Tuesday, August 25, 1998

Workforce to increase at local companies

By Doug Williamson / Business Editor

Abilene's employment picture may be getting a little brighter.

The quarterly Manpower Inc. employment outlook survey, released Monday, shows that 23 percent of local companies plan to increase their workforce this fall, while only 10 percent are looking to cut personnel.

Those numbers are better than last fall's 13 percent up and 16 percent down. But they are a little slower than three months ago when the statistics were 30 percent increasing employment and only 3 percent planning to cut.

Myra Dean, local Manpower manager, said the best employment opportunities this fall are in non-durable goods manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and services. Industries looking to reduce force are transportation, public utilities and education.

Statewide, 31 percent of the companies surveyed said they would be hiring, while only four percent foresee declines in personnel. Nationally, those numbers are 29 percent and 7 percent respectively.

Young's Truck Center expand lines

Young's Truck Center, 909 Oil Center Dr., is the new local dealer for Sterling Truck Corp.

Owner Kelly Young said Sterling trucks have models which are suitable for just about any vocation. The trucks are easily customizable for a variety of purposes. In fact, all are custom built according to the buyer's specifications.

Sterling is a subsidiary of Freightliner Corp of Willoughby, Ohio. The company was created and its trucks are manufactured in St. Thomas, Ontario, and Mt. Holly, N.C.

Young said the $60-million Ford parts inventory has been transferred to Alliance, the distribution and service support network for Sterling Trucks.

College student job fair

The Abilene Chamber of Commerce Higher Education Council will sponsor a job fair for local college students Sept. 3 from 3-6 p.m. in the conference center of the Abilene Civic Center.

Students will have the opportunity to meet representatives from a large variety of Abilene businesses with part-time or full-time positions to fill.

College IDs will be required for free admission. Most universities are asking their students to visit their career services office to complete a pre-registration form.

Chamber members who would like to have a booth will pay $25. Non-members will be charged $50.

For more information, contact Ashley Gillespie, manager of the Abilene Education Council, 677-7241.

By the way ...

I hear some of you read a little more into an article a week or so ago. The Drivateria, formerly known as The Briarstone Drivateria and Mack Eplen's Drivateria, will be closing sometime next month. Some of you thought Briarstone Manor and its catering operations were closing. The Flippo family says that's incorrect.

Doug Williamson can be reached at 676-6707 or williamsond@abinews.com.