By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Missouri governor Mike Parson announced last week that the state will end all federal COVID-related unemployment benefits, starting June 12.
Parson cited labor shortages as a key reason for the decision. This comes as more than 2,300 people in the St. Joseph area are still out of work.
The St. Joseph unemployment rate stands at 3.7 percent - down considerably from the 8.7 percent rate reached in April 2020.
Kristie Arthur, the director of workforce development for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, says there are many job opportunities available locally. About 2,300 in fact.
"Employers are definitely ready to get people back to work," she said. "I think they've taken every precaution they possibly can to keep people safe, and there's a lot of opportunity. So, they are ready."
Arthur said there's a both a large quantity and variety of different jobs available, particularly at restaurants and retailers.
"We have a huge demand right now," she continued. "There are lots of jobs out there and available for people. Skilled and non-skilled. Our restaurants need to get back up and open. They can't find help. Our retail stores as well. So, our large employers are seeking significant numbers."
Arthur said St. Joseph made it through the pandemic reasonably well. She says being a manufacturing community helped with that.
"We're a community that makes things," she said. "We're lucky we have a lot of large employers that have good paying jobs. We think this decision the governor made will help get people back into the workforce."
St. Joseph has been, historically, a working community, and that has continued to the present day. Chamber president Patt Lily recently told KFEQ's The Hotline that the city has gained between 40,000 - 65,000 jobs since 1990.
However, the population has remained mostly stagnant in that time. Arthur says there are many programs available locally that aim to grow both the number of jobs and the city's population.
"The Northwest Missouri Apprenticeship Program is one," Arthur said. "We do a teacher and counselor externship to get people into companies so they can learn about the good jobs and what it would take to skill up and get one of those positions."
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