in the u.s. right now and that means there are 15 million stories like this one. here's mary snow. >> reporter: it's hard to find signs the economy is improving by looking at this line that goes on and on and on. some 2,000 people waited in the cold to apply for 250 jobs in a new hotel opening in new york. >> made me think of the depression, people waiting for soup. >> reporter: 38-year-old earl newkirk waited four and a half hours to get inside with more than 600 people ahead of him. >> one, two, three, four. slow down. five. >> reporter: once inside -- >> if anyone has an application filled out, step over here. >> reporter: more lines. they held this job fair for the new hotel. it's opening in march. newkirk is hoping to land an event planning position, similar to his part-time job in catering but much different than the