'You roll with the punches'

Mark Rudningen spent 14 years, 1 month and 15 days with Crow Wing County working in the land and parks departments before his job ended in December.

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He's been looking for work since then and the latest jobless numbers released for the seven-county area show little change in the unemployment rate.

Just days before his career with the county ended, Rudningen was optimistic and determined to maintain a positive attitude.

"You roll with the punches and you move on and make the best with what you got," Rudningen said. "You just take it day by day. I'm optimistic. I think something will break loose."

Rudningen took a voluntary resignation incentive instead of unemployment. But he didn't think the job search would take quite this long. And he was disappointed when interviews, particularly with the state park at St. Croix, didn't pan out. Rudningen widened his search to other states, looking at job openings in Colorado and Oregon, among other states.

Mark Rudningen, who spent 14 years with Crow Wing County in the land and parks departments, has been out of work since January. His family's home is on 75 acres of woods and horse-riding trails near Forestview Middle School. He's looked far afield for work but the idea of leaving the home is a difficult one.

Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

But then he looks at the retreat his family created just a handful of minutes from Brainerd and Baxter. On a sunny, warm afternoon with the breeze easing through stands of Norway pines, Rudningen said leaving the home his family created here in search of work farther afield is a difficult idea.

On Tuesday, Rudningen held a lead rope for Tacoma, the paint gelding who was focused on nibbling the fresh green grass on the lawn. Three other horses looked on nearby along with a dog and two cats. Rudningen has 75 acres of heavily wooded land and riding trails not far from Forestview Middle School in Baxter.

"It's tough to leave something like this," Rudningen said.

With a father as a park ranger, Rudningen grew up in state parks. He likened his boyhood at Crow Wing State Park where his father was the park manager to the life of Tom Sawyer right down to time at the fishing holes. Now looking at facing age 50 without a job, Rudningen said it hasn't been easy, but he's hopeful an opportunity may be available - even a seasonal job at this point - right in the lakes area.

Rudningen looked at his watch late Tuesday afternoon, noting he may hear something encouraging soon. For now his family is separated with his wife working in Florida to provide breathing room while he keeps the homestead going here.

"We've got so much time, blood, sweat and tears into this property," Rudningen said. "We've got something special here. I'd never be able to replace it."

The March jobless rate for area counties and the rates for March of 2009, 2008 and 2007.

County, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

Aitkin: 12.4%, 13.6%, 9.4%, 8.5%

Cass: 13.4%, 14.2%, 10.4%, 9.7%

Crow Wing: 11.2%, 12.5%, 7.6%, 7%

Mille Lacs: 14.3%, 15.8%, 10%, 9.8%

Morrison: 11.7%, 13.9%, 8.4%, 8.1%

Todd: 9.9%, 11.6%, 6.9%, 6.6%

Wadena: 12.1%, 14.1%, 9.2%, 9.3%

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.Background

With the arrival of spring, there are expectations for a drop in the unemployment rates as seasonal jobs pick up. The March unemployment numbers released by the state Tuesday show little change from February with just the barest moves up or down.

But the jobless numbers aren't as high as they were for March 2009.

Jobless rates for Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties ranged from 9.9 percent to 14.3 percent in March. A year ago those jobless rates ranged from 11.6 percent to 15.8 percent.

Brainerd's jobless rate remains the highest in the state - at 18.5 percent for March - for cities with populations of 10,000 or more. That number is compared to 18.7 percent unemployment in February and 19 percent in January. The city has maintained a steady double-digit unemployment rate since October 2008.

In the list of cities with populations of 10,000 or more, Marshall had the lowest jobless rate at 4 percent. Nine cities, out of 66 in the large city category, had double-digit unemployment rates. Grand Rapids was second to Brainerd with 15.4 percent followed by Bemidji at 15.2 percent.

Minnesota's unemployment for March was 8.2 percent with a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 7.4 percent, a slight uptick from the previous month, but lower than a year ago. The March unemployment rate for the Brainerd micropolitan area, Crow Wing and Cass counties, was 11.8 percent.

How do those numbers compare to the state and nation? The nation's jobless rate in March was 10.2 percent or 9.7 percent seasonally adjusted. Those numbers have basically been holding steady in 2010.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.