Staff report
As the worldwide economic slowdown continues, all signs point to more layoffs locally.
Rowan County’s jobless rate dropped to 7.2 percent during September from 8.1 percent in August, but it may be headed upward.
The local office of the N.C. Employment Security Commission has added extra staff to assist with layoffs.
Debbie Davis, manager of the Salisbury office, said Wednesday employers who have never done temporary layoffs before are asking questions.
“It’s unusual. … They have never had to do it before, now they are asking how to do it,” Davis said. “They are talking about doing it (temporary layoffs) in the next couple of months.”
In North Carolina, there is a one-week waiting period before laid-off employees qualify for benefits.