With more than 100,000 people out of work in Oklahoma alone, Labor Day this year could seem less like a celebration and more of a reminder of the economic troubles of the times.
But here in Enid, where 1,184 people are listed on the Labor Department roles as unemployed, things are not so bad, said some local economic officials.
“In relation to the communities around us, we’ve weathered the storms really well,” said Brent Kisling, executive director of Enid/Garfield County Development Alliance.
He pointed out Garfield County’s unemployment rate was 4.8 percent for the month of July, well below the national rate of 9.4 percent for the same month.
Local companies — he singled out Advanced Food Co. and Continental Resources — are holding their own or showing some growth.
The down side of the local economy, he said, is in the oil and gas industry.
But even with the stress of unemployment and a national recession, everyone needs down time, said Brian Gaddy, coordinator of the James W. Strate Center for Business Development.
“You know, you read the good book, on the seventh day everybody rested.”
‘Busting their butts’
Congress passed an act in 1894 declaring the first Monday in September as a national Labor Day holiday, and since then thousands of Americans have spent the traditional close of summer in leisure.
“It’s probably just as important today as it was back then,” Gaddy said, adding American workers in these trying times need to be rewarded for “busting their butts every day.”
But this year — with unemployment the highest its been in more than 25 years and political posturing on the economic front from the White House to the state levels — more will be watching their wallets than waves break on beachfronts.
AAA is projecting 39.1 million people nationwide will travel 50 or more miles from home during the holiday weekend. That’s down 13.3 percent from last year when 45.1 million people made trips of 50 miles or more.
AAA says its survey indicates travel by Oklahomans will drop by 11.7 percent from last year.
According to a history.com poll, 53 percent of Americans say they will spend the day with family.
‘How blessed we’ve been’
U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas, who represents northwest Oklahoma as part of the 3rd district, urged residents to reflect upon the nation’s history.
“This year on Labor Day, I think we would want to remember how blessed we’ve been,” Lucas said.
The congressman, who has been meeting during his break with constituents across his district, said it is important now constituents let lawmakers know what is on their minds and to encourage their friends and loved ones across the country to do the same.
He said he thinks the Oklahoma delegation, which is made up of six Republicans and one Democrat, is in line with the majority of its constituents in regard to those issues affecting the economy — overspending, health care and cap and trade — but others in Washington, D.C., are not.
“We need to be working together to motivate the citizens across the country,” he said.
That will be as important as ever after the holiday, as Congress meets to iron out decisions that will affect the economy — for better or worse.
Meanwhile, local economic officials say they will keep doing their jobs in an effort to better Enid’s plight.
“We’ll be open on the day after Labor Day,” Gaddy said, “to help anybody who needs help.”