Monday, December 17, 2007

Labor force grows in Lee County

Employment rates in the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Statistical Area continue to rise.

January 4, 2007

Employment rates in the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Statistical Area continue to rise.

Statistics show a total of 1,374 more people are working in Opelika and Auburn than the same time last year.

In the Auburn-Opelika area, 64,88 people are employed now, up from 63,514 last year in Lee County.

The unemployment rate is 2.7 percent, up only .1 percent (69 residents) from November 2005 ratings.

“We’ve done a good job of bringing in industry, and the commercial side has also increased,“ said Cary Cox, director of workforce development in Auburn. “Lee County is always in the top five from around the state. It shifts from second to fourth.“ Cox said Auburn constantly has several companies looking at the city for location and that the city is always looking for companies that are high-tech and would be a good fit for Auburn.

“There will be some great opportunities,“ Cox said. “We’re talking to some companies now that will have some very high-tech skills. The future is nothing but bright in Auburn, no doubt.“

Cox said a working person means revenue to the area.

“The more (Auburn residents) make, the more cheeseburgers and clothes they’ll buy,“ Cox said. “We’re looking more at kind of a controlled growth, but we’re happy with where we’re at.“