Community Corner

Jobless Rate Rises in May, Group Sees More Locals in Need

Local group sees a rising number of those who are in need. Roskam criticizes the White House.

The unemployment rate in the U.S. rose to 9.1 percent in May, the weakest reading since September, according to a Reuters report on HuffingtonPost.com.

The Labor Department reported private employment rose 83,000, the lowest increase since June, while government payrolls dropped 29,000, according to the article.

At a local level, the number of those in need seeking services have begun to decline a bit compared to previous years but there are many who are still in need, according to Kim Perez, executive director of the People's Resource Center.

Find out what's happening in Glen Ellynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The center offers assistance in literacy, computer skills and job training and according to Perez they continue to see more people who need their services.

PRC serves any DuPage County residents in need. Perez says of the people seeking their services there's been "consistently growing numbers every month for the past several years."  

Find out what's happening in Glen Ellynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Particularly, Perez said she has seen more significant growth out of their Westmont location, 649 Blackhawk Drive, Westmont.

"This group on the edge (the working poor) will continue to struggle to make ends meet because a lot of the systems of support they rely on are going to continue to diminish," she said.

As supportive services diminish because of federal and state budget cuts, Perez said, "I believe we'll continue to see growth for a relatively indefinite period until every part of our system can stabilize ... It's not just the job situation ... other factors continue to put stress on the issue."

Following the release of the May jobs report, Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6th) says wishing for a turn around is not a way to fix the rising jobless rate. 

"Simply hope for a change is not an economic policy," said Roskam during a press conference on Friday.

The congressman added that since the American Recovery and Reinvest Act there have been 27 jobs reports, all of which Roskam says are "underwhelming."

"When will the White House realize that their underperformance and planning and failure is a real obstacle to job creation?"


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here