It was last week that the latest unemployment numbers showed some negatives; with the Vermilion County and Danville rates increasing significantly from June to July, as well as being way higher than where they were in July of 2022.
Vermilion Advantage CEO Tim Dudley says hope for better numbers in the future revolves around two major categories. One is recent new jobs in the area, and giving residents a chance to apply for them, as even additional jobs at these locations become available.
AUDIO: As you know; we long awaited the opening of the casino, and FedEx, and some of those entities who are all just getting started on their feet right now. So there are job opportunities out there. We just don’t think it’s showing in the numbers yet.
The second category is all the variables that can affect whether a person can actually work certain jobs. Dudley says this could be additional public transportation to second and third shifts at various manufacturers; and then there’s perhaps the most important one of all, especially for single parents; adequate and affordable child care, which Dudley says is a big county goal.
AUDIO: We’ve got an entity here in town, Birth to Five, that’s working on that issue right now that I’m a part of, trying to help alleviate that problem. But we do know that there’s people out there that want to work, but just can’t for certain other situations. We’re working really hard here at Vermilion Advantage to try to change that.
In previous months, Vermilion County’s unemployment also rose from April to May and May to June, while Danville’s rose from May to June, after staying the same from April to May.
ORIGINAL UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS STORY:
Unemployment in Danville, Vermilion Co Showing Sharp Rises from Previous Month and Year
