Isuzu Taking Advantage Of The Underemployed In Birmingham

From the Birmingham Business Journal, Tiffany Ray reports that Isuzu purchased a large plant in Birmingham and may set-up shop there. What is evident is that a large group have the cojones to show concern for the average guy.

As quoted from Frank Woodson, Assistant Director of a non-profit Young Business Leaders: "Part of the way we fight crime and blight within the Birmingham urban community is to provide jobs that pay a living wage,"

Woodson further adds: "When children see that there are employment opportunities there, education becomes more important,"

Larry Holt, director of research for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, adds the obvious: "Any time you have that significant of a capital investment and jobs created in the area, that's obviously a huge positive for the area."

Woodson noted that the unemployment rate does not count people who have dropped out of the work force and are not seeking employment, nor does it take into account underemployment. "To me, (underemployment is) just as bad as unemployment as far as the impact on the community because it keeps parents out of children's lives,"

Small wonder that in November 2006, Alabama's unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, down from 3.6 percent the same month the year before. The Birmingham metro area posted a jobless rate of 2.8 percent for the month, compared with 3.2 percent in November 2005.