Employment slump has hit

According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), the service industry makes up 80 percent of the workforce in Sevier County. That service industry consists of restaurants, hotels, motels, and retail stores that cater to the tourism industry, an industry which substantially diminishes during the colder winter months. According to TDLWD Research and Statistics, information from the past several years indicate a trend (shown on accompanying charts) in rising unemployment rates during the first three months of the year. Mark Herron, statistical analyst for TDLWD, said that although the unemployment rates almost triple during the month of January, they are still not as bad as they once were. Chuck Bradley, manager of the local TDLWD in Gatlinburg, said, “Business was better during the holidays this year, lasting into the first week of January, because of the ways the days fell.” Bradley also credits Winterfest with creating winter tourism business that was previously non-existent. According to Danny Hageman, superintendent of the Sevier County Department of Human Services, the department did not see a noticeably significant increase in applications for aid during the month of January. He noted that some people could be receiving financial aid already or be recipients of unemployment insurance. Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Mission Executive Director Dick Wellon said that December produced the highest number of families so far. “We had 285 people and slightly over 90 percent of them were families.” Wellon added, “We had 2,005 people all year, and 919 during 2003. That is about 240 more than the year before.”