2009 Hickory Metro still losing jobs - Job Spreadsheet

The following is the job's spreadsheet ending in December 2009. 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 and a continuation of the articles:

The Relevant Issue: 34,294 JOBS lost since July 2000 in the Unifour - July 6, 2009
24,493 Jobs Lost in the Unifour since June 2000 - December 8, 2008


The past 7 months saw the workforce shrink by 1,792 people in Catawba County; of those we see that 1,022 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, but we have actually lost 768 jobs during that period. The numbers include a rounding error based on carrying out the percentages.

This time period saw the workforce actually grow by 70 people in Caldwell County; but there were also 467 people added to the unemployment docket and there were 397 jobs lost during this period.

In Alexander County, the workforce decreased by 636 people; of those we see that 452 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed and 184 jobs were lost during that period.

This time period also saw the workforce shrink by 765 people in Burke County; of those we see that 347 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, and 418 jobs were lost.

Carrying the four county numbers out, we see that the workforce shrunk by 3,123 people in Greater Hickory Metro; of those we see that 1,356 fewer people are accounted for as unemployed, but we have actually lost 1,767 jobs during that period.

The Hound goes by the numbers. Things aren't better and they aren't a whole lot worse. Even though the unemployment numbers are down about 1% from their peak, we still see that we have lost more jobs since the last time we checked in with May's numbers.

I have already addressed the U-6 unemployment numbers several times on this site. At first, people assumed that I was piling on the doom and gloom, but now you can see the direct effect. You can't lose jobs, have the workforce shrink, and legitimately have unemployment go down. That does not make sense. It is just the way that the government tries to put a happy face on bad numbers.

Sifting through the numbers, I think that we can see that the unemployment rates have plateaued over this 6 to 7 month time period, but I think we will soon see the next leg down. The legitimate unemployment/underemployment rate is around 25% in the metro. There is just too much negative economic momentum and really no productive capacity that can turn things around. What value do government and private service economy jobs create?

It's getting ready to be state budget time and boy isn't that going to be fun to watch. We have all of these people that have been unemployed for a year, that has been putting a real drain on the state budget -- they aren't putting money into the system, but they are surely taking it out. You know that our state is obligated towards a lot of expenses, because it accepted those Stimulus dollars from the Federal Government. Where is that money going to come from? Last year they used spit and chewing gum to put the state budget together. This year I believe they will be coming to raid the local rainy day piggy banks. Things certainly are looking to get interesting in short order.

One of the proposals to rectify the state budget is to privatize the ABC package stores. I think that will be a great idea, if they guarantee that they can't go to foreign interests. But, the windfall from this will be a one time thing. Yes, the state will continue to get licensing fees, but the big impact will be from the initial franchising.

The big picture is that the government is choking private enterprise with its capital consumption. The government and the people are going to have to become more self-reliant and frugal. I do believe that the government needs to foster and work on real infrastructure issues like energy and transportation. That could help get people back to work.

It is time for some New Deal type projects to take place to change the momentum in this country. I also believe that we have to see some tariffs on foreign goods coming from third world countries and it's time to reign in the multi-national corporations. It is time for fair trade. The monies that come from these tariffs can go towards Economic Revitalization.

The one thing that I certainly know is that we cannot continue on the path that we are on. It is past the point of sustainable or unsustainable. It is past the point of deciding whether we need to act. We Need To Act!!!