November 23, 2009

It's the highest unemployment rate Jefferson County has ever seen, back up to 16.3%. Peaking in August the rate dropped in September to 15.5%, moving back up again in October.

The high unemployment has led to an increased demand for food stamps, with more people visiting the Department of Human Services in Madras.

"We've been seeing more clients than we usually do at this time. Usually by Thanksgiving and Christmas time we are slow but it's been crazy," said Nelly Penaloza with Department of Human Services.

110 jobs were lost in October. 50 in the leisure and hospitality industry.
22 year old Chris Halbert who is currently looking for a job, says there is too much competition with so many people unemployed.

"I've turned in applications all over this town and they tell me one thing and never do it. I keep going in to check up on applications and they just say oh we'll give you a call back," said Halbert.

City Officials say they are not surprised about the monthly increase, as trends show unemployment increases during the winter season, but they are disappointed that the state hasn't helped more. City Administrator Mike Morgan says they've applied several times for stimulus dollars.

"None of the 1.3 billion dollars in stimulus packages that I am aware of that the states has, other than 10,000 dollars for our extension office have come to this county and that's just atrocious out of 1.3 billion dollars only 10,000 have come to this county," said Morgan.

The County saw a  year over year job decline of 5.7%. with the industries hit the hardest, logging and mining.