From January to February in 2009, Bell Co.’s unemployment rate rose from 10.7 percent to 12.1 percent — that’s a 2.5 percent increase from February of last year. Since Dec. 2008, it rose 2.9 percent.
Statewide, the increase from January to February in 2009 was 9.5 percent to 10.2 percent. From January 2008 to February 2009, it rose 4.3 percent.
The following neighboring counties also saw increases from January to February in 2009: Harlan County from 9.6 percent to 10.7 percent; Clay Co. from 13.5 percent to 14.3 percent; Knox Co. from 10.4 percent to 12 percent; Laurel Co. from 9.4 percent to 10.6 percent; and Whitley Co. from 10 percent to 11.7 percent.
However, across the state, Bell Co. is fairing much better than neighboring counties. Last year when the recession began, Bell Co. was ranked 10th statewide in an average of Kentucky’s 2008 unemployment issued in a report by OET. Now, Bell Co. is ranked 42 statewide in February 2009’s average unemployment report, according to Dr. Justine Detzel, Labor and Market Analyst for OET — better news for Bell Co.; however, worse news for the rest of the state, because Bell Co.’s rate has since increased.
Also with better news, Detzel said that Bell Co. has seen only a slight increase in continuing unemployment claims: 273 people filed a continuing claim in February of 2009 compared to 238 in February of 2008.
“That’s not too bad, because statewide continuing claims have more than doubled,” said Detzel. A person must file a continuing claim to stay on unemployment for a week or more. Because that rate has increased less in Bell Co., that shows more people are able to get back into the job market.
“It’s not easy to find job” in Bell Co., said Detzel, “but not as difficult as other areas of the state.”
Detzel says that’s primarily because of Bell Co.’s reliance on the coal industry.
“The eastern Kentucky region is doing better simply because of coal mining,” said Detzel. “It’s one of the industries that has done well in the recession — that has actually done hiring.”
She said manufacturing jobs have taken the biggest hit across the state, and because more focus has been put on coal as an alternative fuel, the coal industry has actually done more hiring.
“Our unemployment is driven by coal,” said Judge Executive Albey Brock. “The coal market determines what our unemployment rate is here.”
Brock said he has tried to bring in other industry to Bell Co., but says that in this economic climate, it’s difficult. “We’re aggressively trying to recruit industry, preserve jobs,” said Brock. “But because of the [national] situation, it makes for a tough environment to be able to do that.”
Detzel said that the interest in the coal mining industry has tempered with a change of government energy plans — which will possibly affect employment in the coming years.
“There’s uncertainty where coal will play with the new energy plan,” said Detzel. We have to “wait and see what that plan consists of.”
Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.
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