Unemployment has improved in our area from July to August. But it's only by decimal points. This is based on the August jobless report by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, for Northeastern Indiana. The report comes days after economic experts announced the recession is over. FOX Fort Wayne spoke with people who've been unemployed for months. They've done all the right things and still not found work. Though it's good news, it's not giving those currently unemployed any peace of mind.
Harry Gates has been out of work for 11 months. Harry says “I've had a number of interviews and thought they were going to work out and nothing yet.” He says news that the job market is getting better is questionable. Harry says “I kind of wonder if there's substantial support to back that up because I think they talk that game because they want people to be positive.”
A jobless report shows unemployment in Northeast Indiana improved from 10.6% in July to 10.4 % in August.
Lynne Jury Isenbarger lost her job 10 months ago and says she hasn't seen any sign of improvement. Lynne says “No, it means nothing. It truly means nothing. Until I get an HR person call me and say Lynn we'd love for you to come in and interview face to face, those decimal points mean nothing to me.”
IPFW's Community Research Department compared August unemployment numbers to those from a year ago. The Director of the research group says the gain is actually pretty good. He also says the expression "the recession is over" means we've reach the lowest point and it will only improve from here. But Lynne and Harry haven’t seen any proof that the recession is over. Lynne says “In my little world its not. The recession isn't over for me.” Harry says “When they say the recession is over I'm not sure that's true either. I kind of wonder.”
The IPFW research department also found that unemployment has improved more in non-urban areas of northeast Indiana.
