NATCHEZ — For 24 years, Natchez native Greg Ware worked his way to the top in a career he loved.

A production engineer for a Minneapolis company, Ware designed custom parts for high tech trade show exhibits.

“I worked my way up through the company,” Ware said. “I started off as a production employee and then went to production manager, safety officer and then production engineer.”

Ware said the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, had an immediate, devastating effect on the trade show industry.

“Sept. 11 took a lot of our business away, and we never actually recovered from it,” Ware said.

The Air Force veteran said the company began downsizing.

“In its heyday, we had 150 employees,” Ware said. “I was one of last employees let go.”

Ware, a father of two, said he had already resolved to move back to Natchez if and when he was laid off.

In September, Ware moved home and bought a house in Natchez. He said he works on home and property improvement projects when he’s not looking for work.

Ware checks in at the WIN Job Center in Natchez often, and works with a representative who helps place veterans.

As bad as you think?

Despite the economic downturn and the loss of many major employers in Adams County during the last decade, local employment experts say there are still jobs to be had in Natchez.

In fact, Adams County’s unemployment rate is among some of the lower percentages in the state — at 9.6 percent in May. The state average was 10 percent in May.

WIN Job Center Branch Director Peggy Ballard pointed out that the addition of a federal prison in town has helped keep the number lower.

“Employment is better in Adams County, better than a lot of places,” Ballard said. “We are usually in the upper third instead of the bottom half.”

Only 20 of Mississippi’s 82 counties have a better unemployment number than Adams County.

Chandler Russ, executive director of Natchez Inc., the local economic development agency, agreed, saying jobs are available at businesses such as Jordan Carriers and in the correctional, medical and oil and gas industries.

“Between all of those, (there are) probably 200 openings within those groups there,” Russ said.

Easier said than done?

Yet Ware, and others, are still hunting.

“I have no leads yet,” Ware said. “I’m either under qualified or overqualified. They look at my resume, and fast food says I’m overqualified. Other companies need a certain a college degree, and I can’t do that.”

Ware said wanting to work but not finding a job is immensely frustrating.

“I’m still putting in applications for Walmart and stuff like that, but no responses,” Ware said. “I just have to keep trying until I can find something.”

Ware said he keeps a positive attitude about his unemployment situation.

“I understand there are a lot of people out of work,” Ware said. “There’s more demand there than supply. And me getting upset wouldn’t change anything.”

Unemployment checks are helping Ware survive for now, he said.

“My kids sure don’t get to have anything they want anymore,” Ware joked. “I just hope my story will inspire someone else to not give up.”

Moving on

Less than six months ago, a group of approximately 60 workers said goodbye to their jobs together when Bad Boy Buggies was sold.

Joe Eidt worked at the local all-terrain vehicle manufacturing facility as director of service and warranty for almost three years. He was laid off when E-Z-Go bought Bad Boy’s owners out and moved production of Bad Boy Buggies to the company’s Augusta, Ga., facility.

“Some of the management folks were told we would be retained,” Eidt said. “It didn’t work out in my favor, but there were some (who were retained).”

Eidt said the news was a blow, but he began looking for a job immediately. He found one at Natchez Pathology Lab.

“I was only unemployed for two months,” Eidt said. “I’m very fortunate. I know a couple of guys who are still looking for full-time employment.”

While the reality for some was to move away from Natchez, Eidt said that was not an option for him.

“I wasn’t real happy, but you can’t cry over spilled milk,” Eidt said. “I was disappointed to say the least, but you move on.”

Eidt said Bad Boy Buggies offered a decent severance package that helped through the transition.

“The company was good to us as far as that,” Eidt said. “I sure would have loved to see it through. I was excited about going to work every day; I think a lot of folks down there were.”

The severance package and a new job made things easier for Eidt on many levels, but he said nothing could erase the emotional effect the layoff had on him.

“I’m 53 and worked my way up. It was the first time I was unemployed since (age) 18. It was difficult, knowing you didn’t have a job to go to,” he said.

“There were unhappy moments, but you have snap out of it and jump back into reality and do what you have to do.”

What to do

Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ said he tells unemployed residents of Adams County to remain vigilant in their job searches.

“I encourage folks to keep their file and resume updated and at WIN Job Center,” Russ said. “In this market there are jobs out there available. It might not be exactly the job they are wanting, but there are jobs in the marketplace right now.”

Ballard said she assists a wide demographic of people at the WIN Job Center.

“Everyone has a different story,” Ballard said. “Some are people who have been working long term, all of the sudden they are laid off because of a downturn, and some have worked at temporary jobs, which end, and they are back in labor market again.”

Russ said that seeking secondary education is also an option.

“It is a good time to reinforce skills or add to you skill set,” Russ said. “And there are funds available to offset costs for going back to school. For some it might be a good time to reinvent themselves and pick up a new skills.”

Russ said he suggests the unemployed observe skills needed in the modern workplace, and begin developing a skill that fits into those standards.