Janesville unemployment highest in WI
JANESVILLE — Janesville’s unemployment rate was the highest in the state last month, and that probably doesn’t include all the GM workers laid off in December.
Janesville’s unadjusted unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in December, up from 7.4 percent in November, the state reported Thursday.
General Motors laid off the remaining 1,345 hourly and salaried employees making SUVs at its Janesville plant at the end of December, but it’s impossible to tell how many of those or other laid-off workers were counted in the December unemployment statistics, a state economist said.
That’s because unemployment numbers are estimates, and because they count only those who are considered “actively looking for work,” said Dan Barroilhet, an economist with the state Department of Workforce Development’s Office of Economic Advisers.
If a laid-off worker is not looking for work because he is going to school, or if workers decided to live off their severance packages in December, then they would not be included in the numbers, Barroilhet said.
A worker can’t get unemployment compensation if he is receiving severance pay, so people in that situation would not be counted, at least until their severance pay runs out, Barroilhet.
On the other hand, all the laid-off works might be looking for jobs, Barroilhet said.
So, Barroilhet declined to guess whether the local unemployment rate would rise again in January.
He did say that he looked at recent employment estimates for Rock County and didn’t see the big change he would have expected if all the GM layoffs were included.
State statistics show manufacturing employment in the Janesville area declined steadily—from 12,900 in June to 11,400 in December. The difference is 1,500.
But General Motors and its suppliers laid off about 3,300 workers last year.
The state and federal governments have not been ignoring the local distress. The state has funded job placement and retraining efforts here. In October, it announced a National Emergency Grant of $3.8 million to boost local efforts.
“And we are looking at ways we can be of further assistance, working with our partners down there, the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board and Blackhawk Technical College,” said DWD spokesman Dick Jones.
Money to help displaced workers is included in the federal stimulus package that is waiting action by the Senate, Jones noted, “and we can use some of that money to help the Janesville community.”
So it’s important for the Senate to act quickly, Jones said.
Jan 31, 2009 at 5:16 p.m.
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Why does it matter what your wage is or where you worked it is not the workers who got us into this mess it is the high paid corrupt corporations that put us here and also to blame a worker for what the company paid him is stupid. I applaud the hard workers for being able to work in the company that paid well. The bottom line is the WHOLE economy of the working class is what is affected not the big shots. We are in a hard place and recession is only part of it as recession leads to depression.
Jan 31, 2009 at 4:03 p.m.
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ask11, stay in beloit where you belong,.
Jan 31, 2009 at 12:26 p.m.
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It seems like no one's job is safe anymore. And I agree, we know its bad, very bad. So try putting more positive things in the paper. I for one am tired of hearing the doom and gloom on the news and paper.
Jan 31, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.
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If I lived in Janesville I would get the H*LL out of there as there is NOTHING!! It's a dive town anyways.
Jan 30, 2009 at 10:20 p.m.
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doc0430: Opportunity to get an education for some yes. However, it's not as rosy as you seem to make it out to be. As someone mentioned earlier, there will be 300 people applying for every open job. This article isn't a direct result of GM, but rather the local and national economy in general. Most of us have moved past GM other than those obsessed with GM benefits and wages. Guess what? There is still a ton of unemployed in our area regardless and not all of them get schooling. That's the news. An associate degree or diploma doesn't do anyone any good if there aren't any jobs. There is a reason why the Gazette isn't loaded up with "A new opportunity" stories, because they know that's not the case for most people right now. I can write a million dollars as a balance in my checkbook and shout "hip hip hooray", I'm rich, but it would be pointless. We just have to wait this thing out and hope for better days.
Jan 30, 2009 at 10:14 p.m.
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ja67 - laided?? What does that mean??
Jan 30, 2009 at 9:49 p.m.
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No S--- Sherlock! How is this news?, Isn't it obvious already? GM gone- Lear gone- LSI gone-, enough said....... Time to move on and quit reminding us EVERYDAY just how bad the economic and unemployment situations are, maybe write something about how some people are now trying to better themselves with learning new trades and furthered education, (that they never had the chance for earlier in their lives,) GM employees have the best chance now with their unemployment and subpay along with the union paying for their furthered education now, who wouldn't jump at the chance to get 80% or more of their pay and have their schooling payed for so in A couple years they can get A better job and have the chance for A better life, I know I would jump at the chance for such an opportunity!
Jan 30, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.
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Actually Beloit is the city in Wisconsin with the highest unemployment rate 11.4%, Racine is 2nd with 10.8%. The Janesville with 9%, followed by Green Bay 8.3% and Milwaukee 7.9%.
The Janesville metro area (MSA) which includes all of Rock County is the highest MSA in the state. Madison MSA is 4.2% (3.6% city).
The highest county rate is Iron 10.7%.
Jan 30, 2009 at 8:04 p.m.
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This is the real problem in the real estate market. "JOBS!" People will not buy homes until they know their job is secure and who can say that these days. There has been very little talk about how to fix this problem. My heart goes out to all those who have been effected by the job layoffs and job losses.
Jan 30, 2009 at 6:55 p.m.
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And who does this news surprise? Education won't necessarily be the answer either. The job market is flooded. I applied for a job in Madison; one opening...364 applicants.
Jan 30, 2009 at 4:12 p.m.
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My son and his girlfriend are going back to school, after being laided off from General Motors. My other son and his wife plus 5 kids opted to transfer to another General Motors plant in Mi.
I feel sorry that General Motors decided to close this plant. Hopeful some one will find use for the plant. Although I saw this coming because of high gas prices, I would put the blame on the oil spectors, that drove up the barrel of oil. Then the oil companys profits for the of 2008.
Jan 30, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.
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8.1% not including people who opted to go to school is horrid. The Job Center has been packed with people attending school programs. A majority of the people I worked with who were laid off have opted for schooling. I'd gamble that number technically much higher than 8.1. It will be interesting to see if any jobs are available for those who finish schooling. As of right now, unless someone is going into the medical profession in select areas, there nearly nothing available.
Jan 30, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.
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And another 60 from Cubs Foods in Beloit.
Jan 30, 2009 at 1:06 p.m.
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You can add 60 plus workers from Hufcor in feb.
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