According to DamonRunberg, Economist for Oregon Employment Department reports that recent revisions revealed much stronger hiring than initially estimated for much of Central Oregon. In particular, payroll tax records showed that employment estimates in Crook and Deschutes counties were too low. Crook County overcame the wood product manufacturing losses, adding 130 jobs since last April. Deschutes County’s fast rate of job growth was even faster than initially estimated; there are over 5,000 new jobs compared to this time last year.
Crook County: The unemployment rate dropped to 6.9 percent in April from 7.2 percent in March. The rate is down significantly from last year when it was 8.7 percent.
Crook County added 110 jobs from March,stronger hiring than the typical gain of 70 jobs expected this time of year.
After recent revisions, Crook County’s employment situation is better off than initially estimated. Despite the downward pressure from wood product manufacturing (-90 jobs), the county as a whole is up by 130 jobs from last April (+2.4%). Construction (+50) and leisure and hospitality (+100) each added a significant number of jobs from last April, which helped to boost county job growth.
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.6 percent in April. The rate is down from last year when it was 6.1 percent.
Deschutes County added 2,080 jobs in April, which is more than twice as many jobs as the typical gain of around 800 expected this time of year. There was typical monthly hiring from our seasonal industries, such as construction, leisure, and retail trade. However, the strong job growth is April was primarily due to hiring in less seasonal industries, such as professional and business services (+570) and manufacturing (+100).
Deschutes County employment levels are up 7.1 percent from last April, 5,140 new jobs. Hiring was even stronger than initially estimated after recent revisions revealed that countywide employment totals were underestimated by around 400 jobs. Around 93 percent of the jobs added in the past year were from the private sector, headlined by professional and business services (+980 jobs); leisure and hospitality (+860); educational and health services (+790); and mining, logging, and construction (+740).
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rateremained essentially unchanged at 6.4 percent in April. The rate is down from last year when it was 7.3 percent.
Employment levels only rose by 40 jobs in April, a much smaller increase than the typical seasonal gain of 120. Much of this slow hiring is due to declines in the public sector.
Employment figures are only up by around 30 jobs from last April (+0.5%). The slowdown in hiring is primarily due to job losses in the public sector, in particular, Indian Tribal (-110 jobs). There continues to be sustained job growth in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and educational and health services.
