C.O.’s mixed bag: Hot hiring, stalled unemployment

Central Oregon wrapped up the summer with mixed results in the job market, according to August unemployment figures released Tuesday by the Oregon Employment Department.

Hiring was strong, due to a red-hot tourism and construction season, said Regional Economist Damon Runberg. And job growth wasn’t limited to these seasonal industries, with employment gains seen in a wide variety of industries.

On the other hand, he said, unemployment levels were little changed over the summer.

“It looks like the rate of job growth is slowing across the region,” he said. “Much of this slowdown is likely due to a tightening labor force, which is making it difficult for local employers to fill their vacancies.”

Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged at 8.7 percent, from 8.6 percent in July. The rate was down a full percentage point from last year, when it was 9.7 percent.

Crook County added 70 jobs in August, fairly typical hiring for this time of year. Monthly gains were concentrated in leisure and hospitality and local government.

Employment levels were down slightly from this time last year (-40 jobs). The vast majority of these losses are concentrated in the wood product sector, which shed 190 jobs from last August. The remainder of Crook County’s private sector experienced robust job growth, highlighted by strong gains in retail, tourism, and construction.

Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged at 6.5 percent in August, down from 6.6 percent in July. The rate remains down significantly from this time last year, when it was 7.7 percent.

Deschutes County posted very strong job growth in August. The county added 450 jobs; typically there is very little change in Deschutes County’s employment situation in August. The monthly gains were primarily due to hiring in tourism and construction, which is uncommon this late into the summer season.

Over-the-year job growth held steady at around 5.8 percent, a gain of 4,090 new jobs from last August.

Professional and business services was the only private sector industry to post job losses from last year (-180 jobs). Construction continues to be the county’s fastest-growing industry. Hiring also was strong in tourism, health care and transportation.

Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent, from 7.2 percent in July. However, the rate was down significantly from 8.9 percent seen last August.

Jefferson County shed 130 jobs in August, a larger loss than the 100 jobs typically lost from July.

Jefferson County’s employment growth is beginning to slow down. Employment expanded by 4.6 percent from this time last year, compared to 7 percent growth back in June.

Manufacturing continued to account for the largest share of job gains (+90). However, construction and local government also posted significant growth from last year.

Around the state, county jobless rates range from 4.6 percent in Benton County to 8.9 percent in Curry County. A dozen of the 36 counties had unemployment rates at or below the statewide figure of 6.1 percent

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, October 20 th and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data on Tuesday, October 13 th .