WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Rutland Job Losses
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Vermont TUBBS - File Photo
Rutland Plywood - File Photo
NEO EMS - File Photo
Vermont Store Fixture - File Photo
Rutland, Vermont - November 25, 2008
Rutland County is bleeding jobs.
Area manufacturers have laid off more than 300 workers over the past 6 months.
Rutland Plywood let go of 76 workers last week, nearly cutting its staff in half.
Vermont Store Fixture Corporation in Danby laid off 57 employees.
Omya cut 50 workers.
And last summer Brandon based Vermont TUBBS and NEO EMS let go of more than 100 employees combined.
"At the same time we haven't seen as much Christmas hiring in the retail sector as we do normally, so I think there's probably a little bit of downturn there although it hasn't been layoffs," said Larry Sudlow, of the Vt. Labor Dept.
Rutland's unemployment rate for the month of October was 5.5 percent-- tied for second highest in the state. Those numbers don't include the layoffs last week.
"Our unemployment numbers will rise from the latest report, to what extent, I wish I had a crystal ball," said Jamie Stewart, of the Rutland Economic Development Corporation.
"We had a big downturn in the early 90s and an even bigger downturn in the early 80s and so far, cross your fingers, this hasn't been nearly as bad," Sudlow said.
Laid off workers have been pouring into the unemployment office looking for jobs.
Kevin McDonnell lost his job almost a year ago.
The 51 year old worked at Metrogroup, a direct mailing center that closed its doors in December.
"I had a car up until six months ago. I had to give that up because the jobs just aren't there and the pay is not what it used to be. I'm just waiting, waiting and looking, sending out e-mails every day," McDonnell said.
But there is good news on the economic front. Labor officials say at least three manufacturing companies are hoping to move to Rutland and about a dozen existing businesses have plans to expand.
"In all, three cases they're relatively small operations that will em ploy 10 people or less. We don't see any large scale companies that have committed to coming here in the near future," Stewart said.
The state's unemployment rate currently stands at 5.2 percent-- about three-tenths of a percentage point lower than in Rutland. Unemployment in Rutland was actually at 6.1 percent in September, but dropped slightly in October thanks to the hiring of seasonal fall foliage workers.
Keagan Harsha - WCAX News
