Jobs: Businesses Hanging In But Not Hiring

Local firms are in a holding pattern when it comes to hiring.

That's what veteran insurance agent and Chamber of Commerce leader Jerry Garcia has observed in the local business community.

Garcia helped organize an entrepreneur's committee that meets the first Tuesday of every month at the .

Acquiring capital is the top concern of business operators.

"It's an art form to get money right now," Garcia said. "The business owners I talk to are watching their pennies."

Adding staff is a low priority.

"Employers aren't hiring yet," Garcia said.

Instead, they are keeping headcount low as they wait for demand to build.

Job hunters are certainly suffering.

But Garcia said the weak economy is also forcing many people who have jobs to put in more hours or go without raises.

"The people who are working are working their butts off," he said.

The picture Garcia paints of San Leandro is a microcosm of the nation.

Last week the Labor Department reported the unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent in September. Employers nationwide added just 103,000 new jobs. About 14 million Americans remain unemployed.

Garcia, who runs a , said he's cautiously optimistic about the larger economic picture.

And he is bullish about San Leandro's efforts to attract new businesses through initiatives like the recent conference, .

"This business community is trying to make things happen," he said.

(Another story in an ongoing series on .)