The results are in. The most recently published data on jobless numbers in Cobb County show the unemployment rate dropping to 6.9 percent in April. That’s three tenths of a point lower than the month before, compared to 7.8 at the start of 2013 and 8.0—constituting more than a full percentage drop—this time last year. The unemployment rates for metro Atlanta and Georgia also decreased, respectively, to 7.6 (again, down three tenths of a point from its March figure) and 8.2 (from 9.1 a year ago).* The national rate, currently at 7.5, has been tracing a similar, though slower, decline, falling a total of 0.4 percent since January. That’s a lot of stats to make sense of—and we haven’t even gotten to the (non-seasonally-adjusted) workforce estimates.

Most of us take for granted that a shrinking unemployment rate is good news. Fewer of us understand what’s behind these numbers, and what they could mean for our hometown economy. Cobb In Focus, in partnership with Marietta.com, turned to both local government leaders and local businesses to get a clearer picture of jobs in Cobb, and how the county plans to put these numbers to work.

Statistically Speaking

While the economic theories and calculations behind unemployment, or “joblessness,” are relatively complex (the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics measures no fewer than six different types of unemployment, for starters), the unemployment rate as we know it is based on a fairly simple principle: By estimating how many people are out of work in a particular area, we can better gauge how well that area’s economy is performing. The power of the unemployment rate to forecast our economic present and future waxes and wanes depending upon which expert you ask. The public interest in the unemployment rate as an economic predictor, however, is far more stable than our economy is ever likely to be. Just ask a politician, stockbroker, CEO—or the state labor commissioner.

Commissioner Mark Butler oversees the collection of unemployment statistics by the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), which are obtained in-house by tallying unemployment applications and surveys by county, combined and verified with data from the U.S. Department of Labor. He’s also responsible for communicating these findings to the public. When the state released its latest report in May, the official press release sent to local area outlets contained an audio clip of Commissioner Butler (interviewed by his director of communications) commenting on what he felt these numbers meant in the context of metro Atlanta. Clearly, he understands the sway the unemployment rate has come to hold over our perception of the local economy. But, while he stands behind the accuracy and usefulness of these statistics, he also acknowledges their limitations. In particular, he points to what is known as the workforce number, or the number that seeks to represent how many individuals in a particular area are either actively employed or actively seeking employment.

“[That’s] probably the one area that we hear most people talk about,” he says. “Anytime you see someone do an editorial or hear someone complain in an open forum, they’ll say, ‘Well, that’s not the real unemployment rate.’ A lot of times, what they’re referring to is the people who are, quote-unquote, ‘not counted.’” The workforce number doesn’t take into account those individuals who are unemployed, but who are also not looking for work—whether that’s because they are retired, on disability or because they gave up on finding a job. The latter is the one that raises an issue, as many believe that a true measure of unemployment should count those who have, for example, been without a job so long that they just plain stopped looking. Since overall unemployment is calculated as a percentage of that total workforce, shifts in the workforce number can have a major effect on the unemployment rate—an effect that doesn’t always give us the most accurate picture, Butler explains. “You can actually see the unemployment rate stay the same or decrease even though you have lost jobs.” How? “Let’s say you lost a small number of jobs … but you also had a lot of people drop off the workforce number.” If, as the argument holds, many of those now-uncounted workers gave up on looking for employment, you’re now calculating those newly laid-off individuals as a percentage of a reduced workforce. “That can actually make it look like you’re doing better than you actually are.”

The good news is that even with these kinds of limitations taken into account, most experts agree that if you look at all the unemployment data as a whole, it tends to add up to a pretty useful statistical picture. “When you see that workforce number increase and you see jobs increase, I think you have a fairly accurate unemployment rate,” Butler says. And in that case, he adds, “In Cobb, you guys are doing pretty good. It’s the lowest your rate has been since November 2008—2008 is what most experts deem the start of the recession. Back then, you were as low as 6.5 percent, so we’re starting to see Cobb County, slowly but surely, get back to pre-recession levels.”

