In June 2011, seasonally adjusted unemployment rates were below 10.0 percent in 19 of Oregon’s 36 counties.
Gilliam County saw the lowest jobless rate for the month (5.9 percent), and Crook County had the highest rate (15.3 percent). Between June 2010 and June 2011, jobless rates declined in all but one county. The 10.5 percent rate in Baker County rose by 0.5 percentage point from the previous year. In 22 counties across the state, unemployment dropped by 1 percentage point or more over the year. The largest decline occurred in Deschutes County (-2.1 percentage points). Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in June, and the U.S. rate was 9.2 percent.
Total nonfarm payroll employment declined from June 2010 to June 2011 for five of the state’s six broad regions. Central Oregon saw the largest drop in employment over the year (-1.5 percent), followed by the combined eastern counties (-0.8 percent). Smaller losses occurred in the coast region (-0.5 percent), the Willamette Valley (-0.4 percent), and southern Oregon (-0.1 percent). A slight employment increase (0.3 percent) occurred over the year for the combined five Portland metro counties in Oregon.
For additional information in your local area, please visit www.QualityInfo.org and select an area on the Regional Information map.
