29 May 2014 (17:54 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Rajab 1435/08 Khordad 1393/01 Ji Si (5th) 4712

Once again, reality bitch slaps Idaho’s own state economist (and TV news media): The Gem State’s unemployment rate is not going down due to job creation, it’s going down because there is an ongoing exodus of unemployed leaving for jobs elsewhere!

And once again the area of Idaho with the most residents fleeing for their economic lives is east Idaho, specifically Bannock County.

For the past few years the unemployment rate has been falling in Idaho, and every time we hear state economists and local TV news reports saying that’s a good sign for the labor market.  Yet only a few weeks later we get the real news, that the unemployment rate fell because Idahoans gave up looking for work and left!

For 2013 the city of Pocatello saw 382 residents flee.  That’s big for city with a population of about 54-thousand.  (it also explains the massive amount of homes and apartment complexes up for sale)

But wait there’s more.  Already this year Pocatello saw Warren Buffet shutdown a major employer, the Heinz plant.  State Department of Labor (DoL) officials said the result was the loss of 410 direct Heinz jobs, and 200 additional outside jobs in support of Heinz operations, for a total of 610 jobs lost by the time the Heinz factory is completely shuttered this summer.    So that’s potentially 610 more local residents fleeing for their economic lives (in the past two months I’ve already witnessed several families in my neighborhood pack up and leave literally overnight).

According to the latest Idaho DoL numbers Pocatello continues to lead the Gem State with job losses and mass exodus of residents.  Chubbuck (with a population of 14-thousand) takes third position.  Both Chubbuck and Pocatello are in Bannock County.  The city of Blackfoot (population 12-thousand), in Bingham County, takes second position for population loss.

This exodus has been ongoing since before 2013:

“The month of October brought lower unemployment numbers to the state because workers are leaving the state’s labor force……..October marked the fifth straight month of labor force decline. Over 7,000 workers have left the labor force since May…….Department of Employment figures show employers reported hiring over 17,000 new workers in October, but nearly all of them were due to shifts within the labor pool because of retirements, firings and other separations rather than creation of new jobs.”-Blackfoot Journal, 17 November 2012

But where are Idahoans going once they leave the Gem State? California?

Based on my own Job Losses & Store Closings reports California leads the whole country in job losses.  The Golden State has also been experiencing it’s own exodus of unemployed looking for work elsewhere.

In 2005, for the first time the number of people leaving the Golden State outpaced those moving in: 160 people leaving for every 100 people moving in.  In 2011 the number of those fleeing for their economic lives was still more than those moving in: 120 escaping for every 100 making the mistake of calling California their new home.

Unfortunately many of those ex-Californians moved to Idaho (those dumb asses)!  In fact it seems that many people fleeing their home states are simply not doing their homework and end up moving to states that don’t have any new jobs!

So what states are seeing true job growth?  According to many reports Texas and North Dakota are seeing massive job growth.

Forbes claims that North Dakota has jobs because of the oil boom.  But I’ve also seen reports that show the oil boom has plateaued, and jobs are now being cut back.

Many reports cite Texas as the place to go for employment, but they’re based on the generous incentive Texas offers companies to move in and the fact that people are indeed flooding into the Lone Star State (but that doesn’t mean they’re all finding employment).  My own ongoing reports on Job Losses & Store Closings show that Texas is actually losing a lot of jobs (a lot more than Idaho), as well as companies outright shutting down.

So how can you do your employment research?  Well I’ve discovered there is no hard and fast way, even the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is flawed.

The BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) reports, for the month of April 2014, show that Texas is the leader in job creation, followed (surprisingly) by California.  The state of Illinois is the big loser with a loss of 6800 jobs!

The BLS CES report is not hard and fast data but simply “surveys approximately 144,000 businesses and government agencies”.  My own Job Losses & Store Closings reports, which are based on actual reports of job destruction, show California is still a leader in job destruction, and Texas is killing off far more jobs than Idaho (however, I do agree that Illinois is going down the unemployment toilet).

I have a hypothesis about where many of the unemployed are going: They’re actually leaving the United States.  This would also explain the massive student population decline affecting grade schools and universities, both public and private.  I’ve often asked “Where are all those students going?”  I can’t believe that potential college students would give up on higher education for a job flipping burgers (and some employment data show jobs for young adults are the most scarce).  And what about all those grade schools whining about funding cut backs because their student populations are crashing?  Entire families just up and disappearing?   It seems to me that the declining labor force participation and the declining student populations across the United States are directly connected, and that many families are not just leaving their home states but are fleeing the U.S. altogether.

