Unemployment rate in county lessens to 6.8 percent with slower job growth
Josephine County total payroll employment rose by 120 in August, mostly due to seasonal hiring in local government education before the start of the school year, said Oregon Employment Dept. (OED).
The unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, less than the 7.1 percent for July, but higher than the 6.6 percent noted in August 2006. Last month it was noted that 33,177 persons were employed in the county, out of a civilian labor force of 35,605, said OED.
Jackson County’s jobless rate during August was 5.7 percent. The Oregon seasonally adjusted rate was 5.4 percent; it was 4.6 percent for the United States.
Since August ‘06, total employment in Josephine County is up by 40 jobs, a much slower job growth rate than during the past few years, OED said. The slowdown in construction and housing is a local and national event, and is reflected in recent employment estimates, it added.
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During August this year, manufacturing rose by 30 jobs, 20 of those in wood products manufacturing. Despite the monthly upturn, manufacturing stands at 60 jobs below the year-before totals. Wood products manufacturing accounts for two-thirds of the decline in manufacturing.
Any manufacturing sectors that depend on the residential housing sector may be poised for some job losses in coming months, as the outlook for housing continues to remain poor in the near future due to a glut of unsold homes and tightening lending standards, OED said.
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Health care and social assistance rose by 40 jobs during August, and has been a consistent job creation machine in Rogue Valley for the past few years. During the year, this sector added 140 jobs in Josephine County, for a strong job growth rate of 3.7 percent.
Leisure and hospitality likely has passed its seasonal hiring peak, falling by 20 jobs during August. This tourism-dependent sector posted the fastest job growth of any published sector during the past 12 months, up by 5.1 percent and gaining 160 jobs during that time.
Government hiring totaled 80 in August, with nearly all the increase in local education. During the past year, government employment was little changed, with losses in state government (-20) countered by a gain of 30 in local government education, OED said.
