UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN, EARNINGS UP ACROSS U.S.

American workers are enjoying a strong job market.

Economists and job services executives agree that "there are lots of jobs and employers are paying more." From an employee's perspective, this is a good labor market.

Look at some statistics.

Unemployment nationally dipped to 5.2 percent last month, falling for a third straight month for the lowest seasonally adjusted rate in five months.

The rate was 5.3 percent in February and 5.4 percent in January.

Employers reported a moderate 175,000 gain in February jobs, following increases of 293,000 in February and 259,000 in January. That adds up to 721,000 new jobs for the first quarter of 1997.

In the latest report by the U.S. Labor Department, average national hourly earnings of non-farm, non-supervisory workers rose 0.4 percent to $12.15 in March after an identical gain in February. Over the past year, average wages are up 4 percent.

In another survey, a temporary employment company reported that half of the businesses surveyed expected to be understaffed this year.

The total number of employed Missourians is estimated to have increased by 18,100 in February, the latest month figures are available. With 2,704,900 Missourians working, the unemployment rate was 4.8, down 0.3 from the January unemployment rate of 5.1 percent.

The Cape Girardeau County area followed suit, dropping 3 percentage points, from 4.8 to 4.5 percent.

More than 33,000 Cape County workers were employed in February, said Jack Cecil, of the Missouri Job Service office at Cape Girardeau. The civilian labor force in Cape Girardeau County in February was 34,951, with 33,393 working, translating into 95.5 percent employment.

Perry County also recorded a strong labor market. Only 403 workers were without jobs in Perry County, said Cecil, who keeps tabs on the work force in Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger counties.

With a work force of 10,031, that means 9,628 were working, for a Perry County employment rate of 96 percent.

The Bollinger County rate can fluctuate in a hurry, with a workforce of only 5,197. The Bollinger unemployment rate dropped from 12.1 percent in January, to 10.9 in February, with 4,630 employees at work and 567 without jobs.

The employment rate could improve in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties in the near future. Four new businesses will open in Cape Girardeau within a month, which could provide as many as 200 jobs. A number of new businesses are in prospect for the Marble Hill area.

Unemployment increased in only four of the 20 counties in the Southern Illinois region, and those by only small amounts.

All but four counties in the Southern Illinois area have lower unemployment rates than a year ago, said Charles M. "Mike" Vessell, labor market economist at the Illinois Department Employment Security office at Marion, which keep tabs on 20 downstate counties.

Payroll increases occurred in some industry sectors, said Vessell. Employment gains were reported in professional and nonprofessional services.

Alexander and Pulaski counties are both under the double-digit mark. Alexander dropped from 9.2 percent in January to 8.8 in February. Pulaski County, at 10.3 percent a year ago, was 8.2 in February. Meanwhile, Union County remains at the two-figure level, at 11.8, well under the 13.1 percent reading in January.

Massac County recorded one of the lower unemployment rates at 4.8 percent, down form the 5.2 rate of a year ago.

Illinois, which recorded a 5.5 percent unemployment rate, dropping from 5.9 percent in January, has announced a public awareness campaign to educate job seekers, employers and students about the availability of employment, training and informational services available in the state.

The Illinois Employment and Training Center Network is a valuable resource for everything from job-matching to staff training, Gov. Jim Edgar said recently.

The IETCNl has 48 locations, including offices at Murphysboro.