High Desert jobless rates rise in July

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates rose in all three Central Oregon counties in July, though they remained below the figures seen a year ago, the state Employment Department reported Tuesday.

The same increase was true for Oregon, which reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment of 8.7 percent, slightly above June’s revised rate of 8.5 percent. At the national level, the unemployment rate also ticked up to 8.3 percent in July from 8.2 percent in June.

Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 14.1 percent in July, an increase from 13.6 percent in June. Although the rate increased over the month, Crook County’s unemployment rate improved from the previous year. The unemployment rate was 14.8 percent in July 2011.

The county lost 150 jobs in July, when a decline of 50 is typically expected.

Employment losses were largely due to seasonal declines in local government, which occur each summer.

The private sector added 30 jobs in July. Several industries saw small job gains over the month, including leisure and hospitality (+20); logging and mining (+10); construction (+10); and professional and business services (+10).

Employment declined by 90 jobs in Crook County between July 2011 and July 2012. The private sector lost 140 jobs over the year, while government added 50 jobs. Private-sector losses were largest in trade, transportation, and utilities (-80) and manufacturing (-70).

Deschutes County (Bend MSA): The county’s July unemployment rate (11.3%) rose slightly from June’s revised rate of 11.1 percent, but sat well below the year-ago rate of 12.5 percent in July 2011.

Preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a loss of 430 jobs in July. Typically the county adds 680 jobs this time of year. Private-sector industries added 570 jobs between June and July, while government shed 1,000 jobs.

The largest job gains in July came in leisure and hospitality (+310), followed by mining, logging, and construction (+130). Job losses primarily occurred in local government education, which dropped by 870.

The Bend metropolitan area showed a decline of 700 jobs (-1.1%) between July 2011 and July 2012, with private-sector employment down by 920 jobs and government up by 220 jobs over the year.

Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Jefferson County rose to 12.2 percent in July, which was an increase from 11.9 percent in June, but an improvement from 13.5 percent in July 2011.

The county had a net loss of 80 jobs in July, which was slightly less than the decline of 90 jobs that typically occurs in Jefferson County during this time of year.

The private sector added 10 jobs in July. Small job gains in leisure and hospitality (+20), manufacturing (+10), retail trade (+10), and financial activities (+10) were mostly offset by declines in educational and health services (-30) and professional and business services (-10).

Monthly job losses were concentrated in government, and generally reflect seasonal declines in local government. Federal and state government each added 10 jobs over the month, while local government employment dropped by 110 jobs in July.

From July 2011 to July 2012, Jefferson County added 230 jobs, an increase of 4.1 percent over the year.

Benton County continued to have Oregon’s lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (6.3%) in July, while Crook County also continued to post the highest rate (14.1%).

Sixteen of Oregon’s counties had unemployment rates at or below the statewide rate of 8.7 percent.

Unemployment rates declined between July 2011 and July 2012 in all but three Oregon counties. The rate rose by 0.3 percentage point in Gilliam County; Wasco and Grant counties saw no change over the year.

Wheeler County saw the largest improvement in its unemployment rate, which declined by 2.3 percentage points over the year.

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose in four of Oregon’s six broad regions between July of 2011 and July of 2012.

The combined Eastern Oregon counties (+0.9%) reported the largest increase over the year. Gains also occurred in the Portland area (+0.8%), Southern Oregon (+0.7%), and the Willamette Valley (0.3%). Job losses were recorded for the Oregon Coast (-0.3%) and the combined Central Oregon counties (-0.7%).

These estimates will be revised as new data from businesses becomes available. The next Central Oregon Employment Situation with preliminary data for August 2012 will be released on Monday, September 24th.