Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Interview

Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jill Johnson, the executive director of the Oak Harbor, Wa. Chamber of Commerce. We were able to discuss the exciting year in front of us and what the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce was anticipating for 2011. In our interview, Jill mentions the updating of Pioneer Way in Downtown Oak Harbor as well as the need for all of the local businesses and Oak Harbor residents to be involved in the community.




If you would like more information about our beautiful city of Oak Harbor, please email us or contact the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Unemployment Takes a Dip

Good news is spreading. In this update you will see several key positive factors trending the economy back upwards. We have seen numerous large companies add large quantities of jobs to their labor force. For instance, Ford Motor Company, just announced on Monday they will be adding 7,000 new jobs nationwide.

The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 9.4 percent in December, and nonfarm payroll employment increased by 103,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment rose in leisure and hospitality and in health care but was little changed in other major industries.

The number of unemployed persons decreased by 556,000 to 14.5 million in December, and the unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent. Over the year, these measures were down from 15.2 million and 9.9 percent, respectively.

As the unemployment news above shows the economy is healing, slowly but surely. The one month drop was an aberration and even the Department of Labor thought this number would be adjusted next month. For instance the numbers showed that a large number of people simply stopped looking for work. The overall increase in employment is far less than is needed for sustained growth.

But most every indicator of the general economy is headed in the right direction. Once that becomes more mainstream consumer confidence will start to return. This is among the most important indicators for once consumers and families become more certain about their jobs and incomes and with housing prices so attractive, housing will be a large beneficiary.

Courtesy of Real Trends