12/30/2009: "SJC Job Market Better Than Rest Of State"

The Employment Security Department (ESD) has reported the economic recession has resulted in record high unemployment rates in Washington, with more unemployed, more receiving unemployment benefits, and more seeking job-search assistance, than ever before.

What little good news there is, is that San Juan County is doing better than other parts of the state. The highest rate in the state is a tie Clark between Wahkiakum counties at a depressing 14 rate. The lowest rate in the state is 4.6 in Pullman, followed by Walla Walla (6.0); Asotin (6.4) and San Juan, tied with Garfield, at 6.8.

The NW Workforce Development Council San Juan County Career Center is run by Minnie Knych, who told the Guardian “San Juan County has historically enjoyed a lower unemployment rate than most of the state and nation.”

Knych is on the front lines of the unemployed, helping job seekers in their search for work. Knych said “there has been a marked increase in those people seeking employment or assistance with resumes and job search. Many of these people have never had to make a resume because they have enjoyed full employment for most of their working life. This is particularly evident in the construction industry.”

The lost of start-ups in construction in the county has also had a large negative impact on the county budget, while the drop off in tourism has also hurt, resulting in a cut-back in some County jobs.

At the beginning of the recession in early 2009 Knych was told by some contractors “they were recession proof because they had jobs scheduled two and three years out.” However, Knych said, “as the economy declined, those scheduled jobs were cancelled and now some of those same contractors are looking for employment.”

“The true unemployment rate is much higher than the reported data indicate. Unemployment rates include only those people currently filing claims and receiving unemployment insurance benefits. There are many entrepreneurs and self employed people in San Juan County who are out of work, but unable to file for unemployment insurance because they have worked for cash and/or never paid into the unemployment system,” said Knych.

And then there are those who no longer show up in the data, because they have already exhausted all of the benefits they are entitled to.

And there is the trickle-down problem. Kynch points out it is not just the adult job market that is hit, it impacts downward as well. Knych explained: “Usually there are plenty of summer jobs for teens who want to earn money. This year, many of those summer jobs were taken by unemployed adults leaving the teens unsuccessful in their job hunt.”

The only ones benefiting from the high unemployment rate is the employer. “It is definitely an employer’s market. With this unusually high unemployment rate in San Juan County, there is major competition for the few jobs. More applicants means that employers can afford to be more particular about who they hire,” said Knych.