Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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November 17, 2009

Officials hopeful holiday hiring will ease dismal jobless numbers

By CHARLES OWENS

PRINCETON — With area retailers now looking for seasonal help, local officials are hopeful that the holiday hiring can help to put a dent in high unemployment rates across the region.

According to the latest data from WorkForce West Virginia, McDowell County recorded a 12.7 percent unemployment rate, which is classified by WorkForce West Virginia as “much worse than average” when compared to the state’s unemployment rate.

Mercer County’s unemployment rate was listed at 6.9 percent, which is a “average” ranking when compared to the rest of the state. That’s down from 7.1 percent a month ago in Mercer County. The unemployment rate in McDowell County also dropped from a high of 14 percent a month ago to the current 12.7 percent rate. Monroe County posted a 6.5 percent unemployment rate.

Holiday hiring is now beginning across the region, according to David Hodges, director of the WorkForce West Virginia office in Princeton.

“Anyone that is interested in finding a job needs to utilize their local WorkForce agencies,” Hodges said. “We will do anything we can to accommodate them.”

Hodges said the local WorkForce West Virginia office in Princeton is already starting to post some seasonal jobs listings for retail work. Due to the recession, it is anticipated that the number of job-seekers looking for holiday help could be greater this year.

Hodges said the seasonal workers will usually stay on through the end of Christmas. He said some companies make keep the seasonal workers on through the inventory process in January.

Hodges said anyone interested in seeking seasonal help through their local WorkForce West Virginia office can call, visit their local office in person or register online at www.workforcewv.org.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

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