Study suggests economy is recovering

Study: More than 60-percent of laid-off workers, back to work this year

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Good news when it comes to the economy. More and more displaced workers are finding jobs in the industries they left or were laid off in.

We spoke to a professor of economics at the University of North Florida about the study, and he said this is a positive sign that suggests the economy is recovering.

Of approximately 4-million non-farm workers who were laid off from jobs they had for about three years from 2011 to 2013, more than 60-percent were working again by the beginning of 2014.

That's according to USA Today, which is reporting a new study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Economists say that's good news because a large number of Americans who lost their jobs from 2007 to 2009 had to leave their fields, especially construction and manufacturing workers.

"It suggests the economy is recovering although it seems to be specific industries where that has taken palce," said Dr. Paul Mason, professor of economics at the University of North Florida.

We asked Mason what industries are seeing growth.

"Given the boom in the housing industry, the housing-construction industry. Construction workers are in a much better place today than they were four or five years ago," said Mason. "The hotel and motel industry has grown with the growth of tourism and the return of tourism."

Mason said the healthcare industry is also a great industry to be in or to be pursing right now.

The study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also said workers who got jobs in their fields again were also able to do so without a sharp drop in wages.

Mason also said people should make sure they're not unemployed for a long time.

He said the longer people are not working, the more difficult it may be for them to find a job.

He also said it's important for people to consider continuing training in the industry they were laid off from.