Central Oregon job picture ends 2018 on a positive note
Central Oregon’s employment picture finished the year on a positive note, with over-the-year job growth surging in all three counties, a regional state Employment Department economist reported Wednesday.
“This surge was largely due to significantly fewer seasonal layoffs than typically expected this time of year — a sign of a strong holiday season across the region,” Regional Economist Damon Runberg said .
He noted that the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government “is currently affecting the employment situation of Central Oregon.”
“However, we will not see any effect in these December figures, as the shutdown began after the reference week we use for the unemployment estimates,” Runberg said.
Here’s the breakdown of the December employment report, by county:
Crook County: The unemployment rate was little changed in December at 5.9 percent from 5.8 percent in November. The rate remains down slightly from this time last year, when it was 6.3 percent.
Crook County lost 60 jobs in December, fewer losses than typically expected this time of year.
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in December, a statistically significant increase from 4.1 percent in November. The rate is essentially unchanged from this time last year, when it was 4.3 percent.
Deschutes County lost 180 jobs in December, significantly fewer losses than typically expected this time of year.
The rate of over-the-year job growth ticked up to 4 percent in December (+3,330 jobs) after the county lost significantly fewer seasonal jobs in December than typically expected. This points to a busy holiday season for local employers with stronger than expected employment levels for transportation, retail trade, and leisure and hospitality. In the past year Deschutes County also saw strong job growth in manufacturing, health care, professional and business services, and construction.
Jefferson County: The unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in December, little changed from 5.4 percent in November. The rate was 5.6 percent this time last year.
Jefferson County lost 70 jobs in December, fewer losses than typical for this time of year.
The pace of job growth continues to accelerate, with employment levels up 5.8 percent from this time last year (+360 jobs). Job growth was concentrated in local government; professional and business services; manufacturing; and leisure and hospitality.
Next Press Releases
The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the January county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, March 12 th and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data on Tuesday, March 5 th .