Basically, there is no true economic recovery taking place anywhere in the United States!

Yet another east Idaho mall going down!

Coldwater Creek…..All remaining stores to shutdown! 

Ashley Furniture shuts down liquidation center in Pocatello! 

GENERAL MILLS ABANDONS EAST IDAHO!

IDAHO POLITICIANS GIVE AWAY MORE THAN $18-MILLION IN IDAHO TAXES, TO OUT-O-STATE LAWYERS!

IDAHO POLITICIANS GIVE AWAY MORE THAN $1-MILLION IN IDAHO TAXES, TO FRANCE!

IDAHO CHRISTIAN REPUBLICAN RIPS OFF TAXPAYERS THEN GIVES FLIPPANT EXPLANATION!

Fred Meyer & Albertsons……did not close down in the 1990s

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

After 60 years Wisconsin based American TV & Appliance shutting down all 11 stores in three states. 1-thousand jobs lost!  CEO Doug Reuhl blamed the “unforgiving economy”.

The largest pharmacy benefits provider in the United States, Express Scripts, laid off 100 people across the country!  This is rumored to be the first round of layoffs for 2014.  Last year they killed 425 jobs!  The company has been restructuring ever since taking over Medco Health Solutions in 2012.

Arizona:  The once profitable Gilbert Hospital is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s blamed on everything from corrupt hospital officials, to a creditor suddenly calling in a $1.1-million USD loan, to Obama Care funding cuts.  At least 100 jobs threatened!  In Willcox, NatureSweet laid off 70 employees at their tomato greenhouse operation.  Last year they laid off 65 employees.  Please note that NatureSweet also uses prisoners as employees, and none of them got laid off.  The Willcox operation used to be owned by EuroFresh, and back then they employed 400 prisoners.  It was also revealed that for years there has been a “disease” inside the greenhouses, but company officials claim they have it under control.  In Phoenix, the South Mountain YMCA shutdown, due to declining memberships.

California:  Abbot Vascular killed 144 healthcare jobs across the Golden State!  In Oakland, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center laid off 11 employees.  In Pittsburg, United Spiral Pipe laid off 50 employees.   What housing market recovery?  In Irvine, Genpact Mortgage killed 81 jobs.  They killed about 65 jobs last year as well.

Florida: In Sebring, after 26 years women’s clothing store Sue’s Cubby Hole shutdown.  The owner blames health problems.

Georgia: In Moultrie, taxsucker Riverside Manufacturing shutting down their military uniform factory and warehouse, 140 jobs lost: “We worked diligently for many months to secure new contracts that required ‘Made in USA’ garments. However, a recent volume reduction in our largest federal government uniform program made the costs of domestic production unsustainable.” 

Illinois: In Bolingbrook, supplier of food to the U.S. Department of Defense, Quantum Foods, now chapter 11 busted.  Company officials are hoping to sell out to Idaho based CTI Foods, but Quantum’s 1100 employees being warned to prepare for sudden unemployment!  In Macomb, Capitol Music shutdown. The owner, Eric Matthews, blames the bad economy saying “…the big thing has been the traffic count, declining sales in the music business and our inability to generate new customers….” 

Iowa: In Des Moines, after 30 years Billy Joe’s Lounge shutdown.  The owner said he needs to focus on family and other business ventures.

Kentucky:  God refuses to stop non-profit KentuckyOne Health from laying off an undisclosed number of healthcare employees.  The company has 15-thousand employees across the United States. KentuckyOne Health is a conglomeration of non-profit hospitals (the primary member is Catholic Health Initiatives) and is being adversely affected by government funding cuts brought on by Obama Care: “There has been a fundamental shift in the way health care is organized and delivered. We must change in order to sustain our purpose…..”-Barbara Mackovic, spokeswoman

Louisiana: The University of New Orleans warned of layoffs.  The university has already spent the past two years making drastic cuts.  They blame down student enrollment on Hurricane Katrina, saying the university still has not returned to the student population levels prior to the  2005 hurricane.  And Louisiana Delta Community College wants to layoff 28 employees.  The college has been forced to cut its operating budget by millions of dollars for the past several school years.

