While the area still bears the weight of high unemployment, it has dodged some of the larger massive layoffs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Thursday that employers in New York State took 1,367 mass layoff actions in 2009, with each event involving at least 50 employees. In total, these events resulted in the separation of 144,247 workers, as measured by new unemployment insurance claims.
Regional Commissioner Michael L. Dorfman said the annual totals for mass layoff events and initial claims were the highest on record since records when annual data first became available. Also, 2009 was the first year with more than 1,000 events or 100,000 claims in the state.
Karin Zipko, Working Solutions manager, said most companies that size are not located in the area. The ones that are have been doing well.
“We’ve been lucky. Big companies like Remington Arms, they’ve been hiring,” she said.
According to state Department of Labor Web site, Herkimer County unemployment rate for Jan. 2010 is between 9.0 and 9.9 percent. The state’s average is 9.4, up from 8.8 percent in December 2009. In January 2009, the rate was 7.7 percent.
“It is quite high,” said Zipko. She said with spring coming, some of the seasonal workers will be employed again soon, such as in construction.
“I try to remain positive,” she said.
The global economy was hit with a major recession that has resulted in increasing unemployment rates.
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While the area still bears the weight of high unemployment, it has dodged some of the larger massive layoffs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Thursday that employers in New York State took 1,367 mass layoff actions in 2009, with each event involving at least 50 employees. In total, these events resulted in the separation of 144,247 workers, as measured by new unemployment insurance claims.
Regional Commissioner Michael L. Dorfman said the annual totals for mass layoff events and initial claims were the highest on record since records when annual data first became available. Also, 2009 was the first year with more than 1,000 events or 100,000 claims in the state.
Karin Zipko, Working Solutions manager, said most companies that size are not located in the area. The ones that are have been doing well.
“We’ve been lucky. Big companies like Remington Arms, they’ve been hiring,” she said.
According to state Department of Labor Web site, Herkimer County unemployment rate for Jan. 2010 is between 9.0 and 9.9 percent. The state’s average is 9.4, up from 8.8 percent in December 2009. In January 2009, the rate was 7.7 percent.
“It is quite high,” said Zipko. She said with spring coming, some of the seasonal workers will be employed again soon, such as in construction.
“I try to remain positive,” she said.
The global economy was hit with a major recession that has resulted in increasing unemployment rates.
