The number of jobs in Douglas County declined last year. Reversing that trend is vital to the county’s future.

It’s not uncommon for someone extolling the virtues of Lawrence to declare, “It’s a great place to live and work.”

Unfortunately it appears to be getting harder for many people to both live and work in Lawrence.

Given the nationwide economic downturn, it wasn’t surprising that numbers released by state officials Monday indicated Douglas County had lost 600 jobs during 2002. That’s a decrease of only 1.1 percent, but it’s counter to the statewide trend that saw jobs increase slightly (less than 1 percent).

The good news — in a way — is that the county’s unemployment rate also dropped a bit, from 3.9 percent in December 2001 to 3.5 percent in December 2002. That’s great because it means more Douglas County residents are employed, but, in light of the decline in local jobs, it almost certainly means that more Douglas County residents are commuting to jobs in other counties.

The location of Lawrence and Douglas County smack between Topeka and the Kansas City metropolitan area makes it an ideal home for people willing to commute to jobs in larger cities. For instance, most everyone knows couples in which one spouse commutes to Topeka while the other drives to work in Kansas City. They live in Lawrence because they like the atmosphere or think it’s a great place to raise a family.

That’s not a bad reputation to have, but it can have a negative impact on the local economy by placing too great a burden on residential property taxes to support schools and necessary public services like fire and police protection. It also can drive up residential property values and place home ownership out of reach for many residents.

The trend toward a residential economy was reflected in the job numbers, which indicated that the county’s largest job growth was in the service sector, which includes nonretail jobs that provide services to residents and businesses. While manufacturing jobs declined statewide, the county’s number held steady, but more needs to be done to increase those jobs and companies that add to the county’s tax base.

The Excellence by Design campaign currently being conducted by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce is working to raise money to attract more businesses and jobs to Douglas County. The effort is important to every county resident for two primary reasons: It raises the tax base, thereby keeping a lid on the local cost of living, and it provides jobs for county residents.

The Lawrence City Commission’s 4-1 approval Tuesday night of a tax abatement for Serologicals, the biotech firm planning to locate in East Hills Business Park, is a great way to start the year and demonstrate the city’s desire to attract good new industries and jobs.

It’s obvious Douglas County workers are qualified and in demand. The decrease in the unemployment rate indicates they are finding jobs, they just aren’t always finding them within the county. As a service to our workforce as well as to taxpayers, we need to concentrate our efforts on making sure Lawrence and Douglas County continue to be good places to live and work.