In the wake of the Bristol closing announcement, Arvill Scott of the Employment Security Commission said that unemployment rates of 25 percent or more could be realized here next year if the local job market does not change.
So far, Scott said that small employers are hiring laid off employees, but it will take some time for the unemployment picture to brighten here.
"It's really just going to be a tough time," he said. "I really wish we had some good news to report."
Last year, the county lost Spring Ford Knitting, Carolina Narrow Fabrics, Bassett-Walker and Lowe's Hardware, which computed to a total job loss estimated at 650.
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