More Jobs for Cobb

Complex statistics can help us to better understand our economy on a very broad scale in terms of entire counties, states and nations. But oftentimes the most convincing data comes in much smaller batches, and hits much closer to home—say, 60 more jobs at the Talenti Gelato manufacturing company in Marietta, an anticipated 120 local jobs to open through Fresenius Medical, a leading supplier of dialysis products and services, or more than 200 jobs newly added to Cobb’s growing business technology industry through Infosys. Call centers for Cobb-based global giant The Home Depot have recently added 700 jobs, while a similar center for Alorica, a customer management company with operations in Kennesaw, plans to hire more than 1,000 employees by the end of the year. News like this not only starts to put names, and maybe even faces, to disembodied statistics—according to Matt McCaslin, a certified staffing professional and office branch manager for Hire Dynamics in Cobb, it also constitutes tangible proof that Cobb County’s officially declining unemployment rate is right on target.

“This is not surprising at all,” he says, looking at the most recent statistics for Cobb as compared to a few months and a full year ago, “because we are seeing more job creation in the county and fewer layoffs.” As for what’s driving the numbers, McCaslin points to a mix of optimism and caution on the part of employers. Citing workforce surveys indicating that 26 percent of employers plan to take on more full-time employees in 2013, while 40 percent will be looking for part-timers and contractors, he says Cobb’s figures are on-trend. “We have seen direct-hire, full-time employment pick up in Cobb, but we have seen a more cautious ‘try before you buy’ approach to hiring, by starting employees out as contracted workers and then promoting them into full-time employment.”

Cobb also appears to be making the most of a recovering economic climate, choosing to wisely spread its roots now in preparation for larger, faster growth in the future. “Low interest rates have made it possible to expand operations, and companies are hiring in the anticipation of the growing economy,” says McCaslin. “Nobody wants to be the last person to the dance, and companies are hiring in order to capitalize on market share in their respective industries.” Not surprisingly, some industries and positions are expanding more than others. “According to Careerbuilder’s 2013 Job Forecast, the top two positions companies plan to hire for in 2013 are sales and information technology,” he says, predictions that are in line with recent job creation numbers in Cobb. McCaslin also notes that two of Cobb’s other leading industries, health care and customer services, also added significant jobs—mirroring larger trends.

These trends explain why many business set up shop in Cobb. “Infosys established itself in Cobb sometime in the early part of 2011. We then created a value proposition around our service offering and delivery model from the county and took it to the market,” explains Madhusudan Menon, Geo Head, North America of Infosys BPO Limited. “Based on the outcome, we are now hiring locally and adding to the employment count.” Menon notes that Infosys projects adding an increase between 50 and 70 percent to its current 300-person workforce in the metro area, with hiring focused on IT, customer service, insurance, health care, financial accounting and management.

A Great Place to Work

“More jobs equals better opportunity for all, whether you are a citizen, business or employee in Cobb,” says Brooks Mathis, vice president of economic development for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. “Raising the bar helps each and every person within that equation.” According to both Mathis and Butler, Cobb has always set the bar relatively high when it comes to creating a positive economic climate. “Cobb just has a very good business atmosphere,” Butler says, “and, frankly, it always has—which is one of the reasons why you’re seeing the job growth the way you are. If you even take a look at the average wages overall, the average weekly wage is higher in Cobb County than it is for the rest of the state of Georgia. So, not only are your businesses creating jobs, but they tend to be a little bit higher paying jobs.” That’s great news for employees, indeed.

More good news, for employees and employers alike: Cobb boasts the lowest crime and tax rates in metro Atlanta, a viable public transportation system and dedicated employment and economic development programs like CobbWorks, the county’s employment services leader, and Cobb’s Competitive EDGE, a partnership of local businesses and government leaders that aims to significantly boost the number and quality of jobs in Cobb by 2018. In other words, it’s a great place to work—and local businesses know it. “These companies are adding jobs because the talent is in Cobb, and the proximity to metro Atlanta and low cost of doing business exists here,” Mathis says.

