YORK COUNTY, S.C. -- The layoffs in upstate South Carolina have sent unemployment numbers soaring, and with so many people looking for jobs, the competition is fierce.

For many people that means going back to school. But many laid off workers can't spend two to four years to get that college degree because they're supporting families and can't go that long without a paycheck.

There are programs out there that will get you trained and employed in six weeks or less.

One example is truck driving school.

"I'll be able to get a paycheck and that's the main thing, getting a paycheck," said student Ronnie Miller.

After losing the mechanics job he had for 30 years at an automobile supplier in Chester County, Miller is training to be a truck driver at the York Technical College Professional Truck Driving School.

"Our course is six weeks long," said instructor Jim Mroz.

Since Miller's wife also lost her job when the auto supplier closed, he had to find a way to pay the bills quick. Miller's story is like many in the training program.

"Our age group is pretty much 35 to 55," Mroz said. "The oldest I had, which was last summer, was 72. We've had lawyers, teachers, bankers, a nuclear engineer."

Mroz proudly says the program places about 99 percent of their students.

"So a lot of them will leave here Friday and be at a company Monday for training," Mroz said.

The big question for students is: "What's the pay?"

"Up to about $37,000 a year starting, which is a good wage to start," Mroz said. "Their second year going into their third year, looking at $40,000 to $50,000."

The tuition for York Tech's trucking school is about $2,600.