GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - ‘Now Hiring’ signs can be seen from the busy streets of Grand Rapids, an indication that employers in West Michigan are ready to get back to work.
But the announcement Friday morning from the Bureau of Labor and as ABC News reports, "U.S. employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April, cutting 140,000 positions, clear evidence that the economy is faltering as the viral pandemic tightens its grip on consumers and businesses."
According to West Michigan Works! Business Solutions Manager Joseph Thiry, West Michigan has recovered strong that the national averages.
"Our seven county region of Kent county and the counties around it have seen better numbers than the national averages, our unemployment rates are lower and a lower percentage in terms of loss of jobs so we’re pretty positive on things, says Thiry. “I think things will be pretty similar to what they have been before we see a lot of industries that are growing they continue to hire, I think we have tempered expectations. I think our region has been pretty good at adapting.”
Evan Linskey is an economic analyst for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. He says amid the pandemic, the economy has shifted.
“We see sort of a skills mismatch so although we do have folks who want work and we have employers that want folks, we’re finding difficulty in those two finding each other," says Linskey. “I would definitely points folks to the Michigan Works! Association. You can often get assistance for training, so if you need training but you don’t have gas money to drive to the training, they can help with the things that seem like minor conveniences, but to some folks are major barriers.”
West Michigan Works! Is holding a virtual jobs fair on January 20, 2021. You can sign up at this link: https://jobs.westmiworks.org/virtual-job-fair/
And to find West Michigan Works! Weekly Hot Jobs page follow this link: https://jobs.westmiworks.org/weekly-hot-jobs/
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