Massachusetts manufacturers struggle to fill critical jobs
Updated Feb 15, 2021;
Posted Feb 15, 2021
Springfield rail car manufacturer CRRC last fall hired 40 electrical engineers and 42 mechanical engineers to meet demands for the coming year and beyond. (Don Treeger / The Republican file photo)
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It has been one of the economic conundrums of the coronavirus pandemic: Unemployment rates rose to unprecedented levels, but some employers have been begging to fill jobs.
With the onset of the spread of COVID-19 triggering a state unemployment rate of 17.7% in June – the highest since the Great Depression – the pandemic led to a state-ordered shutdown of businesses. As a result, many companies furloughed workers, as others pivoted to find new ways of maintaining their business.
Westfield Council OKs $1M for road, sidewalk repairs
Updated Feb 04, 2021;
WESTFIELD Three city roads are slated for improvements this spring at a total cost of $1 million after the City Council voted Thursday to appropriate the funds from the stabilization account.
City Engineer Mark S. Cressotti said there is no definitive start date yet as the focus was to get the funding in place first.
City View Boulevard will be paved at a cost of $430,000, Hillside Road will also be paved at a cost of $300,000 and sidewalks on Union Street will be reconstructed with a $270,000 price tag.
Councilor at Large James Adams asked if the projects could wait to coincide with bridge work at City View Boulevard and Southwick Road, an area heavily traveled by trucks.