It has gotten to the point where we need to begin paying attention to our area’s unemployment figures or ignore them all together.

For years, local economic development officials have worked to poke holes in how unemployment figures are calculated; who is counted and why; how many workers travel in and out of the area.

But, the fact remains, current unemployment levels are high, they have been high and even significant economic development projects have done little to impact what has become a status quo of double digit unemployment.

Earlier this year, Gov. Robert Bentley traveled to Wilcox County — the county that routinely has the highest unemployment in Alabama — to cut the ribbon on a major industrial employer.

Golden Dragon Precise Cooper opened up in Wilcox County, providing hundreds of jobs, but the impact on the unemployment level in the county has been unnoticeable.

Far too often, the major economic announcements in our state have been centered around Mobile, Auburn and Huntsville, and for very good reason, but the Black Belt is in need of help and quickly.

Fixing the unemployment problem in the Black Belt will not happen overnight. This has been an issue for a generation or more, but we are running out of time and sometimes, running out options.

Our economic development teams — we believe — are doing the best job they can to recruit industries to the Black Belt and they have had great successes.

But, we need to ask if are we doing enough. Are our state leaders giving our economic teams enough in the way of tax breaks and other incentives?

We know there are good things on the horizon for Craig Field and the proposed flight training facility, and we could not be happier.

But, as with everything, it cannot be government who solves this problem alone. We — as a society — must be ready and willing to work, and bring with us to the job the skills needed.

As with anything, it is a team effort and, as Selma and Dallas County Economic Development Authority director Wayne Vardaman often says, “together we work.”