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Latest News Releases
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Unemployment Insurance and Job Openings Situation-February 2012
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3/20/2012
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Article Content CONTACT: Craig Spivey
Oregon Employment Department
503-947-1303
craig.c.spivey@state.or.us
Unemployment Insurance
Claims for regular unemployment insurance benefits continued a downward trend in January 2012. While there was a year over year increase in initial claims for regular benefits of 3%, the number of first payments was down 2% and the number of weeks claimed was down 8% over last year.
Over the year, there are almost 7,000 fewer individuals on regular unemployment insurance benefits than a year ago, and, more than 27,000 fewer individuals receiving any type of unemployment benefit than a year ago.
Unemployment Extensions
The federal government recently made changes to two unemployment extension programs: Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB).
Congress extended the deadlines to file new EUC claims to December 31, 2012. They also made changes to the EB formula that will allow Oregon to remain on the program a little while longer.
Changes were made to the EUC program that will reduce the number of weeks of available benefits toward the end of 2012. But for the most part, individuals currently on EUC will be able to collect up to 53 weeks of benefits spread out over four tiers.
With the change in the EB formula, the Oregon Employment Department anticipates remaining on this program until early April.
Program
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Week Ending February 18, 2012 |
Same Week 2010
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Initial Claims
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7,981 |
9,183 |
Regular Unemployment Benefits
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70,908 |
77,792 |
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)
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50,991 |
63,803 |
Extended Benefits (EB)
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8,368 |
13,986 |
Total on all programs
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136,424 |
163,724 |
| Total Benefits Paid Out |
$38,158,674 |
$45,475,802 |
| State Trust Fund Balance (In millions) |
$1,100.19 |
$910.83 |
Employment and iMatchSkills
WorkSource Oregon continues to work to provide tools and assistance to job seekers. As of January 17, 2012, WorkSource Oregon lists 6,675 job listings representing 10,713 job openings in its iMatchSkills system.
Each week staff in WorkSource Oregon centers contact job seekers in their area who are about to exhaust all of their unemployment benefits. This is done to actively engage the unemployed in their job search informing them of available services.
WorkSource Oregon Centers statewide offer a variety of services for the job seeker including assistance with resume writing, job search, skills training, and more. In addition, job seekers can learn about job fairs and other events online at www.WorkingInOregon.org.
Below is a listing of the top job openings by occupation and occupational group as listed in iMatchSkills.
Job Listings |
Occupational Category
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215 |
Retail Salespersons
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166 |
1st-Line Sup. of Food Prep. & Serving Workers
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164 |
Customer Service Representatives
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161 |
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
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115 |
First-Line Sup. of Retail Sales Workers
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114 |
Tellers
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110 |
Registered Nurses
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103 |
Nursing Assistants
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87 |
Industrial Engineers
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87 |
Sales Managers
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Job Listings |
Occupational Group
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775 |
Office and Administrative Support
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737 |
Sales
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667 |
Management
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455 |
Supervisory
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450 |
Food Preparation and Serving
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421 |
Architecture and Engineering
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397 |
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
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366 |
Computer and Mathematical
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291 |
Business and Financial
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282 |
Transportation
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