Employment rates here are stable

Nov 21, 2008 (The Sedalia Democrat - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- HAYZ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Despite a relatively stable labor environment in Pettis County, people searching for a job are struggling to find work.

Also, the labor market's long-term future appears fairly bleak.

Pettis County unemployment rates fell between July and September, the most recent figure available, after climbing for four straight months. The rates in the rest of the country have been steadily increasing since April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In July, 7.5 percent of Pettis County's labor force was unemployed. The rate dropped to 6.9 percent in August and 6.1 percent in September. Across the country, unemployment climbed from 5 percent in April to 6.5 percent in October.

Unemployment across the state has been less consistent, jumping from 5.7 percent in June up to 6.4 percent in July and 6.7 percent in August, before falling back to 6.4 percent in September.

Linda Christle, executive director of Economic Development Sedalia and Pettis County, said the county's unemployment rate is on the decline in part because many of the manufacturing companies in the county reach their peak production season in the later part of the year.

Local companies tend to spend conservatively and grow slowly, insulating them from the volatile economic conditions in other areas, Christle said.

"Companies here have worked very hard to remain stable," Christle said. "They are very gradual in growth, when it occurs."

Lester Robinson, workforce development supervisor at the local office of the Missouri Career Center, said that production and retail jobs available during this time of year help insulate the county from significant layoffs. But, people still are making heavy use of the career center.

"Since July, we have averaged 150 people a day through the door," Robinson said. "So that's about 30,000 people a year we are seeing come through our front door."

The career center serves the unemployed, along with people seeking additional training who may be searching for a better job. Robinson said the center's goal is for the people who use their resources to get a better-paying job than they had when they walked into the office.

The office does not process unemployment claims, which are handled online and at a call center at the state Division of Employment Security.

The Division of Employment Security is experiencing an overload of new claims, according to its Web site. Starting Oct. 20, regional claims centers extended hours, and are accepting calls between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. every weekday.

Robinson said that federal legislation, enacted in July, extended the length of time unemployment claims are accepted from 26 weeks to 39 weeks. On Friday, President Bush signed another unemployment extension to keep unemployment checks flowing to jobless Americans through the holiday season.

"That (legislation) has put them way behind on filing claims," Robinson said. "Right now, in fact, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the number that you call to talk to a person in the claims center is shut off ... because they are so far behind on processing claims."

Michael Hammer, 25, said finding employment has been difficult. He accepted a job this week with Golden Corral, after searching for more than two months.

"It's been tough. I've been (at the career center) every day, and I have been out walking around looking for openings," Hammer said.

Robinson said that Pettis County lists 77 job openings. In September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 1,293 eligible Pettis County workers were unemployed.

"There are jobs available, but they are not as prevalent as they were last year," Robinson said.

Hammer returned to Missouri two months ago after living in Del Rio, Texas,, for four months, where he worked at a prison and a Pizza Hut. With increasing costs of living, he said he needed more than one job just to keep up with his bills.

What strikes Hammer most about the labor market is how some people take their jobs for granted while others are forced to settle for employment for which they are overqualified, he said.

Christle said the county experiences ripple effects from the national economic downturn, but not to the same extent as other parts of the country. However, if the nationwide economic trends continue, the negative effects will eventually have an impact in Pettis County.

"Like if the car companies fold, then maybe someone who manufactures wheels or nuts and bolts will be affected," Christle said.

Wheel manufacturer Hayes Lemmerz is a major Sedalia employer.

Robinson said that by the start of next year, the seasonal bump in employment may turn around.

"Last January, our numbers exploded. We had 3,183 people through here, whereas in December we only had 2,070," Robinson said. "It kind of leveled out in March, April, May, and then in July it started going crazy again."

Since July, the number of clients coming in to the career center has consistently topped 3,000 per month, Robinson said. And for all those people looking to improve their employment, searching can be a daunting task in itself.

"We have resources to help people, but I think the biggest thing is that looking for work is a full-time job," Robinson said.

"That's exactly right," Hammer said. "That is a good way of looking at it."

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