Aug. 16--The Cherokee County unemployment rate rose to a three-year high of 6.2 percent in July according to figures released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. That represents a 1-percent increase over just two months ago and a 2-percent surge over April.

The unemployment rate rose dramatically from May to June, but that was largely due to an influx of new workers into the county. July's workforce actually declined from June's by 82 people.

The sluggish numbers are in contrast to the robust employment being enjoyed throughout the rest of Texas, as the state's jobless rate remains low at 4.7 percent. Although the state's economy has slowed in recent months, it remains much stronger than that of the nation's which hit a four-year high last month.

At 5.7 percent, however, the U.S. unemployment rate is lower than Cherokee County's.

The increase in the county's jobless numbers might represent the storm before the calm. The area is likely still feeling the effects of job losses in Jacksonville, the county's hub of economic activity. Astro Air Inc. and Alliance Data Systems -- which combined to furnish the city with 620 -- announced earlier this year they would close their Jacksonville plants. Alliance Data closed its doors in April, but Astro Air didn't cease operation here until late July, meaning a number of workers for the company have only recently become unemployed.

But, since mid-February, news of business activity in the city has been mostly positive. In June, officials with the Jacksonville Economic Development Corp. announced that eTelecare Global Solutions -- a call-center company -- had accepted a five-year tax abatement deal to bring up to 400 jobs to the city.

The company began operating in Jacksonville last months and is pleased with its progress, Vickie Long, recruiter for eTelecare, said Friday.

"We currently have hired 150 agents and look to staff up to 350 by the end of the year," Long said. "We have seen a steady stream of qualified applicants and feel sure we can reach our year-end goal."

Zyklus Heat Transfer -- a startup founded by Jacksonville native Zach Riddlesperger -- will help fill the void left by Astro Air, albeit at an incremental pace. Riddlesperger said his company -- which manufactures parts for air conditioning units -- could have a couple dozen workers by the end of the year.

Klein Products Inc. -- a manufacturer of water-distributing equipment and one of Jacksonville's top-ten employers -- has been looking to fill the ranks of its welders. The company began a five-week training program last week for welders in the hopes of adding as many as 25 workers in the next three months alone.

Klein has held two such programs this summer with mixed results, according to Mike Shepperd, plant manager for the company.

"We seem to have eight enthusiastic students this second class. In addition to the eight new hires, we have also had employees internally who have signed up for both classes which has made a positive impact on the program," Shepperd said.

"Although we do not expect all students that enter the program to complete it, we did not have quite the success we had hoped for after the first class. All in all, the program thus far has made a positive impact for us. We feel that the longer we keep this program running, the more successful it can be," he said.

Klein Products has recently revised its wage scale system to offer upwards of 16 percent higher wages to workers in areas of the plant that require a higher skill level. The company has also announced an across-the-board wage-scale increase and is currently considering adding a benefit to its health insurance program in the hopes of drawing quality workers.

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