According to Damon Runberg, regional economist for Oregon Employment Department, strong job growth over the past couple years is beginning to spill over into Jefferson County, which was amongst Oregon’s fastest growing economies. Crook County is struggling to overcome recent losses in wood product manufacturing. Unemployment rates were largely unchanged across the region in May.
Crook County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged at 8.2 percent in May. The rate remains down significantly from last year, when it was 10.6 percent.
Crook County added 90 jobs in May, fewer than the expected gain of 150 jobs typical for this time of year.
Total non-farm employment was down from last year (-100 jobs). Losses in wood product manufacturing (-180) were too large to be offset by the modest growth in other industries, such as construction, retail, and professional and business services.
Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.6 percent in May, down from 8.3 percent in May 2014.
Hiring in May was typical for this time of year. Deschutes County added 930 jobs when 910 is the norm.
Deschutes County’s over-the-year job growth is beginning to slow, but the rate of growth was still among the strongest in Oregon (+5.5%). The county added 3,780 jobs since last May with the vast majority of those gains in the private sector. Local education grew faster than any other industry, up 12.1 percent over the past year (+550 jobs). Health care and construction continue to be the biggest job growers in the private-sector. However, all private industries added jobs from last May.
Jefferson County: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 6.5 percent in May,down from 9.6 percent last May.
Jefferson County added 250 jobs in May, significantly more than the typical addition of 170 jobs.
Over the past year, Jefferson County added 370 jobs. Jefferson County’s rate of job growth (6.1%) was the second fastest of Oregon’s 36 counties. The majority of growth remains split between manufacturing and local government, which includes tribal employment.
Damon Runberg, Regional Economist
Damon.M.Runberg@oregon.gov
(541) 706-0779
