Job figures on the rise in the Pioneer ValleyDate: 8/3/2011 Aug. 3, 2011
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
GREATER SPRINGFIELD Job numbers are on the positive side for Hampden County, but one local employment expert is “cautiously optimistic.”
Rexene Picard, the executive director of Futureworks in Springfield, said job development locally “still has a long away to go.”
The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported on July 26 that the June seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were up in 17 areas and down in five areas across the state.
Year-to-date, though the state agency said there were gains in 10 areas of the state and Greater Springfield was one with the largest gains.
“The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate released on July 21 showed a 10,400 job gain. The seasonally adjusted statewide June unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.6 percent over-the-month, which is down 0.8 of a percentage point from the 8.4 percent rate in June 2010. The Massachusetts statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains well below the national rate of 9.2 percent,” according to the information from the state.
According to information released by Futureworks, “Fiscal year 2011, which ended in June, had a 10 percent decline in job seeker visits to 60,249 from FY 10's 66,850. The number of job seekers served came in at 14,752. That is a 9 percent decline from the previous fiscal year (16,155). There were 3,060 Futureworks members reporting they found work, a 3 percent increase from FY10 (2,980).”
Picard noted that Futureworks assist employers in finding employees, but not all employers are part of their network.
She also noted that long-time unemployed people who are no longer receiving benefits might not be reflected in these job statistics.
The biggest concern she has is the “skills gap” between what education job seekers have versus what employers are requiring. The tow largest employment sectors healthcare and manufacturing have specific training needs, she noted.
Statistics released by Futureworks show the majority of job seekers have only an education level of high school or a GED and are between the ages of 22 and 45.
Manufacturing employs about 17 percent of area residents and is a stronger job sector here than it is in the eastern part of the state, she explained.
Another trend reflects the caution from some employers, she said. Instead of hiring permanent full or part-time workers, they are using temporary employees.
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