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UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN IN PB, COUNTY, BUT BOTH STILL HAVE WORK TO DO

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, August 16, 2008 10:40 PM CDT

Even with the unemployment rate dropping from 8.1 percent, which translates to 2,925 jobs, in June 2007 to 7.6 percent, 2,725 jobs, a year later in Jefferson County, the rate is still at least 2.3 percent higher than the statewide 5.3 percent rate, according to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.

June was the latest month for which county and city numbers were prepared, though Friday when it was reported that the state unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent. The national unemployment rate is 5.7 percent, up two-tenths of a percentage point from June and declines in employment were seen in eight major sectors and were attributed to seasonal shifts.

Figures from the Workforce Services Web site also indicate that the percentage of those unemployed in Jefferson County included seasonal jobless claims along the lines of cafeteria workers or bus drivers and the unemployment high was 8.7 percent, or 3,050 jobs, in January. A majority of the highest number of unemployed in the 10 counties in Southeast Arkansas were in the month of January, with Lincoln County reporting 11.3 percent; Desha County with 11.2 percent, though 11.3 percent in July; 10.7 percent in Arkansas County and 10.5 percent in Chicot County.

Lou Ann Nisbett, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County, said though these are the numbers that have been facing Pine Bluff and surrounding areas for the past few years, the potential still remains for jobs, especially with Stant Manufacturing Inc. considering bringing new positions to Pine Bluff as well as the hiring of workers at Pine Bluff Poultry, which hopes to be open by mid-November, hiring 120. She said if the plant does open it will be good timing for some of the 226 Allied Tube employees, who will be laid off by the end of September.

“There are some good things happening here,” added Nisbett. “The main thing is getting people with the appropriate skills and the higher learning institutions seem to be providing for that.”

The city of Pine Bluff accounts for a majority of unemployment numbers in the county, though unemployment has dropped from 9.4 percent, or 2,090 jobs in June 2007 to 8.9 percent, or 1,949 jobs this year, according the workforce agency records.

Pine Bluff Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr., said he is pleased that numbers are lower than last year, but that it is still much higher than the state rate, which needs to change. He noted that the city will continue to do what it can to allow support of existing businesses, while growing new opportunities in hopes of bringing unemployment to the state level or better.

Jefferson County Judge, Mike Holcomb said Nisbett has the best idea with her suggestions, including a new half cent sales tax as well as use of the port and other transportation centers available. He said the hemorrhaging of jobs stop and that will only happen with a higher tax base.

“We need to do it now, not sit here and think about it,” said James “Jitters” Morgan, mayor of White Hall. “We’ve got to do something to compete and it must be for the whole county, not just Pine Bluff or White Hall.”

On the Net:

www.discover.arkansas.gov

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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