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Study Reveals Impact Of Four Winds
By Michael Eliasohn
For The News-Dispatch
NEW BUFFALO, Mich. - The opening of Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo Township, with its approximately 2,400 employees, had a positive effect on August employment figures for Berrien County.
The unemployment rate fell from 7.4 percent in July to 6.3 percent in August, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The August 2006 figure was 6.9 percent.
Even though the number of Berrien County residents with jobs increased by 2,100 from July to August, the 75,300 people working in August was only 300 more than in August 2006.
That was, in part, because job losses offset the casino gains.
The other factor is that the unemployment numbers are for Berrien County residents, and with the casino close to the state line, many of its employees live in Indiana.
The number of unemployed county residents fell from 5,500 in August 2006 and 5,825 in July of this year to 5,000 in August.
Contributing to the employment increase from July to August in addition to the casino, according to DLEG labor market analyst Leonidas Murembya, was a recall of 300 people in auto-parts manufacturing who were on temporary layoff because of plant retoolings, as well as an increase of 200 jobs in the category of professional and business.
However, the number of manufacturing jobs in Berrien, regardless of where the workers live, fell by 500 from August 2006 to 14,400. There also was a decline in the category of trade, transportation and utilities, down 200 to 11,700, and "other services," down 100 to 3,000.
Manpower's latest survey of employers in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area found 33 percent of them plan to add employees during the final three months of this year, while 13 percent expect to make reductions. Twenty-seven percent expect to make no change during October through December, while another 27 percent were uncertain.
In contrast, said Leeza Herald, manager of Manpower's St. Joseph office, 37 percent of companies interviewed expected to add employees during the July through September quarter, while 27 percent expected to make reductions. During the fourth quarter of 2006, 30 percent had intended to add employees and 27 percent anticipated making reductions.
The Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, in its latest "Business Outlook for West Michigan" report, said employment in Berrien County "could improve slightly in the coming months."
However, since the second quarter of 2006 to April through June of this year, the report noted, non-farm employment in Berrien County fell by 530 jobs, or eight-tenths of a percent.
The biggest declines were in manufacturing, 430 jobs or 2.9 percent; trade, transportation and utilities, 300 jobs or 2.6 percent; and retail trade, 160 jobs or 2.2 percent. The biggest gains were in education and health services, 340 jobs or 3.5 percent, and leisure and hospitality, 100 jobs or 1.6 percent.
The second-quarter figures used in the Upjohn report were prior to the Four Winds opening.
Michael Eliasohn is a reporter for The Herald-Palladium, St. Joseph, Mich.
By Michael Eliasohn
For The News-Dispatch
NEW BUFFALO, Mich. - The opening of Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo Township, with its approximately 2,400 employees, had a positive effect on August employment figures for Berrien County.
The unemployment rate fell from 7.4 percent in July to 6.3 percent in August, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The August 2006 figure was 6.9 percent.
Even though the number of Berrien County residents with jobs increased by 2,100 from July to August, the 75,300 people working in August was only 300 more than in August 2006.
That was, in part, because job losses offset the casino gains.
The other factor is that the unemployment numbers are for Berrien County residents, and with the casino close to the state line, many of its employees live in Indiana.
The number of unemployed county residents fell from 5,500 in August 2006 and 5,825 in July of this year to 5,000 in August.
Contributing to the employment increase from July to August in addition to the casino, according to DLEG labor market analyst Leonidas Murembya, was a recall of 300 people in auto-parts manufacturing who were on temporary layoff because of plant retoolings, as well as an increase of 200 jobs in the category of professional and business.
However, the number of manufacturing jobs in Berrien, regardless of where the workers live, fell by 500 from August 2006 to 14,400. There also was a decline in the category of trade, transportation and utilities, down 200 to 11,700, and "other services," down 100 to 3,000.
Manpower's latest survey of employers in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area found 33 percent of them plan to add employees during the final three months of this year, while 13 percent expect to make reductions. Twenty-seven percent expect to make no change during October through December, while another 27 percent were uncertain.
In contrast, said Leeza Herald, manager of Manpower's St. Joseph office, 37 percent of companies interviewed expected to add employees during the July through September quarter, while 27 percent expected to make reductions. During the fourth quarter of 2006, 30 percent had intended to add employees and 27 percent anticipated making reductions.
The Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, in its latest "Business Outlook for West Michigan" report, said employment in Berrien County "could improve slightly in the coming months."
However, since the second quarter of 2006 to April through June of this year, the report noted, non-farm employment in Berrien County fell by 530 jobs, or eight-tenths of a percent.
The biggest declines were in manufacturing, 430 jobs or 2.9 percent; trade, transportation and utilities, 300 jobs or 2.6 percent; and retail trade, 160 jobs or 2.2 percent. The biggest gains were in education and health services, 340 jobs or 3.5 percent, and leisure and hospitality, 100 jobs or 1.6 percent.
The second-quarter figures used in the Upjohn report were prior to the Four Winds opening.
Michael Eliasohn is a reporter for The Herald-Palladium, St. Joseph, Mich.