Report Lists Abilene As Top Job Loser in US
By: Jessica Reyes
Updated: December 22, 2011
A major investment website has named Abilene number one in the nation for the percentage of jobs lost over the past year.
Citing statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics through then end of October, the website 24/7 Wall Street lists Abilene as the top job loser of the year out of 250 US cities.
"It's kind of hard because in addition to just filling out the form and looking for the job, they make it real difficult," said Chrystal Holman, who spent Thursday afternoon looking for a job transfer.
Holman lives in Abilene, but said all of her children moved to bigger cities for better job opportunities.
"They're looking for the big jobs that are going to help them take care of their families," she said.
"Not much luck right now. Just went over here, looking for work," said Sam Medley, who got laid off from his job at the Pepsi bottling company two weeks ago.
According to 24/7 Wall Street, Abilene lost more than 3,100 jobs from October 2010 to October 2011. That's a 5.6 percent decrease in employed people, which the article lists as the highest percentage decrease in the nation.
The article cites Broadwind layoffs in May and 178 teacher layoffs in March as major contributors.
"It's just too hard on people right now," Holman said.
At 6.9 percent, Abilene's unemployment rate is still below both the state average of 8.4 percent, as well as the national average of 9 percent.
Citing statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics through then end of October, the website 24/7 Wall Street lists Abilene as the top job loser of the year out of 250 US cities.
"It's kind of hard because in addition to just filling out the form and looking for the job, they make it real difficult," said Chrystal Holman, who spent Thursday afternoon looking for a job transfer.
Holman lives in Abilene, but said all of her children moved to bigger cities for better job opportunities.
"They're looking for the big jobs that are going to help them take care of their families," she said.
"Not much luck right now. Just went over here, looking for work," said Sam Medley, who got laid off from his job at the Pepsi bottling company two weeks ago.
According to 24/7 Wall Street, Abilene lost more than 3,100 jobs from October 2010 to October 2011. That's a 5.6 percent decrease in employed people, which the article lists as the highest percentage decrease in the nation.
The article cites Broadwind layoffs in May and 178 teacher layoffs in March as major contributors.
"It's just too hard on people right now," Holman said.
At 6.9 percent, Abilene's unemployment rate is still below both the state average of 8.4 percent, as well as the national average of 9 percent.
Comments
Abilene has always been hard to survive in during recessions.Seems employers just take applications but never actually hire anyone. Even gas station jobs are hard to get. And for those who have any negative history - forget it.
Donald D.
December 23, 2011 at 1:49 pm
