According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an increasing amount of Wyandotte County residents are without work.

The Wyandotte County unemployment rate for July was 10.4 percent, according to the study. The rate increased .4 of a point from 10.0 in June and has increased from the low rate of 8.9 percent in April of this year.

Numbers wise, 7,489 Wyandotte Countians are listed without work, down from 8,003 at the time last year. On the downside, the number of unemployed has jumped up by 1,200 residents since April.

Of the past 12 months, seven have featured double-digit unemployed rates, peaking in July 2009 with a 10.8 rate.

Wyandotte County has the highest rate among the counties in all of Kansas.

There's more evidence today that the national economy is improving at least a little bit.

According to statistics released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in Wyandotte County is at a five-month low and is lower from this point last year.

For April 2010, the unemployment rate in Wyandotte County was 8.9 percent, down from 10.5 percent in March and a two-year high of 10.6 percent in January.

The April unemployment figure is the lowest percentage from Wyandotte County since November 2009, when unemployment was 8.3 percent.

According to the report, seasonal job opportunities provided a boost in the numbers.

Still, at this point last year, unemployment in the county was 9.5 percent, offering some evidence (and hope)  that an economic rebound is closer.

Those in Wyandotte County looking for a job will have an opportunity to take advantage of various resources being offered by the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library this summer.

The library will host a three-month trail deal with LearningExpress, an online learning service program that offers testing, courses and other resources geared to prepare for the ACT, GED or a career.

The trail, which lasts from May-July, is offered due to an agreement between LearningExpress and the State Library of Kansas.

“KCKPL is hopeful that this fantastic online resource will be offered beyond the trial period by the State Library of Kansas so all patrons can make use of it,” said Helen Rigdon, Associate Director of Kansas City, Kansas Public Library.
 

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributors

Representatives of more than 40 area employers are expected for the Workplace – Kansas City Job Fair 2010 at Kansas City Kansas Community College Wednesday, April 21.

Open to the public without charge, the Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Field House at the north end of the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.

Sponsored by the Career Center at KCKCC, the Fair will give persons an opportunity to visit with area employers and fill out applications for employment.

Employers who will be attending are Argosy Casino, Avon, Board of Public Utilities, Boilermakers Local 83, Cabela’s, Capitol Federal, Cerner Corporation, Cushing Memorial Hospital, Delmar Gardens of Overland Park, DeVry University, the Economic Opportunity Foundation, Electricians Training Center and Federal Express Ground;

The KCK Chamber of Commerce, KCK Public Schools USD 500, KC Fairfax Federal Credit Union, Lakeview Village, Leavenworth Detention Center, Medicalodge Post Acute, Mosaic, Nebraska Furniture Mart, North Kansas City Hospital, Platform Advertising, Providence Medical Center, Quick Trip and Saint Luke’s South Hospital;

Schlitterbahn Vacation Village, Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Sunflower Health Care, Swope Health Services, The Forum at Overland Park, Truman Medical Center, University of Phoenix, UPS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Workforce Partnership and Mobile Unit, Worlds of Fun and Wyandot Center.

For further information, contact the KCKCC Career Center at 913-288-7644.
 

About 300 seasonable jobs are available at the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village and they are beginning to accept applications today.

Job positions include retail assistants, maintenance workers, landscaping crew, cashiers, lifeguards and more.

“We are enthusiastic about assembling the team for what is truly our first full summer season at our new waterpark,” said Keith Fontenot, Schlitterbahn Vacation Village Waterpark general manager. “We strive to offer our staff members the best work experience and a competitive compensation plan including an end of the season bonus program."

Applications can be filled out online at www.schlitterbahn.com in the jobs section. People can apply in person starting April 5.
 

Having to fill 1,400 slots in Wyandotte County, the federal government is still seeking employees for the 2010 Census.

Temporary, part-time jobs are still available. Those who are bilingual are especially sought.

"This is the largest civilian mobilization of workers in the history of the United States" said Dennis Johnson, Regional Director.

For more information, you can visit the Unified Government's Web site at www.wycokck.org or visit the official site of the Census, located at www.2010census.gov.

By phone, you can contact the Wyandotte County Census Bureau office at (913) 233-8400.

Around 1,400 temporary jobs will be created in Wyandotte County because of the 2010 U.S. Census.

According to a press release, the jobs will "offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training and reimbursement pay." Bilingual speakers are encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit the Unified Government's Web site at www.wycokck.org or contact the Wyandotte County Census Bureau Office at (913) 233-8400.

