JOBS AVAILABLE; KEY WORD IS SKILL

Perryville wants to grow.

Over the past decade Perryville, a town of about 7,000 people has experienced one of the most phenomenal job growth patterns in Southeast Missouri, but the town itself remains about the same size.

"We want to find out why our city has remained flat," said JoAnn Sumner, director of Perry County Industrial Development.

Employers like TG-USA, Solar Press, TNT Plastics, Sabreliner, Gilster-Mary Lee and the growth in health care facilities have provided a big boost to the Perry County work force, accounting for almost a third of the more than 9,000 jobs in the county.

Employment in Perry County is about 9,508, or 95 to 96 percent of the total work force of 9,929. The latest figures available show 95.8 percent employment. October figures were even more impressive, at 96.8.

In recent months, a number of businesses in Perry County have joined together to conduct "job fairs" -- at Carbondale, Ill., and Ozora, Mo. -- in efforts to attract more workers to Perry County.

"The feedback from these fairs has been good," Sumner said. "The companies involved say they have been pleased with the quality and quantity of new workers."

The industrial development group recently hired a consulting firm, Midwest Research Institute, to study Perryville to determine why the town hasn't kept pace in population growth with industrial growth.

"We're looking to the future," Sumner said. "We feel this study will help Perryville in promoting itself as a great community to work and live."

Jobs in Perryville, like the rest of the state, are plentiful.

Employment growth is better throughout the state, reports the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in its labor market data.

Economic conditions remain strong, according to the labor market report. The state's total civilian employment for November was 2.6 million, 96.1 percent of the entire labor force. Historically, the November employment figures generally decrease. A year ago, 93.8 percent of the work force was employed statewide.

Nationally, the number of working Americans increased by more than a quarter-million, pushing the jobless rate to the lowest level in four years. The Labor Department, which has already reported its December unemployment rate, said the rate dropped to 5.4 percent -- the lowest since July 1990 -- after 256,000 workers were added to the nation's payrolls.

Employment figures are up throughout Southeast Missouri, creating what some officials refer to as a "Good-bad situation."

It's great for people, say industrial recruiters, but it has the potential to impact recruiting for new industry.

In Cape Girardeau County, a total of 32,611 people have jobs, representing 96.9 percent of the 33,667 work force.

"People here can find jobs," said Mitch Robinson, director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

This is evidenced by the numerous "Help Wanted" and "New Employees Sought" signs visible throughout the area.

"We have a number of service jobs and a few production jobs available," said Don Shuck, supervisor at the Missouri Job Service office in Cape Girardeau.

Shuck, however, said many of these jobs are not high-salary positions.

Finding the $8 to $10 an hour job with good benefits is another matter, say job analysts. And, finding people to fill these types of jobs is also another matter.

Some of the best jobs probably will include skilled factory and warehouse, professional consultants in everything from engineering to graphic arts, electronic technicians, computer workers in clerical and professional occupations.

The new year will offer plenty of job prospects, but workers may have problems landing the good ones unless they have the right mix of skills and experience.

The key word in the job market is "skilled."

Many workers are returning to vocational schools to hone their skills in everything from computers to mechanics.

"Employers are looking for trained and productive workers," said John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber here, working with the Cape Girardeau Area Personnel Association, keeps tabs on employment needs and relays those needs to the working public.

"One of the things we do at the chamber," Mehner said, "is to send out relocation-packets.

"We receive a lot of calls from people interested in moving to our area," he said. "We ask them what type of work they're looking for, then we include additional information concerning these types of jobs with our packets."

The chamber is also looking at a program for "jobs fairs" in the eighth and ninth grades.

"We want to let students know what may be available for them if they are not looking toward college," Mehner said.

The local chamber also keeps up with area business happenings.

When Sportswear Inc., a division of American Athletic Apparel, at Sikeston closed recently, that meant there are 70 trained apparel workers without jobs, Mehner said, adding: "We'll arrange for some apparel manufacturers from Cape Girardeau to set up a screening operation at Sikeston, hopefully to attract some workers to our area."

At Perryville, a "job" hotline has been established.

Workers may call (314)-547-1366 for information on various job openings in the Perryville area. The hotline lists companies, contact people and telephone numbers.

The employment situation could get even better in Southeast Missouri.

Healthy hiring intentions are expressed for Southeast during the first quarter of 1995, according to Manpower Inc., a temporary employment company that conducts an "Employment Outlook Survey" on a quarterly basis.

"Higher staffing levels are anticipated during January, February and March by 24 percent of businesses polled in the area," said local Manpower official Barbara Larkins. "Only 7 percent of the businesses polled indicated a cutback and 67 percent plans no adjustments."

The first-quarter job opportunities are predicated in non-durable goods manufacturing and transportation-public utilities. Some cutbacks are expected in construction, due mainly to weather.

Larkins said the national survey report was good. "Nationally, employers plan staff additions at a faster rate than any first quarter since 1985."

Some 22 percent of businesses will increase hiring, 12 percent expect to decrease and 63 percent will remain at present levels, with 3 percent uncertain.

Illinois unemployment has dropped to its lowest level of the year, at 4.2 percent. Rates dropped in all 21 Southern Illinois area counties from October to November, with only two counties reporting double-digit unemployment.

"This supports the theory that the regional economy is strengthening," said Charles M. (Mike) Vessell, labor market economist for the Illinois Department of Employment Security at Harrisburg, Ill.

Alexander County, which has suffered double-digit unemployment for a number of months, reported a single-digit unemployment rate for November, at 8.8 percent. Pulaski County, another usually high-unemployment count, was at 8.5 percent.

Massac County, which is home to the Players Riverboat Casino, recorded the lowest unemployment in the Southern Illinois region, at 3.8 percent. And, Union County, which hit the double-digit unemployment list early in 1994, was at 7.1 percent in November.