Massachusetts: In Boston, video game maker Irrational Games laid off “…all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team” in order to “refocus” its operations.  In Ashland, after 25 years The Malt Shop liquor store shutdown.

Minnesota: After only five months Captain Jack’s Liquor in Janesville shutdown.  The owner said opening his second store proved not to be worth the effort compared to his lost time with his family.

North Carolina: Duke Energy abandoning its wholesale power-generation business in the Midwest, because it is not profitable.  This is because many midwest states have denied the outrageous rate increases sought by Duke Energy.  Duke Energy is now selling off a dozen power plants, affecting 600 jobs!

New York: In Newburgh, Dr. Pepper Snapple shutting down by April, 35 jobs lost.  In Tonawanda, Home Furniture Gallery shutdown.  Store owners say the property owners refused to renew the lease.  In Long Island, Clear Water Paper shutting down its tissue factory.  155 jobs lost!   In Amherst, Medaille College shutdown: “The market environment has changed so much that the most obvious thing to do is return to the mother campus and adjust accordingly.”-Richard Jurasek , president

Pennsylvania:  In Exeter Township, after 43 years Surgical Specialties shutting down their medical device factory and moving to Mexico to avoid new Obama Care taxes.  265 jobs lost!

Texas: After 107 years the last two family owned Edelstein’s Better Furniture stores were shutdown.  The third generation owner said it’s clear that it’s time to retire.

Vermont: In Bennington, after 45 years the CTC Vermont Color Photo Lab shutdown.

Virginia: In Bristol, JCPenney announced they will shutdown in May, 67 jobs lost.   In Reston, a Burger King shutdown.

14 – 15 February 2014: More mom & pops saying “It’s not fun anymore!” 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

Alabama: In Vernon, a store that never replaced their 115 years old manually operated cash register is now shutting down.  God could not stop the owner, described as a “good church goin’ man”, from closing his family’s W. B. Clearman’s Store.  A local news reporter said they just want to “fade out of sight”.

California: In San Louis Obispo, after 15 years Cugini’s Pizzeria & Trattoria shutdown.  The restaurant owner said the greedy property owner jacked up the rent by adding on a monthly service charge as well as demanding 6% of her restaurant’s profits!  She tried complaining to the property management company but they blew her off, then suddenly she got evicted!  In Fresno, anti-2nd Amendment company, Pepsi, laid off 50 employees.

Florida: What housing market recovery?  Mortgage risk analysis firm, Digital Risk, killing 745 jobs!  “Due to substantial, abrupt and unforeseen residential mortgage events, including….improving credit quality, significant volume declines in refinance loan originations, etc., demand for Digital Risk services has materially decreased.”-Brandon Johnson, senior HR manager

Hawaii: Health care provider Kaiser Permanente killed 101 jobs!  Company officials say they must “restructure” to meet Obama Care funding.

Idaho:  In Meridian, cement/minerals engineering company FLSmidth laid off 46 employees.  Boise based computer chip maker Micron reported profits at the end of January, but it was revealed that they also killed 419 jobs in Italy!  It’s blamed on Micron’s take over of Italian chip maker Numonyx.  Layoffs could be coming for Idaho.

Iowa: In Galesburg, Cooke Elementary school being shutdown.  School district officials say student enrollment is so low the school can barley maintain 15 students per class, making it a waste of money to keep the school open.  It also doesn’t help that the district is in the hole by $4.4-million USD!

Maine: In Portland, despite being called Century Tire the company lasted only 88 years.  It was originally called Deering Tire Company, the current owners say they can no longer compete against the big boys.

Maryland: In Baltimore after 90 years Sun Products, maker of household cleaning products, shutting down their factory.  300 jobs lost!  Union employees say there was no reason for the shutdown but company officials say they can’t continue to pay union wages and remain competitive.  At one point in the distant past the factory employed 1500 people.

Massachusetts:  The last video store In Newburyport, Express Video, shutdown.

Michigan: Eastern Michigan University is laying off 10 of its 11 full time lecturers for the 2014/15 school year!  It’s blamed on declining student enrollment, which is making budget problems even worse.