In addition to those thousands of jobs added and slated to be added in 2013, Butler estimates that Cobb has seen almost 2,800 more people enter or re-enter the workforce since 2012, while only a tiny fraction—213 workers—dropped off the workforce number in April. That likely means that Cobb is not only adding jobs, but also doing a better job of filling them.

Quality Meets Quantity

Creating more jobs, or even better jobs, isn’t enough. The discrepancy between the demands of available jobs and applicants’ abilities to meet them is referred to as the “skills gap.” While the actual impact of the skills gap on the unemployment rate is up for debate, there is no doubt that a lack of qualified workers is a barrier to economic success. Jobs that are created only to go unfilled—or filled with unsuitable candidates—can not only cost companies more money (in hiring, human resources and training costs, for example), they send companies the message that the local workforce isn’t worth their investment. Technical skills are one part of the equation, says Butler, but soft skills, or “common sense” skills as he calls them—things like punctuality, professional presentation and a sense of workplace decorum—are of increasing concern to employers. “Businesses are having a hard time finding individuals with the right technical skills for the jobs that are available, but we’re also hearing businesses say that a lot of individuals don’t have the soft skills needed, even if they do have the technical skills,” he says. Cobb is fortunate to have one of the highest-rated educational systems in the metro area, as well as four of Chattahoochee Technical College’s eight campuses (including the main campus on South Cobb Drive). “Chattahoochee Tech does a great job supplying [Cobb’s] workforce with good qualified graduates,” says Butler. Infosys’ Menon notes that the company works closely with area schools like Kennesaw State and Chattahoochee Tech to hire and train local talent.

Until recently, however, no comparable programs were directly addressing the skills gap as far as those “common sense” skills were concerned. In response to this need, the Georgia Department of Labor created Georgia Business Ethics Student Training (BEST), a program designed to teach career-oriented soft skills and life skills to high school seniors. The program was piloted last year in more than 20 schools across Georgia, and has grown to more than 150 schools. Support for the program from students, parents, educators and employers has been encouraging. Says Butler, “We think it’s going to have a profound effect on the workforce because this is an area that is much needed, and we’re looking to expand the program to middle schools and also to our current workforce programs and our career centers.” Another new initiative geared toward unemployed and underemployed adults, Special Workforce Assistance Team (SWAT), brings job seekers together with Georgia Department of Labor representatives to polish interview skills (including soft skills), receive resume assistance and access job-matching resources.

On the county level, Mathis says, “Cobb is addressing future employment issues, workforce development and talent opportunities through its new community and economic development strategy, Cobb’s Competitive EDGE.” One of EDGE’s seven “action teams,” composed of representatives from Cobb’s educational system, CobbWorks and local staffing firms, has been specifically tasked with the title “Developing, Recruiting & Retaining Talent.”

According to Butler, this targeted, local- and individual-centered approach to communities’ employment needs is representative of the shift Georgia’s government leaders are making away from statistical measurements like the unemployment rate. It’s not that these numbers aren’t useful or important, he says—declining to comment on what he would consider a target unemployment rate for Cobb—it’s just that they don’t add up to the best strategy for tackling unemployment at its uniquely specific sources. “I really don’t want to put it into a number. The reason why I don’t is we’re changing the mindset of how we handle our clients at the Department of Labor. We don’t want to think about it as a statistic.”

“Taking an individual approach,” he adds, “it takes longer, it’s definitely much harder to do, but it’s the only way you’re really going to have a real effect.”

For those still keeping count, the newest unemployment numbers for Cobb County and the State of Georgia will be released on June 21.

Dual enrollment—which lets high school students take state-funded college-level courses—has been one of Cobb County’s best-kept education secrets for decades. Not anymore, says Dr. Katherine Kinnick, director of the Dual Enrollment Honors Program (DEHP) and professor of communication at Kennesaw State University (KSU). “The word is finally getting out what a wonderful opportunity this is. Students get a great head start on college and parents save a lot of money,” she says.

