Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 5 February '86 » 5

Local Unemployment Continues Decrease

By GREGG LAWSON County unemployment rates have been steadily decreasing since 1983, a trend expected to continue through 1986. Chester Sherman, a labor market analyst with the state Department of Labor (DOL), attributes the decrease to local development and improvement in the nation's economy. Sherman said August generally represents the low point of kpunty unemployment ratS.-In 1983, the rate was 5.7 percent, with 3.8 percent in 1984 and only 2.3 percent in 1985. January is the traditional high point. Sherman said. In 1983, the rate was 20.2 percent, 19.7 percent in 1964 and 15.3 percent in 1985. Although the January 1986 figures aren't in yet, Sherman predicts they will be lower than last year. "IF I IIAI) TO forecast, I « would say (January) « unemployment rates should be lower than one year OC Woman A Finalist OCEAN^CITY - A local woman islimong 170 finalists in the New Jersey "Pick -6 Lotto" Bonus Drawing Feb. 11 at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. She is Marie C. Fanning. The drawing will take place at noon. In addition to the top prize of $1 million there will be a second prize of $50,000, a third prize of $25,000, a fourth prize of $10,000, and fifth through 10th prizes of 2,500 each. ^Greek Fisherman's Cap This authentic Greek Flsb- - — ' erman's Cap is dashingly nautical. Of warm wool and nylon with classic braid trim. Jfc; Country & Nautical Accents ' Village Shoppes ( Rio Crasde, NJ. < (609) 886-5214

ago, " he said. "How much? A couple of points, maybe." Another gauge of winter unemployment, the number of people collecting unemployment, has also been decreasing. The Department of Labor picks one week a month and gets a "snapshot" of unemployment collections that can be compared from year to year. The figdre for December 1985 was 3,599, down from 3,975 in 1984 and 5,439 in 1983. "The number of iobs in the area is growing. ' Sherman said. "There's been a lot of development in retail trade: shopping center strips, fast food restaurants, hotels, etc. "Also, a decrease in unemployment has been a trend in the state and the nation." he added. "Remember. in 1983 we were still coming out of the recession." Sherman pointed to the northern end of the county as an example of the impact Atlantic City casinos have had, particularly the explosion of shops and developments in Upper Township. "UPPER TOWNSHIP is a perfect example of the impact casinos are having on the economy there," he said. According to a November 1985 employment report from the DOL, residential construction is one of the county's major growth industries. Through the first nine months of 1985. 1,408 dwellings were authorized by building permits. Most common were multi-unit condominium projects in beach communities and singlefamily residences on the mainland. Several commercial developments were completed during 1985. The Village Shops, which contains a Reynolds Department Store and room for 34 smaller retail shops, opened in Rio Grande. Harbor Square in Stone Harbor, a 24-unit commercial center.

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was also completed during the year. A Jamesway store will open in Seaville this month and employ approximately 100. i Other commercial developments include two small shopping plazas, several fast-food restaurants and convenience-food stores and the Avalon Honda car dealership. Also. The Court House Convalescent Center, expected to employ 100. opened early this month. According to the report, county tourism is expected to expand only marginally in the next several years, but amusement park operators in Wildwood have continued to refurbish their piers by adding new rides and attractions. Other business developments were initiation of bus service between the county and Atlantic City, timed to coincide with casino shift changes, and a Superior Court ruling, invalidating Ocean City's blue laws. That allowed 37 percent of that city's businesses to stay open on Sundays. On the negative side, the state Department of Environmental Protection imposed a building moratorium in the Wildwoods after the resorts' overburdened sewage systems pumped untreated sewage into the ocean and backbays. The building ban is delaying construction of 350 housing units in Wildwood and North Wildwood. The ban will be lifted when the county MUA's Wildwood/Lower treatment plant is completed in 1988. The employment report concluded that the county's future economic development will revolve around its growing year-round population. which is expected to create employment opportunities in trade and service industries. And. the DOL report states, health services are expected to be an area of considerable future growth as the county's population of older people continues to grow.

Requirement Waived For Cotjmty Jobless Although unemployment the local Employment Serrates have been dropping, vice in Wildwood. That Cape May County still has waiver is lifted once the one of the highest in the summer season starts', state. Claimants still are reBecause of the high quired to fill out a "search volume of unemployment for work" form, which is claims after Labor Day. the supposed to verify that they Department of Labor are actively seeking emhas waived the requirement - pjoyment. that claimants register with >he local employment service compiles a list of job servire compiles a iisi 01 joo

openings from a number of sources including newspaper articles, want ads and employer's requests. In December 1983. when 5,439 people were collecting unemployment, the Wildwood office listed about 70 openings In 1984. the 3.975 out-of-work people had to choose from roughly 60 openings. This December, with 3.599 people looking for work, approximately 95 openings were available

Capping Of Vents Required NORTH WILDWOOD - Property owners, under the terms of a new city ordinance. are required to cap sewer vents on their lots to prevent water intrusion into the sewage treatment system. Mayor Lewis G. Vinci and all seven members of council signed a notice being sent out to residents Jan. 24 notifying them of the new law. Storm water intrusion into the sewer collection system contributed to a waste water treatment problem plaguing all The Wildwoods last summer SINCE THEN, the city has authorized a $1,000,000.00(1 bond issue to pay for improvements- to both the collection and treatment systems. The repairs will pay to eliminate the intrusion into the system of excess gallonage from storm water, prevent back-ups into the system from the plant and increase the plant's treatment capacity. City-owned vents and manholes will be enclosed in watertight frames and covers will be installed in areas identified as critical. Caps can be purchased at any local plumbing supplystore at a nominal cost and installed by the propertyowner or a plumber.

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