, and the local unemployment rate is down to 8 percent.

Still, he said, he's concerned that public perception about the economy becomes reality.

"You have to be careful with perception because it makes our decisions for us. No matter what the facts are, it's how we feel when it comes to spending our money," he said.

Until people start spending, companies will hold back on hiring.

"At some point, we've got to start investing in our community and in our economy because that's the only way it's really going to get going again," Minton said.