Richmond County Daily Journal
Richmond County’s unemployment rate reversed its trend of the past year and dropped more than a half of a percentage point last month, as North Carolina’s rate as a whole also dropped .3 percent.
For Richmond County, the rate peaked at 15 percent in February, before falling to 14.4 percent in March.
“I don’t really know what to attribute it to, besides the fact that the weather is getting better and construction is picking back up,” Employment Security Local Office Manager Judy Carpenter said. “We’re also taking some applications for manufacturing jobs, and some people are car-pooling up to the BRAC area around Fort Bragg for work.”
One thing is for sure, Carpenter said, this can not be attributed to people running out of benefits.
Stimulus funding has expanded the length of time one may draw a check, as well as how much money one can draw.
In addition, many of Richmond County’s refugees of the textile industry qualify for even longer stints of unemployment benefits through the federal Trade Readjustment Act.
The economic stimulus package has even added funding for two new positions at the Employment Security Commission itself, which are in the application process now.
“The new distribution center is taking applications, too, which will really help us out,” Carpenter said. “We’re getting some manufacturing positions that are opening up.”
She said a tentative date has been set for a job fair for the unannounced industrial corporation, and it will be held on May 5.
A search of the Employment Security Commission website for jobs within 25 miles of a Rockingham zip code yielded more than 115 positions Thursday afternoon. There is always the possibility some of these positions will require more than one new hire.
Such Richmond County manufacturing and processing facilities as Perdue, Cascades, von Drehle and International Textiles Group (formerly Burlington Industries) are currently accepting applications at the ESC.
A cursory glance over the positions available also reveals multiple job openings in the government and service sectors.
The state’s unemployment rate dropped for the first time in over a year in March, with 84 counties reporting lower figures and figures in another 11 counties remained the same.
Conditions have also improved somewhat regionally, with Scotland, Moore and Hoke counties reporting decreases in their numbers.
Scotland County’s numbers fell by .2 percent, but were still the highest reported in the state at 16.6 percent. Moore County’s rate dropped .8 percent to 10.2 percent and Hoke’s by more than a half a percentage point to 8.4 percent.
In Montgomery, Stanly and Anson counties, the acceleration of unemployment figures slowed down, with a .3 percent increase in Montgomery topping the list of jobless growth. The rate was 14.4. Stanly County reported a .2 percent increase (12.4 percent) and Anson .1 percent (14.8 percent.)
“While many of our counties are experiencing a slight decrease in unemployment, our state still faces significant challenges because of national recession,” ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. cautioned in a news release. “We encourage those seeking work or needing to file for benefits to use the services of our many offices statewide. The ESC is working hard to help those who are unemployed find good jobs.”
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