Labor Day and jobs
By Staff
Johnny Mack Morrow
For many of us, Labor Day is a long weekend marking the end of summer and a last opportunity to take advantage of the warm weather.
But for over 100 years, Labor Day has also been a time to honor the American worker, and during this holiday, it is a good time to see how Alabama workers are doing.
In this uncertain economy, the first things on everyone's mind are jobs. We have seen tremendous gains in our state over the past ten years in wages and salaries.
New industries have located here, and others have expanded.
But there is little doubt our concerns over jobs are growing.
Alabama's unemployment rate rose to 5.1 percent in July, after the rate hovered around 4.7 percent the previous two months.
This rate is an increase from the record low unemployment rate from this time last year at 3.6 percent.
Even with the increase, our state's unemployment rate is historically low, and is well under the national rate of 5.7 percent.
However, unemployment rates mean nothing to those who have lost their jobs. Our unemployment rate represent 111,903 unemployed persons compared to 102,553 in June, says the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations.
The major loss was in manufacturing, with more than 7000 jobs lost. Over this year, there was a net gain of 11,900 wage and salary jobs in Alabama.
When Alabamians lose a job, are looking for a job, or have been hurt on the job, the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations is the place for help.
The department administers a variety of programs that assist folks in their time of need. They have an extensive job listing at the Alabama Internet Job Bank provided by the Alabama State Employment Service.
It administers the traditional unemployment compensation, and also workers' compensation when there is an injury.
The state is constantly on the lookout for new businesses and industries that will bring new jobs.
As an example, there is a good chance that Mobile will land a major aircraft manufacturing facility at the old Brookley Field.
Northrop Grumman is teaming up with the European aircraft industry to build the new tanker for the Air Force. Right now, the deal is on hold because of a protest, but experts believe that Alabama will finally come out on top.
Leading the recruitment of industries like this is the Alabama Development Office (ADO), which is known as "the" state agency for economic development.
The office has one mission -to create jobs in Alabama. The agency markets Alabama to the world and identifies companies that could have an expansion project in the Southeast over the next three to five years.
ADO also fields calls from site consultants who are hired by companies to find a location for their company.
One of the main selling points for Alabama is our workforce, one of the best in the world.
The Alabama Industrial Development Training is responsible for making sure companies have the trained and skilled workers they need to thrive.
AIDT has been rated as one of the world's best training programs, and the only state program certified by national and international standards for quality management.
The workforce system AIDT includes recruitment, assessment and training of potential employees, development and production of job-related training materials, provision of training facilities, and delivery of job-specific services. It is a remarkable program.
State government has been very effective in bringing new jobs to the state, and we have the infrastructure to be successful in the future.
In the uncertain economic times we live in, it is critical that Alabama be ready for any opportunity.
Johnny Mack Morrow is a state representative for Franklin County. His column appears each Wednesday.