Missouri: In Dutchtown, after 40 years Giuseppe’s Ristorante shutdown.  The owners will now focus on catering only.  The owners say their crashing restaurant revenues were caused by the temporary closure of Highway 40.

New Jersey: In Plainsboro, medical diagnostics company Abbott Point of Care to layoff 80  employees in March.  The company must restructure to meet Obama Care funding.

Pennsylvania: In Pittsburg, Macy’s killing corporate office jobs.  69 positions are being consolidated.  Not sure if this is part of the 2500 job cuts announced in January.  Health insurance company, Highmark Blue Shield, killed 132 jobs! Company officials said they are “restructuring to align resources”.

Texas: In North Richland Hills, Sealy Mattress shutting down their factory in May, 114 jobs lost!

Washington: Sprint laid off 91 employees.  It’s blamed on their $3.5-billion takeover of Clearwire.

West Virginia:  In Keyser, yet another victim of the ongoing Hallmark shutdowns.  After 39 years Linda’s Hallmark shutdown.

08-10 February 2014: More grocery store shutdowns! 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

Computer giant IBM warned of massive layoffs in 2014, after dismal sales in 2013.

Alabama: The largest air ambulance service in the United States, Air Evac Lifeteam, shutdown Air Evac 64 operations in Wetumpka!  Company officials directly blamed issues with Obama Care and the bad economy: “The reimbursement issue, along with a low demand for patient transports, made it impossible for us to sustain operations at the base.  As a result of the state’s decision not to expand Medicaid, nearly a quarter of the residents we fly in Alabama are self-pay with very little means to pay medical expenses. For those patients covered by Medicaid, they currently reimburse just over $500 for the transport of an adult. The high fixed cost of air ambulance makes it impossible for us to continue to operate with no indication of improvement in sight.  We’ve been taking a loss with this base for many years. This is an area where air medical services are needed and we wanted to provide this valuable resource for the people in this region.  We’ve also seen a decline in commercial reimbursement rates, making Alabama the lowest state in our 15-state service area for reimbursement.”

California:  In Los Angeles, Japanese owned Sony Imaging killing jobs by moving operations to British Columbia, Canada.  In Pomona, Quad/Graphics shutdown their factory, 62 jobs lost.

Florida: CenterState Bank shutting down 13% of its offices, killing 57 jobs.  Bank officials blamed the bad economy for declining revenue.

Idaho: In Gooding, Glanbia Foods officials warned of layoffs saying “….we are actively pursuing a number of strategic growth opportunities, the current milk supply situation in Idaho is extremely tight.”  Glanbia Foods claims to be the number one manufacturer of American Style Cheese, with four factories in Idaho and the world’s largest cheese factory in New Mexico!

Illinois:  Sears shutting down their flagship store in Chicago.  Company officials claim the store has lost “millions” since 2001.

Iowa: In Marengo, Quad/Graphics shutdown their factory, 138 jobs lost!

Minnesota:  Retail giant Target killed 475 jobs at their HQ, and killed another 700 unfilled positions across their retail operations!

Missouri:  In Saint Louis, business litigation company Husch Blackwell laid off 25 employees. It’s blamed on the bad economy: “Our firm, like many of our clients, is being challenged to do more with less…..”

Nevada: In Las Vegas, Too Big to Jail Bank of America laid off 77 employees.  BoA is ending its Las Vegas operations.

New Mexico:  Western New Mexico University warned of layoffs and tuition increases, due to lack of student enrollment!

New York: Swiss owned legal drugs pusher Novartis announced it will shutdown it’s New York factory by 2016.  525 jobs lost!  Novartis has been getting into trouble around the world, because most of its drugs do not work!  In Japan whistleblowers revealed that so called independent university studies on Novartis drugs were actually done by Novartis employees!

Ohio:  Two Kmarts being shutdown, one in Westlake, one in Xenia.  About 100 jobs lost!

Texas:  Tech giant Texas Instruments laying off 1100 people!  The company is also cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from investments into new operations.  This all despite revenues for Texas Instruments going up!  In Fort Worth, tax sucking Bell Helicopter killed 115 engineer jobs, despite making profits!  Company officials say they need to kill jobs to remain “competitive”.

Wisconsin: In Sussex, Quad/Graphics warned of massive layoffs due to the bad economy.

21 January 2014: “Nobody’s going to buy a $40 loaf of bread!”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013