Licking County Sees Largest Jobless Rate Drop Since 1998

From Newark Advocate | May 25, 2010

NEWARK — The Licking County unemployment rate finally has fallen in line with the perspectives of local employment experts who saw positive signs for months.

The drop from 11 percent in March to 10.2 percent in April was the largest one-month reduction in Licking County’s unemployment rate since 1998, when it plummeted from 4.3 percent in June to 2.9 percent in July.

In March, the unemployment rate fell by one-tenth of a point, but the actual number of unemployed did not change during the first three months of the year, remaining at an all-time high of 9,200.

“This is a reflection, finally, of what I’ve been seeing all along,” said Windy Murphy, job specialist with the Licking County Department of Job and Family Services. “We have been busy nonstop with employers asking us to advertise job leads for them.”

Cheri Hottinger, president of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce, said she had been expecting better news in previous months but was surprised by the size of the drop in April.

“That’s pretty significant in one month,” Hottinger said. “There’s activity where there hasn’t been in awhile. I’m glad we’re going in the right direction again.”

Hottinger said she has heard throughout May from manufacturers planning to hire and some planning expansions.

The number unemployed fell to 8,600. Even better, the number employed jumped by 1,400 because the labor force grew by 800 since March.

Murphy said she hopes the labor force continues to grow as those who gave up return to the official status of job-seeker.

“I’d encourage them to become engaged with Opportunity Links,” Murphy said of the county’s one-stop employment and training center at 998 E. Main St. “They need to stay in contact with us, so when job opportunities become available, we can share it with them.”

Murphy said they can call her at (740) 670-8781 or Opportunity Links at (740) 670-8700.