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Jun 2, 2006
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Jun 2, 2006
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| Online Phonebook | Sandhills Guide | Business News | National News |
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By Matthew Moriarty: Staff Writer Moore County's unemployment rate for the month of April is the lowest in nine years. According to numbers provided by the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina, the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent. That's the lowest it's been since the spring of 1997, according to John Wittenstrom, manager of the Employment Security Commission office in Aberdeen. "The numbers are extremely impressive," Wittenstrom said, adding that he considers the rate to be practically full employment.
The figure is down from 4.1 percent in March, which had been down from 4.3 percent in February and 4.7 percent in January.
The seeds of the steady improvement began to take root at least a year ago, Wittenstrom said. That's when he began to see a lot of activity at temp agencies.
"It means that some of your big companies are looking for people, but they are still a little wary of taking on full-timers," he said.
Many employers in the area are hiring and other companies are moving in. Wittenstrom specifically mentioned American Growler Inc., though no one has yet begun working for Growler. The military vehicle manufacturer announced recently that it is moving to Robbins from Ocala, Fla.
Moore County Partners in Pro-gress has helped to attract some additional businesses. Generally, they are smaller specialty manufacturers or entrepreneurial businesses whose workforces are in the double digits.
"Ray Ogden [president and CEO of Partners] is absolutely doing a great job," Wittenstrom said. "He's attracting, in my opinion, exactly the right type of business."
Ogden laughed and said that he agreed "100 percent" with Wittenstrom, but then said he thinks the improvement is really driven by companies trying to take advantage of strong market conditions in the region.
"Lots of companies are adding jobs right now," Ogden said. "It's pretty broad."
Among its neighbors, Moore County has a rate lower than only one: Chatham County's 3.2 percent. Moore has the same rate as Randolph County.
Moore is lower than all its other neighbors: Cumberland (4.6 percent), Harnett (4 percent), Hoke (4.8 percent), Lee (4.3 percent), Montgomery (6.2 percent) and Richmond (6.7 percent).
For the second straight month, the state as a whole showed a steady decrease. North Carolina's rate dropped from 4.5 to 4.1 percent. It declined in 99 out of 100 counties again in April, as it did in March.
"North Carolina has experienced a considerable amount of employment growth in 2006," said ESC Chairman Harry E. Payne Jr. "Employment has increased by just over 71,000 since January of this year. These numbers are promising as the state heads into a busy tourism season."
The state now has 77 counties with rates below 5 percent. There are currently zero counties with rates over 10 percent.
Wittenstrom said that these are all good signs. He's especially encouraged with Moore County's number.
"When we get down to 3.8," he said, "we're doing a pretty dang good job."
Matthew Moriarty may be reached at 693-2479 or by e-mail at moriarty@thepilot.com. |
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