Some encouraging economic news from the state Revenue Department.
Agency spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis says personal income is expected to increase three-percent this year, and employment is growing. A forecast from DOR estimates the state will add about 20,000 jobs in 2010.
However, it may take awhile for the state to reach pre-recession levels of employment again. Marquis says the Department estimates we won’t hit those numbers again until at least 2013.
Last year, personal income decline about 2-percent. Employment also was down about 4.5-percent in 2009.
Marquis says the numbers reflect an economic recovery that’s being experienced nationally.
AUDIO: Stephanie Marquis, DOR (:17)
WIBA’s John Colbert contributed this report.