Unemployment benefits ran out for about 100 Lewiston-Clarkston Valley residents last month.
And they will probably run out for that many more this month. And next month. And it will continue until the economy begins to improve or a budget-minded Congress extends the maximum number of weeks the insurance policy will pay off, said Tom K. Jackson, manager of the Lewiston-Clarkston Job Service office.
Unemployment in Asotin and Nez Perce counties was 7.5 percent — seasonally adjusted — in October, lower than the Idaho average of 8.1 percent and Washington’s 9.1 percent.
The raw figure was even lower — 5.7 percent — but that normally would be only 3½ or 4 percent, Jackson said, making the impact proportionately greater and pushing the adjusted figure higher.
By comparison, the two counties are a workers’ paradise given Clearwater County’s 21.3 percent unemployment, Benewah’s 15.5 percent and Adams’ 22 percent.
“In those particular areas, lumber isn’t just predominant, it’s everything,” Jackson said.
He expects the situation to worsen because the winter season is just beginning, and the loggers already are out of the woods. “With spring breakup, they face a good, long period of time guaranteed they’re not going to be working in their industry,” he said.
The maximum length of time unemployment benefits can be collected in either Washington or Idaho is 39 weeks, but only if a claimant has worked a sufficient length of time prior to making a claim. That 39 weeks includes a 13 week extension.
If a person qualifies for only 10 weeks of unemployment, his extended benefits will amount to five weeks, or a total of 15, Jackson said.
The bright side is that the average unemployment claim in Idaho over the past several years has been only 10.5 weeks, and even now is less than 12, Jackson said.
And 92 percent of the work force — seasonally adjusted — still is working, he added.
“It’s hardly a disaster situation. Granted, you don’t want those many, many people not working who would like to work, but as far as being a real disaster for society, per se, it isn’t, not at 7.5 percent.”
Unless, he added, you happen to be one of those affected. It is for the 1,926 in Nez Perce and Asotin counties who see no prospects for employment and a cutoff approaching on their weekly unemployment checks.
The valley is suffering less than some locales because of three industries that “no one ever mentions,” Jackson said.
Omark Industries, Inc., Sporting Equipment Division, which employs about 550, is a stabilizing influence on the economy, as is the Potlatch Corp. paper mill and the region’s agricultural production, he said.
Agriculture contributes heavily toward the year-around support of the valley as a trade center, even though its employment is seasonal.
And the three together make the difference between 7.5 percent here and, say, Kootenai County’s 9 percent, he added.
Idaho has sufficient funds to handle the drain on its unemployment insurance resources this winter, Jackson said. The state has been collecting premiums and storing them away in a trust fund for the day when they would be needed.
He compared it to the welfare system, where no money is set aside in good times to take care of people when things get bad.
“Idaho’s (unemployment benefit) system is in good shape, where if things get tough, there may be a hard time finding money for welfare payments” as happened during the last legislative session, he said.
This story was published in the Dec. 3, 1981, edition of the Lewiston Tribune.