The reasons high school students enroll in college courses are as varied as the students themselves, but one phrase comes up again and again. “For many students, it’s really the best of both worlds,” says Stacey Solomon, academic advisor at KSU. “Taking college courses in high school lets dual enrollment students sample college life without missing out on the high school prom, football or marching band.”

The cost of higher education is another factor. “Taking 50 percent KSU courses his junior and senior year will allow my son to graduate high school with a full year of college credits,” says Kim Montalbano, a dual enrollment parent and local educator.  “That’s going to save us at least $20,000 if he goes away and lives on campus.”

The recent passage of HB131, which goes into effect July 1, establishes the right of high school students taking one or more courses at qualified institutions to have those courses treated in the same fashion as high school Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses to calculate HOPE scholarship status. This new legislation is poised to change the education landscape for students, parents and teachers all across the county.

A New Definition of Dual Credit

In the past, some students received less credit for their college courses than they would for the AP and IB courses available in their high schools, which proved to be a disadvantage when their GPA was calculated. “Until now, some students didn’t enroll in certain classes because their high school Advanced Placement class would get more weight in GPA calculation than a college course,” explains Solomon. “Different high schools have rules that vary from campus to campus.” Montalbano, for one, applauds the new legislation. “Last year, it did hurt [my son’s] GPA a little bit. But now [he] will get that extra quality point for his KSU classes,” she says. She also points out that the cost of AP classes is covered by parents, but dual enrollment is state-funded.

Comprehensive Funding

Solomon says that at KSU, state funding guarantees paid tuition for qualified students in the university’s DEHP. “At KSU, no one is turned away for lack of funding. If you meet the criteria, you will be accepted,” she says.

The majority of dual enrollment funding in Cobb County comes from two major programs, ACCEL and Move on When Ready (MOWR). “If a student does ACCEL, they can attend part-time at Chattahoochee and part-time at the high school. This is our most popular program,” says Aisha Willis, student affairs coordinator at Chattahoochee Technical College. “One hundred percent of tuition is paid, and students are responsible for fees and books. For Move on When Ready, they must attend Chattahoochee full-time. One hundred percent of tuition and fees are paid, and students are responsible for their books.”

A Taste of Higher Education

While Cobb County is known for excellent high schools, dual enrollment gives highly motivated students a head start on their college experience. Through dual enrollment, these students can actually graduate high school with their core curriculum partially or entirely complete. “Taking advantage of dual enrollment not only gave me a head start, it also gave me a ‘sneak peek’ at college life,” says Jake Montalbano, who began taking classes at KSU during his junior year at Lassiter High. “You get insight into what college life is like and what you want to do.” Dr. Zvi Szafran, vice president for academic affairs at Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) agrees this is a huge benefit. “Dual enrollment also lets them sample campus life and test out the major they are considering,” he says. “Sometimes what they learn is, ‘Maybe I should consider something other than engineering.’”

For Kate Rascoe, who divided her senior year between King’s Academy and KSU, taking courses in composition and public speaking opened her eyes to new possibilities. “I was considering law—in fact, I still am—but taking courses at KSU made me believe I can be a writer,” she says. During her year at KSU, Rascoe was awarded an honorable mention in an emerging writers contest, competing against traditional undergraduates as well as dual enrollment students. But she hastens to add that enjoying senior year was also a priority for her. “I wanted to have the nostalgia of senior year, where I was captain of the soccer team and loved my high school.”

Another attraction for many students is the ability to take subjects that are not available at their high school. “Some high schools have had to cut back on language courses, so that is an especially popular choice. Many students come here to take Chinese,” says Kinnick.

