KINGMAN - A report released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that local unemployment has risen to its highest level in more than 15 years.
The report, which comes out once each month, shows that the unemployment rate for the Lake Havasu City-Kingman metropolitan statistical area rose nearly a full point in June, to 9.8 percent, the highest it's been since February 1994, when unemployment topped 10 percent.
The main reason for the jump in unemployment appears to be a spike in the civilian labor force - more than 1,000 people joined the labor force in June, either by moving to the area or turning old enough to be legally employed.
But whatever the reason for the influx of potential workers, there was no corresponding jump in actual jobs. In fact, the number of nonfarm employees actually dropped, from 48,200 in May to only 47,400 in June. Year over year the number of people employed in the county has fallen 10.1 percent, the third highest drop of any metropolitan area in the country, falling behind only the Indiana towns of Kokomo and Elkhart.
June's job losses came primarily from service-based industries, with government posting the largest drop, having shed about 400 employees.
Mohave County's unemployment rate continues to outpace the state's average rate, which rose half a point to 8.7 percent in June. North Dakota continues to maintain the nation's lowest unemployment rate at just 4.2 percent, while hard-hit Michigan suffers the highest rate of 15.2 percent. The current nationwide unemployment rate is 9.5 percent.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, August 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Me2
@Willie
"Your water"? Really? What do you own? An acre at best? How much of the water is really "yours"?
[Deleted].
First, it is not "your water". If Alibasa buys a few hundred or even thousand acres, they own a good share of water too.
Second, when will the water run out? How much is there?
[Deleted].
As for making a profit, YES! I am happy for every company that does. It is the American way of capitalism. Without it, you would not get your paycheck all these days!
Posted: Thursday, August 06, 2009
Article comment by:
willie
If you were at the meeting last Thursday night [deleted] Watson stated, when asked how many local people will be employed at the Albiasa Solar Plant. His reply was priceless "If qualified about 50! They are dangling 2000 tempoary and 100 full time. And all that may be qualified is 50. And that folks say's it all. It was all about getting the water and decieving the public again about the carrot being dangled JOBS! Way to go [deleted], that's standing up for the voters - oh wait you only care about looking good for the Developers who will be taking our water! Way to go! I wonder if [deleted] can spell RECALL.
Posted: Thursday, August 06, 2009
Article comment by:
pete
Unemployment levels in Arizona counties and communities in June 2009 mapped:
Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Todd Tarson
@ Loyd... your solution was to hide in a shell.
Of course before that your solution was to vilify business opportunity here in Kingman.
Well done, sir... well done.
Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Justin Chambers
The retired folks here in town collect social security, pensions etc... and don't allow growth to happen. They don't mind if a new pharmacy comes in or a new hospital but heaven forbid there be any industrial or solar projects to employ the youth. Keep in mind also that crime rates, suicides, etc... will rise if there are no jobs for people. You are killing us here.
Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Me2
Well, some very selfish people in Kingman prefer to protect the water instead of allowing companies into the area with much needed jobs.
Even though there is plenty of water for many, many years to come.
How very selfish of them all!
Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Loyd
And the city's solution is to start raising taxes -- Absolutely Brilliant!
Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
If we send more jobs to China, to make more of our products, we will save more money. The more we save the less we will need to work. The less we need to work the less jobs we will need. If the government keeps extending unemployment this should work out pretty good.
Oh, and if our government continues to allow Mexicans to Invade our country to do the jobs Americans don't want to do, like construction jobs, and everything else, we can just sit home & watch TV.
If we look at like this 10-15% or even more doesn't look so bad. :)
