Unemployment ups and downs
After a spike last spring, unemployment rates are falling, but there’s still work to be done
Across Pennsylvania and the country, 2020 started on a positive note for businesses and the economy. Unemployment was low — 3.9% in Chester County in January 2020 and 3.7% in Montgomery County.
“From a job seeker perspective, it was a very positive time,” said Patrick Bokovitz, director, Chester County Department of Community Development and Chester County Workforce Development Board.
As coronavirus spread and schools and businesses began to close, thousands across the region began losing their jobs.
In March, the unemployment rate was 4.1% in Chester County and 4.5% in Montgomery County.
Just one month later the rates spiked to 11.7% in Chester and 14% in Montgomery counties.
“It took us a little bit of time to understand the sheer numbers,” Bokovitz said.
He added that initial claims for unemployment in Chester County “skyrocketed” in the early days of the pandemic — 17,000 in March and 24,000 in April, while in Montgomery County initial claims jumped from 31,190 in March to 48,740 in April.
The rates have declined monthly, but have not reached pre-COVID levels. In Dec. 2020, Chester County’s rate had declined to 4.6%, while Montgomery County’s level was 5.5% (January 2021 figures will be released later this month).
As the employment picture worsened across the region, workforce development organizations accelerated what they do — providing training and services for unemployed workers.
In Montgomery County, according to Jennifer Butler, executive director of MontcoWorks and deputy director – Workforce Development, all workshops available to the public at no cost, were moved online.
Resume’ writing and interview techniques are historically popular, but she said the county began to see workshops like Using LinkedIn and Networking increase in popularity.
“All of us in southeastern Pennsylvania have always had a collaborative relationship, but from the week we went into shutdown, we were initially meeting virtually weekly. We now meet biweekly but we continue to touch base every other week to make sure we are leveraging resources where we can.” — Jennifer Butler, executive director of MontcoWorks and deputy director workforce Development
“We’re hopeful that once childcare and schools get back to a fairly consistent regular schedule, more of those parents can step back into job search and getting a job.”
— Patrick Bokovitz, director, Chester County Department of Community Development and Chester County Workforce Development Board
Three new workshops were added specifically in response to COVID-19 including “Stress & Anxiety Management Tools” and “Working Remotely.”
The sessions were popular — with registrations tripling by July. Bokovitz said Chester County incorporated some of Montgomery County’s virtual training into its programming.
Among the Montgomery County residents that found themselves without jobs during the pandemic are Nicole Bettis, 42, and Aznabi, 31, who preferred not to use her last name in this story. Both women lost their jobs last March — and remain unemployed one year later.
“When I lost my job I felt like I lost everything. Even now when I pass by my workplace I feel like I am going to cry,” Aznabi
said.
She worked for five years as a pharmacy technician for a mail order pharmacy in Montgomery County.
She began taking online classes through PA CareerLink Montgomery County, before making the decision to return to school full-time. Aznabi is enrolled in a one-year diploma program to become an LPN.
“My background is in the nursing field. I was a CNA then a med tech then I became a pharmacy tech,” she said, adding she is in school so that she can get a job where she won’t get laid off.
Bettis worked for two years for a medical billing and coding company in Montgomery County, starting as a medical biller before transferring to IT.
“I’m dealing with it the best I can. It could have been worse — it’s not as bad for me as it is for others,” she said of her job loss.
Bettis has an associate degree in information technology and a bachelor’s
in computer science. Since losing her job, she has taken a variety of classes through PA CareerLink Montgomery County.
She has applied for a number of jobs in IT, quality insurance, medical billing and coding and administrative positions.
“I have had two interviews so far,” Bettis said, adding that she wants to get back to work, and doesn’t understand why someone with her qualifications can’t find a job.
Both Bettis and Aznabi are holding on to their optimism about the future.
“Every ‘no’ has pushed me to move forward,” said Bettis. “One person is going to say yes and I will be good to go.”
Aznabi moved to the U.S. from Bangladesh in 2010, and obtained her U.S. citizenship in 2015.
“Everything happens for the good. COVID happened — we have to go with it.”
Bokovitz and Butler say the good working relationship between their offices
has been strengthened during the pandemic.
“All of us in southeastern Pennsylvania have always had a collaborative relationship, but from the week we went into shutdown, we were initially meeting virtually weekly. We now meet biweekly but we continue to touch base every other week to make sure we are leveraging resources where we can,” Butler said.
“I think we made time to make sure we stayed connected. We’re aware of what is going on,” Bokovitz added.
Butler and Bokovitz agree work needs to be done to get back to preCOVID employment levels. Some of the work, according to Bokovitz, “has to do with making sure individuals feel safe thinking about returning to work.”
He added that schools and childcare facilities being closed is a factor.
“We’re hopeful that once childcare and schools get back to a fairly consistent regular schedule, more of those parents can step back into job search and getting a job,” he said.
Both agree reaching the unemployed is critical as their agencies work to spread awareness of the services available to employers and job seekers. They encourage job seekers to make a connection with PA CareerLink.
“There could be any number of reasons why we have individuals that are unemployed and not in a position to look for work,” Butler said. “If they can’t look for work right now, they should get training to be in a better position to have a family sustaining wage once they do start looking for work again.”
PA CareerLink Chester County is located at 479 Thomas Jones Way, #500, in Exton. For more information call 610-2801010 or visit pacareerlinkchesco.org.
PA CareerLink Montgomery County is located at Human Services Center, 1430 DeKalb St, in Norristown. For more information call 610-270-3429 or visit pacareerlink.pa.gov .