UNEMPLOYMENT TOTALS DOWN IN ILLINOIS AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Limited job opportunities are expected in Southeast Missouri this fall, according to one survey.

But, right now, there are some jobs available in Cape Girardeau County.

"Sixty-seven of local executives questioned about work force operations for October, November and December indicated they expected to maintain current levels," said Barbara Larkins of Manpower Inc., which conducts quarterly employment polls. "Only 20 percent of those polled say they will increase personnel."

Meanwhile, there's a shortage of workers for Cape County jobs.

"We can use some applicants," said Jackie Cecil, of the Job Service Office at Cape Girardeau. "We have more job orders than we can fill. Anyone looking for a job should register with the local job service office."

More than 95 percent of the work force in Cape County is working.

"We're really pleased with our employment figures this month," said Cecil. "We had an increase of about 1,000 workers in the labor force, and our employment figures were lower than June totals."

The local work force for July was 36,924, with 35,325 working, for a 4.3 unemployment total. A month ago, in June, the labor force was 35,844, with 34,138 working, for a 4.8 unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate was down in every Southeast Missouri county except one.

"That exception was Bollinger County, where the unemployment rate hit two-figures, 11.4 percent, compared to last month's 9.4." said Cecil. The Bollinger County work force in July was 4,220, with 479 jobless. A month ago, the work force was up, to 4,289, but more people were working.

Perry County unemployment dropped a full percentage point, from 6.5 to 5.5 from June to July. A total of 10,116 people had jobs in the county, leaving unemployment at 5.5 in July. A month ago, the employment figures showed a work force of 10,582, with 693 without work.

Missouri state unemployment figures dropped to 6.2 percent, back to the levels of April and May after increasing to 7 percent in June. The rate a year ago was 5.9 in July.

"Flood-related layoffs was responsible for the higher jobless rate in July," said Paul Rodgers, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The July unemployment total was 166,500, down considerable from the June total of 186,100.

Nationally, the civilian unemployment rate dropped two percentage points, to 6.9 in July. The unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in June. A year ago at this time, the national jobless rate was 7.6 percent.

Employment gains were reported throughout Southern Illinois in July.

"Virtually every sector, with the exception of mining and education, registered small improvements from June to July," said Charles M. Vessell, labor market economist for the Illinois Department of Employment Security at Harrisburg.

In spite of the drop in unemployment, many counties still have double-digit unemployment. The entire region reported jobless rates substantially above the 6.9 percent total for the state.

Three of the four southernmost counties have two-figure unemployment rates, including Pulaski County, which tops the list at 18.9 percent. This is an improvement from a month ago, however, when Pulaski County reported that only 76.7 percent of its work force had jobs.

Alexander County recorded 17.3 percent unemployment, a drop from the 18.5 of June, and Union County reported 14 percent unemployment, an improvement from tahe 17.8 figure from June. Massac County, meanwhile, dropped below the double-digit figure, to 9.5 percent unemployment, a 2.1 percent improvement from the 11.6 percent of a month ago and four percent better than the 13.4 percent unemployment figure of a year ago.

Employment totals are expected to improve in some area when August totals are in. The CIPS lockout has ended and employees started returning to work in late August. However, the coal milne labor dispute continues at some area mines.

The Illinois' statewide unemployment figure for July improved to 6.9, down from the 7.1 reading of June and the 7.6 figure of a year ago.