ANDERSON — Dedric Robinson, 30, of Anderson said he had received about $95 in unemployment help every week for the past three months. The father of two said the wage was “chump change” compared to what he was making as an IBM tech support call center worker. He was laid off from the Daleville center.
“You look around here and all there are is fast food places (hiring), and with the rate they pay no one wants to work 40 hours a week and still not be able to pay their bills,” he said.
Madison County’s jobless rate jumped nearly a full percentage point in June as part of a statewide increase in unemployment.
The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics reported Friday that the county’s unemployment rate grew to 7.0 percent, an increase of four-fifths of a percentage point since May and half a percentage point since June 2007.
The unemployment rate in the city of Anderson, while staying below last year’s figure of 7.9 percent, increased from 6.6 percent to 7.8 percent in June.
Marc Scharnowske, executive director of Madison County JobSource, said high gas prices and troubles in the automotive industry are crippling workers.
“This is a clear demonstration that we need to revise what our economic policies are and do something differently,” he said.
Instead of creating a second economic stimulus package, Scharnowske said, federal lawmakers should be funding new job training and placement programs.
Indiana’s overall unemployment rate rose half a percentage point in June, the largest increase of any state, according to U.S. Department of Labor Statistics.
The increase comes after General Motors announced in June that it was trimming about 400 positions in Indianapolis and Bedford through voluntary buyouts. And in Madison County, State Plating closed in May, eliminating about 50 jobs. That was followed by Plastech Engineered Products, another Elwood company, announcing in June that it would close and eliminate more than 280 jobs.
Scharnowske said his office had been busy helping people from these two companies file for unemployment and that he believes local jobless figures will become more dismal in coming months.
-----------
Local unemployment rate estimates
Madison County
June 2008 7.0 percent
May 2008 6.2
June 2007 6.5
Anderson
June 2008 7.8 percent
May 2008 6.6
June 2007 7.9
Source: The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics
Local News
10:42 p.m.: Local jobless rate increases
- Local News
-
-
Got flowers for Valentine's Day?
If you’re a wife or girlfriend reading this story, avert your eyes. This one’s for the men in your life.
-
Elwood mayor says new administration has had zero firings
Mayor Ron Arnold, who took office Jan. 1, said his administration has not fired a single employee.
-
Local churches work with Change This World
While 1.02 billion people are undernourished and 23,483 die of starvation or preventable disease per day in the world, according to Food and Agriculture statistics on Change This World’s website, there are those who are trying to make a difference by decreasing those numbers.
-
Getting Together: Anderson Symphony Orchestra seeks musical connections
Getting patrons in the proper mood for Valentine’s Day, the Anderson Symphony Orchestra delighted its audience with both classical and popular melodies of love on Saturday night. From Tchaikovsky to the Beatles, the professional musicians performed tales of love, tragedy and romance.
-
Arrest Log: Feb. 13
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Saturday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
What's Where: Feb. 13
Local meetings and activities are scheduled Monday.
-
Scott Underwood: TV section alterations on the way
Two Sundays ago, The Herald Bulletin introduced a new product called Click, replacing the TV Week section. Like TV Week, Click includes TV listings grids, sports listings and Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
-
Analysis: Exceptional voice seemed lost in Houston's excessive fame
Whitney Houston’s numerous comeback attempts never gelled into anything the public cared about.
-
Close-out sale draws shoppers before Sears leaves city
The end is near for Sears in Anderson.
-
Democrats unhappy with redrawn county districts
New County Council district lines approved late last year have drawn the ire of county Democrats who complain that the changes were made without public input.
- More Local News Headlines
-
