"Everybody needs a job now, losing homes, jobs everything else," says Belvidere resident Kenneth Barnes.

The Stateline's skyrocketing unemployment rate has put more and more people in Kenneth Barnes' shoes: out of work and out of luck searching for a new job.

"I've looked all over, Rockford, Belvidere, up toward Elgin, everything. Can't find nothing right now," says Barnes.

Now Barnes is setting his sights on the Belvidere Chrysler plant. The company is restarting the plant's second shift October 5th, bringing in 850 new jobs.

Chrysler is advertising for temporary workers online at www.chryslerhourlyjobs.com.

The extra work is thanks to a boost in Dodge Caliber sales, under the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Chrysler executives now hope to build an additional 10,000 Calibers this year. But it's not clear how long the second shift will last. Chrysler representatives say that depends on market demand.

Belvidere resident Terry Baier has been unemployed for a year but he says he won't apply at Chrysler, because he doesn't trust the company will offer steady work.

"There's a lot of stuff going on out there," says Baier. "I mean they file bankruptcy and doing the buyout and all this and then now trying to hire second shift back. I don't know what's going on."

A Chrysler spokesman says all workers on the Belvidere Assembly's layoff list will be recalled, except those who took the buyout offer, like Dora Rockwell.

"You're first reaction is oh no, did I make a big mistake. But I made a choice and I'm going to live with it," says Rockwell.

Rockwell now works at a retirement community and though she's making a lot less, she says she enjoys the work and believes its steadier than a second shift job at chrysler.

"Is it going to last? They don't know and I don't know and so you can't keep living your life like that," says Rockwell.

Some current, first shift workers are unhappy too. They're concerned Chrysler will fill the second shift with employees from other closed plants, who have greater seniority with the company. Then when the second shift shuts down again, first shift workers could lose their jobs, because their seniority will drop compared to others in the new pool of workers. Rockwell has heard rumors those concerns could delay the second shift start date.

A Chrysler spokeswoman says because of the holiday weekend, the company does not yet have a count on how many applications they've received. She also couldn't say how long the hiring process will go, but she says anyone interested should sign up right away, again at www.chryslerhourlyjobs.com.