Joblessness creeps upward

Some former Henredon workers soon will exhaust benefits

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: April 08, 2010

Morganton --

Unemployment in Burke County continued its upward climb in February.
Burke's unemployment rate increased from 15.5 percent in January to 15.6 percent in February.
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan statistical area maintained its position among the 14 North Carolina MSAs as the one with the highest unemployment in the state. The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area saw unemployment go from 15.7 percent in January to 15.8 percent in February.
Burke was among 58 counties, including Catawba and Caldwell, that experienced an increase in unemployment in February, according to information from the N.C. Employment Security Commission. Nineteen counties in the state saw a decrease in jobless rates and 23 counties had no change.
"The February data demonstrate the uncertain nature of the current economic conditions," said ESC Chairman Lynn Holmes. "Some areas experienced industry employment gains, but overall we continue to face challenges on the road to recovery."
Chuck Brown said the Morganton ESC office recently wrote 16 job orders in two days, which was more than it's done in any two-day period during the last two years. But jobseekers filled those positions quickly, he added.
Some of the job openings were in the construction industry, Brown said. He's not seeing job openings from temporary-employment agencies or in the transportation field. Job openings in those fields would be a good indication that the economy is turning around locally, Brown said.
While job prospects may be better for some people, others are seeing their unemployment benefits run out.
Brown said he hasn't talked to a lot of people who exhausted their benefits, but some might not realize their situation until they try to file another claim.
Brown said about 500 people laid off from Henredon Furniture more than two years ago will soon exhaust all of their benefits.
North Carolina's unemployment rate in February was 11.8 percent. Economists greeted that announcement with predictions that the rate may go higher, despite improvements in the overall economy.