HOLIDAY JOBS PLENTIFUL IN CAPE; NEITHER DOES THERE APPEAR TO BE A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS

More than 35,200 workers are employed in Cape Girardeau County.

That total could swell to 36,000 over the next 30 days as retail businesses start boosting their payrolls in anticipation of a strong selling season.

Despite a big influx of new retail stores and low unemployment, there appears to be no shortage of holiday workers in Cape Girardeau.

The good news for workers is that wages are up. That's mostly due to last month's 50-cent-an-hour increase in the minimum wage, which went from $4.25 to $4.75.

"We have plenty of applications," said Harry Rediger, manager of JCPenney at West Park Mall. "And we're well pleased with our holiday staff."

Penney, which will add 35 to 40 holiday workers during the season, depends on in-store advertising and associate referrals for its extra staff.

"We have a few holiday employees who return year after year," said Rediger. Penney also distributes sheets throughout the store asking people to "join us for the holiday," which includes an application form on one side.

"We receive applications every day," said Tony Prahl, operations manager at Kmart, 11 S. Kingshighway. Kmart will add about 20 workers to its staff during the holiday season.

The story is the same at Sears in Town Plaza Shopping Center, Target in Cape West Business Park, and a number of other retail operations.

"I have been surprised with number and quality of applicants," said Sears manager Paul Hawkins. "We placed an ad in the newspaper and have received plenty of applications."

"We average about 10 applications a day," said Doug Rowe, manager of Target.

Many of the applications are from high-school and college students wanting to make extra for the holidays.

It's really surprising that enough workers are available, said Jackie Cecil, director of the Missouri Job Service office in Cape Girardeau, which keeps tabs on employment in three counties.

The local retail-job market has been tapped heavily over the past two months with the opening of a number of new businesses: K's Merchandise near Broadview and Bloomfield Road, with more than 100 employees; and Staples Office Supply, Factory Cards, Shoe Carnival and the Dollar Tree, all in Cape West Business Park.

The overall job market has dwindled in Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger counties. Cape Girardeau County unemployment statistics revealed 3.8 percent unemployment in September. It should be even lower when official October figures are released.

With a total civilian workforce of 35,196, the employment total of 33,852 leaves about 1,244 unemployed workers.

Less than 300 unemployed workers were reported in Perry County, where 9,505 of the county's 9,792 workforce had jobs, leaving 288 unemployed for a 2.9 unemployment percentage.

The unemployment rate in Bollinger County was 6 percent, with 4,711 of the 5,012 workforce having jobs and leaving 301 unemployed.