Gainful employment is a crucial part of life.  Without a job, the future can look bleak, housing can become unstable and hunger can become an every day part of a child’s life.  Employment is one of the most important indicators of a community’s wellness and it will be several years before we are able to claim the jobs lost since the recession began.

What jobs are available?  Is our education system keeping up with the demands of the positions available? How many, in this economy, have exhausted their unemployment benefits?

In this section, we track indicators of employment, jobs available and educational requirements for vacant positions.  We also look at how wages and income relate to the cost of basic needs, such as housing.