Duel Meaning to Unemployment Drop in Huntingdon County

HUNTINGDON, HUNTINGDON COUNTY - Unemployment is down in Huntingdon County -- so where are the jobs?

The recession hasn't been kind to Huntingdon County.

Unemployment there has been higher than in many other parts of the region.
 
But in recent months the unemployment rate has dropped, going from nearly 10% last fall to 9.2% now.
 
The good news for Huntingdon County is that things are getting better.

The bad is that the situation may not be as good as the new unemployment numbers may make you think.

Three months ago Paul Post spoke about the tough job market in Huntingdon County and his ongoing struggle to find work.

Back then the unemployment rate in the county was nearing 10%.

"I guess the hardest part is just staying positive. Something will show up, and it will," Post said in early September.

But Post has still yet to land a job, even though unemployment in Huntingdon has since dropped to 9.2% by year's end.

So why can't Post, who was laid off  more than a year ago from his job as a local auto parts warehouse manager, and so many others find work?

"Jobs that we're seeing aren't necessarily full time employment and not necessarily high wage employment, but they're the beginning stages of growth," explained Amy Wise, Executive Director at Huntingdon County Business and Industry Inc.

Wise said also said a lower unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean everyone's back at work.

"It might be the number of people going off the unemployment system who have still not been successful in finding jobs."

But Wise said it's not all bad news.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that we've rocked bottomed and the only way to go from here is up."

Job growth may be slow, she said, but things are steadily improving.

"The number of new projects that I've seen come across my desk has grown in the he past 6 or 7 months than in the past two years combined."

But while there is no quick fix in sight, Wise said she is certain Huntingdon County's future is bright.

Many job seekers in Huntingdon County are opting to switch career fields all together.
 
The future for manufacturing isn't looking so great in the county so many going back to school to study up on something else.

Educational offerings, like Career Link, for example, say enrollment is up.