Deschutes County job growth tops Oregon

Summer is heating up across the High Desert, with hiring up in all three counties over figures of a year ago, the state Employment Department reported Monday.

Deschutes County was once again the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state, with employment growing 5.1 percent from last July, while Crook and Jefferson counties saw annual employment growth rates of 3.8 and 2.8 percent, respectively, said Central Oregon Regional Economist Damon Runberg.

The majority of these employment gains were in the private sector. There was no significant change to local unemployment rates from June, mirroring statewide and national trends, he said.

Crook County : Seasonally adjusted unemployment levels were virtually unchanged in Crook County, down to 10.2 percent in July from 10.3 percent in June. The unemployment rate has dropped two percentage points from July 2013 (12.2%).

Total nonfarm employment fell by 50 jobs in July, slightly more than the expected loss of 40 jobs.

Monthly losses were primarily due to seasonal declines in local government (-140), and were offset by gains in the private sector (+60). The largest gains were seen in leisure and hospitality (+50) and the federal government (+30). No other industry posted significant monthly job losses.

Payroll employment levels continued to rise in Crook County, up 3.8 percent or 210 jobs compared to last year.

Wood product manufacturing led job growth from last July, adding 60 jobs. Private educational and health services (+40) and trade, transportation, and utilities (+40) also saw employment gains. Professional and business services (-60) was the only industry to see notable declines over the year.

Deschutes County (Bend MSA) : Deschutes County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.1 percent was unchanged from June’s revised rate. Unemployment levels are significantly lower than this time last year, when the rate was 9.4 percent.

Preliminary estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Bend metropolitan area (defined as all of Deschutes County) show an increase of 380 jobs in July, which is greater than the gain of 260 jobs typically expected this time of year.

The BLS estimates that the private sector added 1,510 jobs last month, while government shed 1,130 jobs. Monthly hiring was spread across multiple industries, with leisure and hospitality adding another 840 jobs from June.

Other large gains were seen in professional and business services (+330) and mining, logging, and construction (+260).

Total nonfarm payroll employment grew a scorching 5.1 percent over the year, by far the fastest of Oregon’s metropolitan areas. The county added 3,390 jobs from July 2013, with the vast majority of growth occurring in the private sector.

Nearly every major industry saw employment gains. Leisure and hospitality (+830); mining, logging, and construction (+760); private educational and health services (+630); and professional and business services (+620) all grew significantly over the past year.

The only major exception was financial activities, which lost 220 jobs from last July.

Jefferson County : Seasonally adjusted unemployment levels were essentially unchanged from last month, posting a rate of 9.3 percent. The unemployment rate has dropped over a percentage point from July 2013, when it was 10.5 percent.

Jefferson County lost 40 jobs in July, less than the typical loss of 50 jobs this time of year. Gains in the private sector (+50) offset expected losses in local government (-90). Indian tribal (+110) led monthly gains, followed by wood product manufacturing (+30).

Payroll employment levels are up 170 jobs from last year (+2.8%), and are split between the private sector (+90) and government (+80). Manufacturing continues to show strong growth, adding 100 jobs from last July. Trade, transportation, and utilities was the only industry that showed significant declines over the year (-20).

Quarterly Benchmarking: Effective with the release of July preliminary data, recent nonfarm payroll employment estimates were revised using employment counts from employer tax records. Formerly, these estimates were revised annually.

These estimates will be revised as new data from businesses becomes available. The next Central Oregon Employment Situation with preliminary data for August 2014 will be released on Monday, September 22 nd .