Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, April 4, 2008
(UNDATED) - The reports are in, and jobs nationwide are down. For the third month in a row, employers have slashed jobs throughout the country.
Earlier this month, WBIW News reported to you that unemployment in Lawrence and surrounding counties went up as well, with the City of Bedford at nearly double the national average.
So far, the department of labor is estimating that 80,000 jobs have been lost in the month of March, and revised numbers show more than 230,000 jobs total have been lost since the first of the year.
So what can Lawrence County do to keep our heads above water?
Lawrence County Economic Growth Council Director Gene McCracken tells WBIW News, get trained!
McCracken says Lawrence County has the overall workforce and the dedicated hard workers it takes to staff a company, however, we don't seem to have enough specially trained workers.
With Bloomington's Cook Pharmica expanding, and NSWC Crane always needing equipment and supplies, McCracken believes Lawrence County would be more competitive in bringing in suppliers for these major companies with better professional training.
He also seems to feel optimistic on that front, since, within our economic region, Lawrence County residents have taken the most advantage of Ivy Tech grants and scholarships for people to improve their employment situarion.
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