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Community Corner

Unemployed Seek Assistance to Find Jobs

McHenry County Workforce Network has been seeing more people utilizing the network's services and programs.

While local unemployment rates are lower than this time last year, the McHenry County Workforce Network is keeping busy helping people find jobs.

"There are a lot of people coming in the doors again looking for assistance in finding a job,’’ said Mary Wolff, assistant director of the McHenry County Workforce Network. "We get people with very few skills to people who come in with a masters or even doctorate.’’

Wolff said she’s even noticed an increase of those visiting in the last week. The center offers programs and services for those looking for work.

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While economists expected job gains and a drop in the jobless rate over the past month, just-released job numbers show the unemployment rate increased from 9 to 9.1 percent nationally, according to CNN.

In McHenry County, where May numbers are not yet available, the jobless rate increased from 8.5 percent in March to 8.9 percent in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those numbers are still better than a year ago when the unemployment rate was at 10.4 percent in April 2010 in McHenry County.

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  • Lake in the Hills unemployment rate increased from 7.6 to 7.8 percent from March to April 2011. The jobless rate was 9.7 percent in LITH in April 2010.
  • Crystal Lake's jobless rate remained unchanged from March to April at 8.3 percent. The unemployment rate was 10.2 percent in April 2010.
  • In Algonquin, the unemployment rate decreased from 7.7 to 7.6 percent from March to April 2011. The unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in April 2010.

Programs, Services at Workforce Network

Wolff said more people are taking advanatage of such programs as the federally funded Workforce Investment Act Training program, which is provided at the Workforce Network, Wolff said.

"We get them into training programs that are actually going to bump up their skills,’’ she said, adding the program also helps some get into college or certification programs.

A Business Services Team communicates with local employers to help place people in jobs, she said.  A Job Club meets twice a month with those attending automatically getting  "e-mail blasts’’ about job openings in the county.

Anyone 18 years or older looking for a job can utilize the resource room, and job search seminars also offered, Wolff said.

Connected to the unemployment office, job seekers can file for unemployment then come and get assistance looking for a new job, she said. For more information on the McHenry County Workforce Network call 815-338-7100.

Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases May Numbers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following data in a Friday news release:

  • The number of long-term unemployed — meaning those who have been jobless for over than 27 weeks — increased by 360,000 to 6.2 million.  
  • Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men was 8.9 percent, adult women was 8.0 percent, teenagers  was 24.2 percent, whites was 8.0 percent, blacks was 16.2 percent, and Hispanics was 11.9 percent. These groups showed little or no change in May.
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