A reason for hope?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

For the 1,800 people still officially out of work in Clarion County, and the 2,800 in Armstrong County, news last week that the unemployment rates continue to drop across the region probably wasn't cause for celebration. After all, jobless levels of 8.3 percent in Armstrong and 8.9 percent in Clarion are still too high, and too many local families continue to struggle, while others have been forced to take jobs that pay less or offer fewer benefits.
That said, we can't help but be somewhat optimistic that things may finally be turning around, especially since the recent labor numbers show a downward trend over the past several months. Combined with the big start to the holiday buying season, and renewed success in the stock market as Europe appears to get its house in order, the recent unemployment numbers may signal that the better times we have been longing for are that much closer.
Adding to that guarded excitement, news came last week that workers will soon return to the cookie factory in Rimersburg, slowly for the next month as the equipment and product are tested. The new owners, iBakeFoods, then hopes to grow its staffing levels over the next year to the 75 to 100 people the plant once employed when the smell of baking cookies could be enjoyed daily throughout the community.
Maybe our glasses are too rose-colored, or maybe it's just that time of year when joy and hope are contagious, but this area has suffered mightily for so long that any news of the positive nature is welcome.
As we move toward the end of the year, and look ahead to 2012, our New Year's wish is that these apparent trends continue and that we can once again report pre-recession unemployment rates around 5 percent, or less, in the not-too-distant future.