The national unemployment rate is hovering around 10 percent, and some experts warn that Americans might as well get used to it. They ominously predict that 10 percent could become the "new norm."
West Virginia, despite major setbacks in the manufacturing and mining sectors, is faring a little better. The jobless rate in the Mountain State in September was 8.1 percent.
Meanwhile, in Putnam County, the picture is brighter. The unemployment rate here in August - the most recent month for which figures are available - was 6.9 percent.
That's the second-lowest rate in the state. Monongalia County, which has benefited from robust growth at West Virginia University and a massive health care complex, had a jobless rate of just 5 percent in August, according to WorkForce West Virginia.
"We have been hit, but not as severely as other counties," noted Putnam County Commissioner Joe Haynes in a Charleston Gazette story.
Unlike neighboring Jackson County, which was hard hit by the Century Aluminum shutdown, Putnam has not had to cope with significant layoffs among its largest employers. These include the board of education, county government, CAMC, Toyota, the John Amos power plant, and the American Electric Power call center in Hurricane.
Of course, retail has long accounted for a large segment of the Putnam economy.
County Commissioner Steve Andes told the Gazette that the county development authority, planning commission, chamber of commerce and other groups have been instrumental in creating a solid business base.
That's true.
And it's also true that when it comes to saving jobs and creating jobs, government can play no greater role than to lower taxes and lift the burden of needless regulation.