Interested in a position in law enforcement?

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department will hold a recruiting event this Thursday from 4 – 8 p.m.

The event will be held at KCKPD Headquarters on 700 Minnesota Ave. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend to speak with recruiters, pick up an application or turn in one already filled out.

A recruiter can be contacted via phone at (913) 573-5646 or online by visiting www.kckpd.org.

After dipping back down into single figures in November, the unemployment rate in both Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., has increased to over 10 percent.

In Wyandotte County overall, unemployment rate jumped from 8.7 percent in November to 10.3 percent in December 2009. In 2008, the number was 8.8 percent.

In KCK, the jump in unemployment was similar.

The December 2009 figure came in at 10.7 percent, up from 9.0 percent last month. At this point last year, the number was 9.1 percent. Both numbers are the highest in the State of Kansas. The overall unemployment rate in the state is 6.3 percent.

"We continue to experience a weak labor market in Kansas as evidenced by significant over-the-year job losses," said Tyler Tenbrink, with the Kansas Department of Labor "Industries where we expect to see job losses this time of year experienced more significant losses than are typical, and industries where we normally see job gains experienced smaller gains than normal."

Across the state, 60,000 jobs were lost in 2009.

The Main Branch of the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library (located at 625 Minnesota Avenue) will host a special job workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

The event begins on that Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. A guest speaker from Workforce Partnership will lead a discussion highlighting effective job search strategies.

The discussion will be held in the computer lab on the first floor.

So, after weeks and weeks of rumors, it sounds like I may be joining the growing line of WYCO workers who find themselves without a job. In my case, my employer needed to figure out how to cut an additional $850,000 from their budget. Despite a budget that reaches millions of dollars and Senior Executives salaries that include over $180,000 annually with take home cars and fancy retirement packages, they have chosen to cut 16 positions in one of the most instrumental departments in the company. I just happen to be one of those 16. They aren't willing to tell us face-to-face though. They hide in their offices in their building headquarters and 'liaise' through their lawyers. More troubling is that, even though this is a publically owned company, they are not telling the public of their actions and we have been advised that it is of no benefit to tell the public.

The part I can't understand is, they propose firing my group despite their admission that they have over $150,000 of training 'invested' in each of us. They also admit to having federal grant money to hire 12 people to 'fill' our positions- but can only use that money after they fire us... hmmmm...  shouldn’t that be a red flag to someone?

The part that bothers me more is that, I am of no worth to them beyond a number. My life, my livelihood, my future is being used as a bartering tool and they don't care. I have been narrowed down from the ‘valuable employee’ they once said I was to an inconsequential number- and, in this case, let's see $850,000 savings divided by 16 positions- $53,125 is my number. I can't really understand how that adds up to them considering my salary is about $38,000.

I am not complaining about my salary at all- I understand it is more than many make and am grateful however, in light of an $180,000 salary, it sure seems like money could be saved elsewhere. I see entry after entry of other departments sending employees to out of town conferences. From my understanding, they are sent with a company credit card to pay for meals and conference and hotel fees. How can money be that tight? I still see Executives driving around company vehicles with family in them after work hours. It seems that there may be an opportunity to ‘trim the fat’ in areas other than cutting 16 jobs.

Life is stressful right now. I don't sleep well; I worry about my future, my bills, and my family. Obviously I am not motivated to work real hard for my employer. Who would after being shown that they are of so little worth? Morale is at an all time low- department wide. After all, we have families and mortgages and bills and KIDS. Will they stop at 16?

How do I convey to these people the impact their decision is having on lives? Once a person reaches the realms of a ‘cushy’ office and a high power, high ranking position, do they lose their heart? Do they lose their compassion? Do they become immune to the repercussions of their actions and decisions? I don’t know, I can’t tell you the answer but I can tell you this- to those who have been affected by similar experiences, to those already laid-off or faced with the ‘possibility’, I share your frustration.

And for me, quite simply, something has to change.

Jobless rates for both Wyandotte County and the State of Kansas dipped below July's total per the Kansas Department of Labor's 2009 August report. 

After having double-digit jobless numbers in July, Wyandotte County's jobless rate is back into single figures at 9.4 percent. Last month, it was 10.9 percent. 

In the state, the unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, down 7.8 percent last month, but the rate is still nearly 4.7 percent higher from last year. 

Unemployment claims in the state did increase from last month, as there were 222,219 claims in Aug. 2009 compared to 208,715 in July. This year's number nearly triples last August's number, which was just about 76,000. 

From the Unified Government: