A new report issued by the Oregon Employment Department (OED) finds that commercial construction projects led to an increase of 1,500 jobs in the construction sector, specifically with building equipment contractors.
Overall the state lost another 3,600 net jobs last month, raising unemployment figures half a percentage point to 6 percent, compared to 5.7 percent nationally. Construction, educational services, health services and manufacturing lost 5,000 jobs overall in July, offset by gains in professional and business services, which added 2,200 jobs. Construction employment has declined 9.1 percent, or by 10,000 jobs, since July of last year.
Since February, Oregon has experienced payroll employment declines in four out of five months, falling by 11,300 to about 1.7 million, or 114,000 people. That’s an increase of 13,400 lots jobs from the same period in 2007.
In a prepared statement referring to the OED report, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said, “Today’s state job statistics serve as a reminder that we are not insulated from national economic trends.” He also called on Congress to reauthorize the forest payment program and federal renewable energy tax credits to help attract renewable energy companies to Oregon.
