Unemployment rate goes up
Updated: March 18, 2013
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -- About 9% of people are unemployed. That's an increase of more than 1,000 people since December 2012.
Eric Ferguson is the branch manager at Manpower. The company helps unemployed people find jobs while tracking unemployment numbers. Ferguson says he was expecting an increase in the rate, but not this big.
He says he's noticed fewer job openings being advertised. He also thinks many employers are questioning being in business in Illinois.
Ferguson also blames talent mismatch for the high rate. He says workers in the medical field are in high demand but many unemployed people aren't qualified to work there. It's the same for sales positions and machine operators.
Ferguson says he knows the number is discouraging but people shouldn't give up. He says people just need to stay on the job hunt and not be afraid to learn new things. The last time the unemployment rate was this bad was August 2011.
Eric Ferguson is the branch manager at Manpower. The company helps unemployed people find jobs while tracking unemployment numbers. Ferguson says he was expecting an increase in the rate, but not this big.
He says he's noticed fewer job openings being advertised. He also thinks many employers are questioning being in business in Illinois.
Ferguson also blames talent mismatch for the high rate. He says workers in the medical field are in high demand but many unemployed people aren't qualified to work there. It's the same for sales positions and machine operators.
Ferguson says he knows the number is discouraging but people shouldn't give up. He says people just need to stay on the job hunt and not be afraid to learn new things. The last time the unemployment rate was this bad was August 2011.
Comments
Manpower is recruiting for customer service agents and maintenance mechanics and machine operators.
Eric F.
March 15, 2013 at 3:08 pm
