NEW BUSINESSES OFFER OPTIMISM FOR JOB FORECAST

NEW RESTAURANT IS BEING BUILT ALONG INTERSTATE: Construction is under way on the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Cape Girardeau. The new facility is being built near Interstate 55 behind the Victorian Inn.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Although Christmas is still nearly four months away, the holiday season and the prospects of several new business openings spell good news for the area's retail economy, says the Missouri Division of Employment Security.

"Our employment figures usually go up the last quarter of the year," said Jackie Cecil, office manager of the local Missouri Division of Employment Security office in Cape Girardeau.

"Many businesses hire extra help during the holidays, and with new retail businesses opening, it could be even better this year."

New business openings on the horizon include:

Heilig-Meyers, a furniture store, hopes to open this month.

Toys R Us is looking toward opening for the Christmas shopping season.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., hopes to open soon.

Plans have also been announced for a 134,900-square-foot Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart.

Still, even without the additional boost of new businesses, Cape County's economic position is stable.

Cape Girardeau County work forces for July totaled 35,849, and of that total, 34,168 had jobs, said Cecil.

That figures out to 95.3 employment, or 1,681 without jobs.

"Every job helps," said Cecil. "This month, district fair placements parking and gate attendance and security workers will provide some employment."

The 4.7 percent unemployment rate of Cape County is down from the 5 percent of last month and leaves the local county number six on the list of low unemployment counties.

Unemployment is down in many areas throughout the state for July.

"The number of jobless workers in Missouri declined by 11,700 in July," said Donna M. White, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. "Our unemployment statewide dropped five-tenths of a percentage point, to 6.4 percent, down from 6.9 last month and 6.6 this time last year."

Although unemployment rates are falling 8 percent in Illinois, down from 8.7 a month ago, and 7.6 nationally, down from 7.8 a month ago a sluggish hiring pattern is projected for Southeast Missouri this fall, according to a report released by Manpower, Inc., a temporary help firm.

"Only 17 percent of companies surveyed are preparing to hire additional workers," said Barbara Larkins of the local Manpower, Inc. office, 106 Farrar Drive. "About 23 percent of the firms say they will cut back and 60 percent plan to stay at current levels."

Last year at this time, the outlook was stronger, with 30 percent of businesses queried predicting a boost in hiring, with only 10 percent expected to reduce staff.

"Year-end projections covering the October, November and December period usually reflect holiday staffing surges as well as other seasonal trends," said Larkins. "As late as last quarter, 30 percent of the businesses planned increases in employment."

Most industries who indicate increases in employment fall into wholesale and retail trade and public administration. Some cutbacks are anticipated in construction, durable good manufacturing and services.

Manpower's Employment Outlook Survey is issued quarterly. The survey utilizes a statistically representative sample of more than 15,000 public and private employers from among 10 industrial sectors in 465 U.S. cities. The survey includes several businesses in the Southeast Missouri area.

"The poll has been a significant indicator of employment trends during its 16-year history," said Larkins.

Manpower, Inc., the world's largest temporary help firm, provides employment to more than 1.5 million people through more than 1,850 offices in 34 countries.

Nationwide, the survey indicated that hiring may develop at a relatively slow pace. Hiring increases are planned by 21 percent of the 15,000 businesses surveyed, while 11 percent expect workforce reductions at year's end. An additional 65 percent will remain at current levels and 3 percent are not yet certain.

In Missouri, the Columbia metropolitan area once again has the lowest unemployment figure, at 3.2 percent, down from 3.5 percent the previous month. Columbia traditionally leads the state in unemployment and was between 2.5 and 2.8 during the spring months this year.

Perry County usually ranks in the top dozen low unemployment counties, and the July rate was 5.3 percent.

"The work force is smaller in Perryville about 10,500," said Cecil. "With about 95 percent of the work force employed, that means about 500 unemployed persons."

Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger counties all fall under the Cape Girardeau employment office.

Bollinger County is one of three Southeast Missouri counties that posted increases in unemployment in July, jumping from 9.5 in June to 13.88 in July.

Any loss of jobs in Bollinger counties can result in a big shuffling of numbers, noted Cecil. Bollinger County's work force is about 4,500.

Missouri's unemployment picture continues to improve, said White. "Unemployment rates appear to have leveled off and in some case has started to decline."

Estimated employment in Missouri for July was 2,559,700, up 12,200 from June figures, and 37,800 more than in July 1991.

"The number of Missourians with jobs in July was the highest total ever recorded for the month," said White, who added that construction employment showed big increases.

"Employment gains were noted in all areas of construction," said White. "This is another indication that the economy is improving."

Unemployment numbers were down in all but three Southern Illinois counties, but the rates were considerably higher than the rest of the state.

Perry County in Illinois was among the state's highest unemployment areas at 21.9 percent. This figure is down from 22.6 percent in June.

Other counties that reported unemployment increases were Gallatin and Hardin.

Meanwhile, in extreme Southern Illinois, Alexander and Pulaski counties each reported drops in unemployment. Pulaski decreased 1.7 percent but is still one of the higher unemployment counties, at 18.5 percent. Alexander fell from 17.8 percent in June to 16.9 in July.

"Most of the gains in employment came in the retail trade," said Mike Vessell, labor market analyst at the Illinois Department of Employment Security at the Harrisburg office. "Construction also continues to have a big impact on the employment picture."

Vessell said he was more optimistic last month, but with plant and coal mine layoffs and two teacher strikes, "things are not looking good," he said.

The Charmglow Plant in Perry County, Illinois, which employed 40, announced it will close Oct. 1. The United Technologies automotive operation in Williamson County announced it would reduce its workers at Herrin, Ill., from 410 to 125 by January, and 290 coal miners were laid off at AMAX Coal Mine in White and Gallatin counties.

Statewide, Illinois recorded 8 percent unemployment, down from the 8.6 percent in March.