Acclimating to Campus Life

Schools are mindful that dual enrollment students need services to acclimate to the college environment. Kinnick says that KSU has responded to the rise in dual enrollment with more student support. “We brought Stacey Solomon on board as an academic advisor dedicated full-time to students in the DEHP. KSU is unique in that we are the only institution in the state of Georgia—other than residential academies—that lets high school students take honors courses without living on campus.” She notes that the majority of DEHP students are commuters who are also able to enjoy small classes that might otherwise be unavailable to freshman.

The additional support has eased the transition for many families. “The KSU dual enrollment program does an outstanding job communicating and helping parents navigate the system of approval, credit and funding,” says Kim Montalbano. Additional resources include an in-depth orientation and tour at the beginning of the school year.

Attracting the Best and the Brightest

Colleges know that dual enrollment puts them in an excellent position to attract the most mature and motivated students. “We hope that the dual enrollment students will enroll at Poly when they graduate high school,” says Szafran. “This program shortens the path to a degree, so they can graduate more efficiently and economically.”

Willis agrees that bringing qualified high school students onto campus is beneficial for all parties. “Chattahoochee Technical College is an access point for students of all ages. We offer a low cost, high quality, close-to-home option. We have eight campuses, many different programs of study and students can choose from day, evening or online courses,” she says.

Incentive programs like dual enrollment inevitably attract the brightest and the best students. Because KSU is the only honors dual enrollment program in Cobb County, Kinnick believes the university is in an ideal position to attract quality students. “Launching an honors college is part of our strategic plan. About one third of dual enrollment students re-admit at KSU, and they are much more likely to continue as grad students at KSU,” she says. Solomon concurs. “KSU dual enrollment students are the cream of the crop. We’ve had dual enrollment students accepted not only at Georgia’s best schools but also at Alabama with huge scholarships,” although she notes that many students elect to stay at KSU. “We know the caliber of student in DEHP, and it’s valuable to have them here even if they go on to other schools,” Kinnick adds.

Rascoe, who is headed to UGA, agrees heartily. “Even though I’m excited about UGA, I’m kind of sad to leave Kennesaw State,” she says. “I got lots of confidence there and had such great classes.”

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Is Dual Enrollment Right for Your Child?

Dual enrollment is a wonderful opportunity, but experts caution that not every high school student is a good match for the program. “The dual enrollment students have to be more intellectually mature to compete with college students. Parent and child must discuss this openly and honestly,” says Ron Koger, vice president for student and enrollment services at SPSU. “If you really know your kid and keep your own ego out of it, the student will do well. Kids who get pushed into it don’t do well.” Koger also recommends that parents take prospective students to campus to get a sense of how comfortable their children are there, advice that is echoed by KSU student Jake Montalbano. “Make sure you’ve visited and it’s what you really want to do. Some people may not be ready for this, and they could hurt their GPA.”

It may still feel like summer outside, but it is time to prepare your children for the new school year. That transition from spending the day at camp or the pool to hitting the books can be challenging for students, especially those who will be entering a new school. Of course, the fun part is back-to-school shopping, but what else can be done to get your child ready for the new academic year? Cobb County’s independent schools offer many opportunities for you to meet your children’s teachers and explore their new learning environment so the whole family will feel prepared and excited for the next chapter in their education.

An Active Summer

Involvement in extracurricular activities during the summer months can help ease any back-to-school anxieties children may have. At Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, summer camps are available to all new and existing students in all grade levels and are taught by their own teachers, offering students a chance to get to know them prior to the start of school. They also offer Eagle Choir, an athletic program and community service and mission work to keep students engaged in service and outreach throughout the year. The Wood Acres School also has a wealth of after-school activities to engage new students such as glee, chess, drama and beta clubs. Along with ongoing summer camps and sports teams, the Walker School’s preschool and lower school libraries are also open during the summer.

