Editorial: Labor Needs - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Labor Needs

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    •   

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Labor Day will be like most others for many Americans and Alabamians these days – looking for work, rather than going to work, or having a day off from work.

For every African American between the ages of 16 and 24 with a job, two others don't have one.

More than 200,000 Alabamians are unemployed.

Our region is the hardest hit – with the unemployment rate between 12% and 22% in Wilcox, Dallas, Lowndes, Perry, Bullock, Butler, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Marengo, Chambers, Clay, Randolph, Monroe and Conecuh counties – well above the state and national average that is under 10%.

Unemployment rose in 176 of the nation's largest metro areas in July. Nationally, private employers added only about 1,000 jobs per state in August.

Between now and Labor Day next year, those numbers need to change dramatically. As election season kicks into high gear after Labor Day, ask candidates how exactly they will help our state and our nation create jobs.

 Laser focus on this issue above all others, will help some of the other issues plaguing us go away.

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