Perry County Unemployment Grows to 10.7%

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Unemployment grows across the country as the economy struggles to stabilize, and Illinois is no stranger to it -- especially Perry County.

In the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area unemployment rose from 4.9% in December 2007 to 7% in December 2008. This wasn't the greatest percentage in job loss in the state but had the greatest net loss of jobs with 57,500.

The Rockford area was hit hardest in terms of percentages, jumping from 7.1% in December 2007 to 12.5% in December 2008, the highest unemployment percentage growth in the state.

The runner up with 10.7% is Perry County.

December 2007 Perry County was calculated to have an unemployment of 9.1%, the highest in the state.

Compared to the previous year, unemployment in 2008 persisted at greater levels as firms in most industry sectors reduced payrolls.

Substantial layoffs were reported in manufacturing and professional-business services. Employment losses occurred in leisure-hospitality, financial activities and information. Job reductions in transportation and wholesale trade also contributed to the higher jobless rates. Stable retail trade employment levels occurred in 2008, but businesses did not hire many additional workers during the last quarter of the year. Employment advances were reported in education-health services.

At the end of 2008, expected seasonal layoffs in construction and leisure-hospitality sectors added to the number of jobless. Payroll losses were also reported in manufacturing and at temporary employment service firms. Moderate payroll gains were reported in health care services.

One can only ask what is being done to reverse the trend.

Pinckneyville seeks a business to fill the TUMS building and get it running again but is also temporarily cutting city payroll to be able to pay bills. The county as a whole is even keeping a careful watch on its budgets .

Everyone is seeking to be more conservative, which means less jobs as businesses cut back. Starting businesses are few as banks are less willing to hand out loans.

Every sector of Perry County's economy is waiting for word on a national stimulus package that might jump start our economy.

All of the area communities are making lists of projects that might improve infrastructure and create new job.

The solution, despite the efforts of all our strong local communities, lies on the national level.