Two of three counties see fewer unemployed; Crook County loses downbeat 'crown'

By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM

Two of three Central Oregon jobless rates saw their jobless rates fall in October, as much due to schools gearing up as any added jobs in the region, the state Employment Department reported Monday.

Deschutes County's seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped 0.2 of a point, to 15.4 percent last month, from the revised September rate of 15.6 percent, said Regional Economist Carolyn Eagan. That's still well above the year-ago unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

Crook County fared better, with its unemployment rate dropping a full percentage point, to 18.1 percent, also still significantly higher than the October 2008 rate of 11.9 percent.

In fact, Eagan said, it's "the first month in about two years that Crook County doesn't have the highest (jobless) rate in the state."

Jefferson County, however, saw its jobless rate jump 0.8 of a point, to 16.3 percent last month, equaling the record figure seen in August. One year ago, its rate was 11.8 percent.

"We do have some decline in the labor force across all counties," Eagan said, partly because "people go back to school," as well as people who stop seeking work or leave the region to find a job. But she added, the region "lost fewer (jobs) than we typically see" in October.

Deschutes County lost 530 jobs, she said, in a month when it's typical for the county to lose 660.

Nearly all private-sector industries lost jobs, with the largest in leisure and hospitality, down 810 jobs, and professional and business services, down 200 jobs. Local government and education, meanwhile, added 790 jobs in October, a typical seasonal impact of schools back in session.

Deschutes County has lost almost 2,000 jobs (2.9 percent of the total) since October 2008, with the largest private-sector percentages in mining, logging and construction (off 10.5 percent), durable goods manufacturing (down 9.4 percent) and transportation, warehousing and utilities (off 5.7 percent).

Public-sector employment rose slightly, 1.8 percent, from a year ago, but the largest over-the-year gain was in local education, up 9.7 percent.

Crook County lost 180 jobs in October, with education and health services the only private-sector industry to add jobs (10) in October. Five industries lost jobs, topped by the 50 lost in wood product manufacturing. Government employment fell by 80 jobs in October.

The county has lost 890 jobs from October 2008, with wholesale trade jobs down a whopping 47 percent from a year ago, followed by wood product manufacturing (off about 30 percent) and information (down 25 percent). No private-sector industries had an over-the-year job gain, but the federal government jobs were up 6.5 percent in the past year, Eagan said.

Jefferson County lost 110 jobs in October, with no private-sector employment gains. Leisure and hospitality had the largest loss, 50 jobs in the past month, while local government added 10 jobs.

The county lost 5.7 percent of its jobs over the past year, with the largest losses in mining and logging, down 25 percent, followed by wood products, off 23.1 percent. Two private-sector industries gained jobs over the year – education and health services, up 8.3 percent, and leisure and hospitality, up 1.9 percent. The public sector lost 6 percent of its jobs over the past year in Jefferson County.

For more data, visit www.qualityinfo.org.