Employment

Almost every county in the 5th district is experiencing double digit unemployment. Magoffin County has an unemployment rate of 21.1%.  Economists tell us that as a nation we have transitioned from a manufacturing to a service economy.  The reality of it is that without an income, working families do not need services. Laid off miners do not buy new cars. Out of work car salesmen do not buy homes. Bankrupt realtors do not dine out often. The effects spiral thoughout our communities. This brand of trickle down economics is nearly as detrimental as those of the 1980s.  We are part of a global economy, but we as citizens live day to day in a local economy that is in trouble. Natural resources are the engine that drives our area. We must allow companies to restart that engine in order to start moving forward again. With that being said, companies must understand that they have a responsibility to the earth and it’s inhabitants to make it a safe and satisfying place to exist. We can do both.