COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Those who attended a program on Branch County’s economic outlook Thursday morning were given mostly positive reports, but they were also told the current labor market is tight.
It’s a far cry from a decade ago when the great recession led to double digit unemployment in many areas.
The recovery has led to some of the lowest unemployment figures ever. Featured speaker Jim Robey from the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research said we are going through the second longest recovery in modern history.
But those who see the glass as being half empty fear the next recession will be coming soon. Robey said there is nothing on the horizon that makes him nervous.
He said he was with a company Wednesday that works with Class A trucks and they think there won’t be headwaters until 2020.
Robey said consumer confidence is also at an all time high but Branch County’s unemployment rate of around four percent is presenting a challenge to economic recruiters and company officials. He said when firms look at these places and see the tight labor markets, they wonder can they survive there and find enough workers.
Thursday’s program at the ProMedica Coldwater Community Care and Conference Center was presented by the Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce, Consumer’s Energy and the Branch County Economic Growth Alliance.
