PICTURE ON JOBS IS UPBEAT

More than 96 percent of Cape Girardeau County workers have jobs.

"This is good news," said Jackie Cecil, office manager at the local Missouri Division of Employment Security office in Cape Girardeau, referring to the September unemployment figures. "This latest figure -- 3.7 percent unemployment -- is a half percentage point under the August figure of 4.2 percent, and is under the 4.4 percent of a year ago."

Estimated total employment in Cape Girardeau County during September was 36,412. "Our work force varies from month to month," said Cecil.

He said the latest work force figure is 37,818, leaving a total of 1,406 unemployed.

The local office also keeps tabs on Perry and Bollinger counties. The unemployment rate has dropped in each of these areas, Cecil said.

The Perry County unemployment rate dropped almost two percentage points from August, from 7.2 to 5.4. The Perry County rate soared in July and August when operations at Gilster-Mary Lee and Sabreliner were flooded out following a break in the Mississippi River Levee in that area.

In Bollinger County, the rate fell to 6.6 percent, down from the 7.2 August reading.

Any change in employment in Perry and Bollinger counties can result in a big shuffling of numbers. Bollinger County's work force is about 4,500, while Perry County's work force is just over the 10,000.

"We're pleased that rates have dropped," said Cecil, "We could possibly see some decreases in unemployment over the next month or so. The figures for the new Garfield's restaurant and Dumplins restaurant are not reflected in the September totals."

Garfield's, which opened recently in West Park Mall, employs about 100, and Dumplins, situated at Lorimont Place, 280 S. Mt. Auburn Rd., employs about 25.

The last time the Cape County unemployment rate was under four percent was in December of 1992, when it stood at 3.6 percent.

"1992 was a good year," said Cecil. "We were under four percent six times, including a 3.3 percent reading in April of 1992. We averaged 4.1 percent unemployment for the year, which was the lowest since 1974, when we averaged 3.6 (percent) for the year."

Although Cecil didn't pinpoint a reason for the increase in jobs, several small businesses opened in the county, and favorable weather conditions has allowed construction to continue.

Missouri's unemployment rate dipped to 5.4 percent in September, the lowest monthly figure this year.

The rate was down from the 5.6 percent in September 1992, and down from 6 percent last month.

"The decline is a continuation of a trend that started in June, when the unemployment rate was 7 percent," said Paul L. Rodgers, director of the Missouri Division of Employment Security. "The unemployment picture improved throughout the summer and into fall, dropping from 186,102 in June to 167,500 in July and 159,469 in August.

"The estimated number of unemployed workers in Missouri was down to 146,937 in September, the lowest total this year."

Rodgers said 2,564,205 people had jobs in September, compared to 2,520,629 in August and 2,510,095 in September 1992.

The lowest unemployment rate in the state for September was 2.8 percent in the Columbia area and the highest was 13.8 percent in Washington County.

Unemployment changed little across Southern Illinois from August to September.

"Thirteen of the 17 counties in the region recorded lower unemployment rates," said Charles M. Vessell, labor market economists for the southern district of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. "The most noticeable increases resulted from the opening of schools."

Alexander County, which includes portions of three high school districts, recorded a decrease of 1.7 percent unemployment, from 19.0 to 17.3 percent. Union County unemployment dropped from 14.4 to 14.2, and Pulaski County recorded no change, at 18.2 percent.

State-wide, the Illinois unemployment rate jumped unexpectedly, to 8.5 percent in September.

As Illinois' rate spiked up again -- from 7.2 percent in August -- the national rate remained static at 6.4 percent, the government reported.

Among the nation's most industrial states, Illinois reported the second highest unemployment rate. California's rate stands at 9.4 percent.

Loleta Didrickson, director of the state Department of Employment Security, reported 516,000 people were unemployed in Illinois in September, up from 468,000 in August and 428,000 in September 1992.

"September was a cool, rainy month, so that would explain some of it," she said. "There were some lingering effects of the flood, and traditionally in August and September the unemployment rate goes up."

Illinois' unemployment rate declined slightly during October. The latest unemployment totals announced Friday show Illinois with 7.8 percent in October, down 0.7 percentage points from September. The latest rate compares to a national unemployment rate of 6.8 percent in October, up from 6.7.