The Relevant Issue: 34,294 JOBS lost since July 2000 in the Unifour

This is a statistical abstract of population and employment statistics in this area. Some estimated extrapolations have had to be assumed. The numbers show the following details.

Unifour - In June 1990 56% of the Unifour's population was employed. As of May, only 39.5% of the same population is working. The Unifour area's population stood at 293,489 in January 1990 and it is estimated to currently be 369,033. The population has increased 25.7% during this time period.

In July 2000 there were 180,176 people working in the Unifour area. As of May, 145,882 people were working in the Metro area. Employment = Jobs and this shows that the Metro area has shed 34,294 jobs in the 8 year 10 month period. In February 2001, the Unifour's Workforce Population maxed out at 187,409 and current numbers stand at 172,426, which shows that the workforce has shrunk by 14,893 people. The Unifour has lost 8.7% of its workforce and 23.5% of it's jobs from it's peak.

Catawba - In June 1990 58.58% of the Catawba County's population was employed. As of May, only 40.12% of the same population is working. Catawba County's population stood at 118,945 in January 1990 and it is estimated to currently be 161,200. The population has increased 35.5% during this time period.

In June 2000 there were 78,540 people working in Catawba County. As of May, 64,679 people were working in the county. The county has shed 13,861 jobs in the 8 year 11 month period. In February 2001, the Catawba's Workforce Population maxed out at 82,245 and current numbers stand at 76,543, which shows that the workforce has shrunk by 5,702 people. Catawba County has lost 7.4% of its workforce and 21.4% of it's jobs from it's peak.

Caldwell - In June 1990 55.8% of the Caldwell County's population was employed. As of May, only 39.85% of the same population is working. Caldwell County's population stood at 70,846 in January 1990 and it is estimated to currently be 80,267. The population has increased 13.3% during this time period.

In July 2000 there were 41,430 people working in Caldwell County. As of May, 31,985 people were working in the county. The county has shed 9,445 jobs in the 8 year 10 month period. In January 2001, the Caldwell's Workforce Population maxed out at 45,053 and current numbers stand at 37,897, which shows that the workforce has shrunk by 5,156 people. Caldwell County has lost 13.6% of its workforce and 33.6% of it's jobs from it's peak.

Alexander - In June 1990 56.86% of the Alexander County's population was employed. As of May, only 41.41% of the same population is working. Alexander County's population stood at 27,652 in January 1990 and it is estimated to currently be 37,333. This shows population has increased 35% during this time period.

In July 2000 there were 18,960 people working in Alexander County. As of May, 15,461 people were working in the county. The county has shed 3,499 jobs in the 8 year 10 month period. In February 2001, the Alexander's Workforce Population maxed out at 19,578 and current numbers stand at 18,319, which shows that the workforce has shrunk by 1,259 people. Alexander County has lost 6.9% of its workforce and 22.6% of it's jobs from it's peak.

Burke- In September 1990 52.42% of the Burke County's population was employed. As of May, only 37.41% of the same population is working. Burke County's population stood at 76,046 in January 1990 and it is estimated to currently be 90,233. This shows the population has increased 18.7% during this time period.

In July 2000 there were 41,258 people working in Burke County. As of May, 33,757 people were working in the county. The county has shed 7,501 jobs in the 8 year 10 month period. In January 2001, Burke's Workforce Population maxed out at 43,053 and current numbers stand at 39,667, which shows that the workforce has shrunk by 3,386 people. Burke County has lost 8.5% of its workforce and 22.2% of it's jobs from it's peak.

The Hound's take: If we look at the numbers, we see across the board job losses in all 4 counties. Caldwell has taken the brunt of the hits and this is due to its major losses of several Furniture manufacturers over the last decade. The bottom line shows that we have lost 1 out of 5 jobs in the area.

The local governments have done an excellent job of keeping costs of services in order and taxes low, but unless we soon see a very drastic turnaround, taxes are going to have to be raised or services are going to have to be slashed. The recession means that we are going to see a reduction in sales tax revenues coming into local governmental coffers. Unemployed people do not spend money and also fewer people are coming to the area to buy furniture at local shops, as we have all seen in the past. We are also going to see less property tax revenue contributions from commercial and industrial properties, because so many companies have gone out of business and so many commercial properties are now sitting vacant. Yes, the local government has kept your tax rate low, but this ought to show you that they can't honestly tell you that they are going to be able to keep doing that.

My fear is that Hickory is becoming irrelevant. As I have stated before, we have so much to offer, but we aren't focused on the most important issue of the day -- JOBS. I do appreciate what Scott Millar has done with the Economic Development Corporation, but so much more needs to be done and Scott can't do it all. I have also seen what Danny Hearn has done. The man is working his tail off to help our local struggling small businesses succeed, but he can't do it all either. We just can't continue to overload our hopes of recovery on these mens backs.

We have to change the game. We have to lay a foundation to bring innovation to this community. That is our only way out. It is my hope that we will see fresh new ideas brought to the forefront of these campaigns that will take place for the city council seats and Mayoral race over the next few months. We have to have people with open minds that are willing to accept the challenges, risk their reputations, and set their egos aside. The status quo is causing us to fall further and further behind.

Hickory is the center of the area and should be the driving force, but we now see Lenoir with Google, Maiden looks to be getting Apple, Newton has Target... where does this leave Hickory? In my opinion, the area would be better off with a robust Hickory, but slowly and surely it looks like Hickory is getting left in the dust. As businesses continue to locate all around us, it is becoming more and more apparent that the communities around us are letting us know that they don't need us. This city can no longer afford to arrogantly think that we are the straw that stirs the drink, because we no longer are. It is time to leave the state of denial and face the facts.

The question that needs to be asked of all of these candidates in this upcoming race: What are you going to do to get Hickory back on track before we become totally irrelevant?