Another way to ease kids’ anxiety is to engage them through back-to-school shopping. Picking out supplies and new clothes can help students feel excited about going back to school. Cobb has plenty of stores, like Abbadabba’s, to help students feel fashionable yet stay comfortable during the day. “Being physically and mentally comfortable ensures the most successful school year possible for the youngsters,” says Bo McAfee, store manager at Abbadabba’s East Cobb. “That comfort level is highly contingent upon how comfy your shoes, outfits and accessories are. Staying comfortable is essential to performing well mentally. We like to help with that.”

Transitioning to a New School

Whether your family has recently relocated to Cobb or your child is advancing to a new school, the first day can be nerve-wracking for students who don’t know what to expect. Many schools try to ease that fear long before students walk in the door. At Mt. Bethel, every teacher mails a personalized postcard to their incoming students to introduce themselves. Prior to the first day of school, there is a new parent reception followed by a meet and greet for students, parents and teachers. During the first week of school, students can enjoy Screen on the Green, where families gather for fellowship, dinner and a movie on campus. “Our teachers make a special effort to help new students relax and will pair them with a veteran student who will act as their mentor,” says Jackie Grasty, director of advancement at Mt. Bethel. Children in kindergarten have two opportunities in the summer to attend summer play dates for refreshments and playtime on the campus playground. To make the transition easier, kindergarteners follow a half-day schedule for a two-week soft start into the school. “For new first through eighth grade families, we also assign a buddy in the same grade level and have them reach out to each other over the summer to answer any questions or concerns that might arise,” says Grasty. “Shortly after the start of the school year, all middle school students go on an overnight retreat where they will participate in outdoor activities that are designed to help them bond and develop a healthy level of respect for one another.”

Wood Acres also hosts a meet and greet the Sunday before school begins during which kids and parents meet their teachers and new classmates and reunite with old friends. “Each student brings something new for the playground. It is a great time for everyone!” says Nicole Hankamer, admissions and marketing coordinator for Wood Acres. Teachers send welcome letters to all their incoming students, and parents are encouraged to attend either a coffee talk, or rallies and class functions held on campus to become immersed in their child’s new school environment.

At the Walker School, new parents are always in the loop. A new parent session held each May helps parents get a head start for the upcoming year. All parents new to Walker, or parents of students rising into a new division, receive information packets and an explanation of what to expect, and also have the opportunity to ask questions. Director of Communications Kristy Helms says, “Our lower school, middle school and upper school divisions assign buddy families or parent mentors to help ease the transition for families new to the division. The middle school also assigns student mentors for our new students.” When it comes to helping children adjust to their new school, Helms suggests attending one of the school’s social events during the summer months. “Our current families love getting to know new families, and they can help share
all of the ins and outs of school life,” says Helms. “At our Walker Orientation and Welcome Day, new students have an opportunity to visit their classrooms before school starts. Since our class sizes are so small, there is ample opportunity to ask teachers questions, reach out to new friends and find what most interests your child.”

Embracing a New Routine

Transitioning back to a school schedule from the flexibility of the summer months can be difficult, so begin taking the steps to get ready for the new school year sooner rather than later. Plan for weeks, rather than days, to get children readjusted to going to bed and waking up earlier. Making sure they eat on a regular schedule will also help ease the transition. Hankamer agrees that getting the kids to bed early is key, and says, “Reading is the best way to stay on track during the summer months.” This will help keep children focused on learning even when school is not in session, and get them in a positive mindset for the first day of school.

Preparation is key for both parents and students. “Middle and upper school students will need to prepare supplies and books prior to the start of school, so shopping well in advance of August is advised,” says Helms. “This will eliminate last-minute rush orders on books and trips to the store for supplies.” At Mt. Bethel, summer reading and math requirements encourage academic preparedness to ensure students retain as much information as possible from the previous academic year. “For students, the most exciting part about returning to school is meeting your new teacher[s], seeing your classmates, facing new and exciting challenges and receiving love and support from a caring community of educators who care deeply about their students,” says Grasty.

Encouraging your children to get active in something that interests them will help them become acclimated in their new learning environment. So get involved, set a schedule and get ready for a new year of learning.