From Trash Sorter to Prison Guard, Unloved Jobs Get Second Look

Jobseekers can’t be choosy in today’s stalling US labor market. Even when the job is flagging traffic for 12 hours in the Atlanta sun.

Two years ago, the chief executive officer of AQC Traffic Control fielded around 10 applications a week for long shifts directing motorists to stop or slow down near construction sites, braving both the summer heat and the winter cold. Today, Marcus Rush is seeing up to 80.

“When my office phone rings, my ears perk up because I wonder if it’s a new customer,” Rush said. “Now, every time I hear a phone ring, it’s someone calling ...