11/23/09

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rates declined in two central Oregon counties in October. The largest drop was in Crook County. Oregon's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3 percent.

Crook County: The county's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 18.1 percent in October, down 1.0 percentage point from the revised September rate of 19.1 percent. One year ago, the rate was 11.9 percent.

The county lost 180 jobs in October.

Education and health services was the only private-sector industry to add jobs in October (+10).  There were five industries that lost jobs: wood product manufacturing (-50); leisure and hospitality (-20); construction; professional and business services; and wholesale trade (-10, each).

Government employment decreased by 80 jobs in October.

The county recorded nearly 890 fewer jobs this October compared to October a year ago. The industry with the largest year-over-year loss is wholesale trade (-47.0%) followed by wood product manufacturing (-29.9%), and information (-25.0%). There were no private-sector industries that had an over-the-year job gain. Federal government had a small over-the-year job gain of 6.5 percent.

Deschutes County (Bend MSA): The county's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 15.4 percent in October. The rate declined 0.2 percentage point from the revised September rate of 15.6 percent. In September of 2008, the rate was 9.8 percent.

The county lost 530 jobs in October. This time of year it is typical for the county to lose 660 jobs.    

Nearly all private-sector industries lost jobs. The greatest job losses were in leisure and hospitality (-810) and professional and business services (-200).

Local government education added 790 jobs in October.

Since October 2008, the county has lost nearly 2,000 jobs (-2.9%). The largest percentage losses in the private sector were in mining, logging, and construction (-10.5%); durable goods manufacturing (-9.4%); and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-5.7%). Public sector employment grew slightly compared to a year ago (+1.8%). The largest over-the-year gain was in local education (+9.7%).

Jefferson County: The county's seasonally adjusted unemployment was 16.3 percent in October; up 0.8 percentage point from September's revised rate of 15.5 percent. One year ago, the rate was 11.8 percent.

Jefferson County lost 110 jobs in October.

There were no private sector employment gains in October. Leisure and hospitality had the largest loss between September and October (-50).

Local government added 10 jobs.

The county recorded a year-over-year job decline of 5.7 percent in October. The largest loss was in mining and logging (-25.0%) followed by wood product manufacturing (-23.1%). There were two private sector industries with over-the-year growth in employment: education and health services (+8.3%) and leisure and hospitality (+1.9%). The public sector had 6.0 percent fewer jobs this year than last year.

For a breakdown of all unemployment numbers for every Oregon county, click here.