According to Damon Runberg, economist with Oregon Employment Department, job growth continues at a fast pace across much of the High Desert, but rates of growth are showing signs of slowing. Slowing job growth was largely tied to weak seasonal hiring in May. The labor supply continues to tighten with the unemployment rate ticking down across the region.
Crook County: The unemployment rate dropped to 6.8 percent in May from 7 percent in April. The rate is down significantly from last year when it was 8.6 percent.
Crook County added 150 jobs from April, fairly consistent job growth for this time of year. Job gains were concentrated in seasonal industries, such as construction, leisure and hospitality, and federal government.
Employment levels remain up by 2.3 percent from last year (+130 jobs). Job growth continues to be anchored by the tourism industry with leisure and hospitality adding 110 jobs from last May. Construction jobs are also helping to bolster Crook County’s employment figures, adding 50 jobs from last year. Losses continue to be concentrated in wood product manufacturing, but a handful of industries posted minor losses from last year, such a retail trade (-20) and professional and business services (-20).
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.5 percent in May. The rate is down from last year when it was 6.1 percent.
Monthly job gains slowed in May with the county only adding around 1,000 jobs. Typically Deschutes County addscloser to 1,200 jobs in May. The seasonally adjusted drop in employment is likely due to earlier-than-normal hiring by seasonal businesses. When looking at the past few months there was a strong surge of hiring in March and April, which more than made up for the weak hiring in May.
Although Deschutes County maintained a fast pace of job growth over the past year, the rate of growth dropped from last month. Employment levels are up 6.1 percent from last May, around 4,500 new jobs. Retail growth slowed, although this slowdown is likely short lived as the new Market of Choice grocery store recently opened in Bend. Leisure and hospitality remains up from last year, but the rate of growth is slowing considerably. The professional sector continues to grow rapidly and job growth is accelerating. There are over 1,000 more jobs in professional and business services compared to this time last year.
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.4 percent in May. The rate is down from last year when it was 7.3 percent.
Jefferson County added 160 jobs in May. Around half of these jobs were from tribal-owned businesses and administration (+70). The remainder of the jobs were concentrated in leisure and hospitality and retail trade. Employment growth in May was slightly lower than normal.
Employment levels are essentially unchanged from last year (+20 jobs). The private sector is up by a modest 80 jobs (+2.1%), but tribal declines (-90) are pulling the countywide figure down. The only notable private sector gains were in leisure and hospitality (+40 jobs) and educational and health services (+30).
