By Marilyn Odendahl, Truth Staff
modendahl@etruth.com
ELKHART -- Although he has been unemployed for several months, Don Locke is confident of two things: he will find another job locally and his hometown of Elkhart will survive this economic downturn.
"We're all right. We're coming back," Locke said while conceding "for those of us unemployed, it's not soon enough."
The August unemployment figures released Friday support Locke's optimism. Elkhart County dropped from 16.8 percent in July to a 16.0 percent jobless rate in August, the lowest number it has posted all year. However, the rate is significantly higher than the 9.1 percent recorded in August 2008 and the county's unemployment continues to outpace all other Hoosier counties and the state as a whole.
In addition, the cities of Elkhart and Goshen retained their positions as the top two Indiana municipalities with high unemployment. Elkhart's jobless rate remained virtually unchanged, dropping only slightly to 18.8 percent in August from 18.9 percent in July. Meanwhile, unemployment in the Maple City fell to 15.1 percent in August from 16.7 percent in July.
What the long-term impact of this prolonged period of unemployment will have on Elkhart County is unknown but a recent study of out-of-work residents across the United States indicates this recession will have financial and psychological effects on millions of people well into the future. The survey was conducted in August by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and released in early September.
Changed view
Since getting laid off in January 2008, Rachelle Brown has changed her view of the employer-employee relationship. Today, companies contract with workers for their skills and abilities, she explained. No longer are jobs guaranteed for life and employees must work hard and provide value to the company or the contract will be terminated.
Brown, who holds a master's degree and was a business analyst, did not see her layoff coming. The morning it happened, an ice storm had frozen her car's locks and the only way she could get into the driver's seat was to crawl through the back of the vehicle. She still was able to arrive at the office at her usual early hour and was working through the morning when the boss told her the company did not need her anymore.
While she may guard against being as emotionally invested in her next job as she was in her former job, Brown maintained she would still climb over her car seats to get to work.
"Because that's who I am," she said. "I have to believe there are companies out there who value loyalty. Maybe I'm foolish to believe that."
No reason for pity
Brown is part of Michiana Career Network Association, an organization started by locally unemployed residents. They meet regularly, share ideas and knowledge about job searching, pass along potential leads and provide emotional support. Most recently, the members put on the Employment Resource Expo for all the unemployed and underemployed workers in the area.
Locke, a human resource management professional, and Brown along with Helen Schrand, a marketing specialist who has been laid off for six months, all credited the association not only with teaching them valuable skills needed to find another job but also with giving them a network of new friends who understand and give comfort.
The Rutgers' study of the unemployed found that 68 percent said they were depressed and 65 percent characterized themselves as anxious while 66 percent said they were eager for a new start.
Schrand admitted she has bad days but her down moods do not last. This, she said, surprises some strangers who give her a blank stare followed by a look of pity when they learn of her unemployment status.
"Then, I think they expect you to act 'woe is me,'" she said. "For those of us not working but getting support, we're not in the 'woe is me' category."
Keeping its strengths
After this economic turmoil, Elkhart County's manufacturing sector may not be as strong as it once was but at least one economist does not believe the county should abandon its roots. Jerry Conover, director of the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University, said the quality and strength of the area comes from the ability of the local work force to make things and that should not be given up in order to go in a new direction.
The recession has handed the community a "sobering shock," Conover said, and the discretionary spending that fueled the recreational vehicle industry will probably be slow to return.
Yet, Conover pointed out some positive signs that a turnaround is in the works. New companies are moving into Elkhart County, providing jobs and bringing diversification to the manufacturing base. Also, wholesale shipments numbers indicate the RV industry might soon notice the beginning of a turn around.
"I think we see some light at the end of the tunnel," Conover said.