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| September 2007 Statewide Unemployment Rate | ||
| 10/15/2007 | ||
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Contact: David Cooke, Economist WorkSource Oregon Employment Department (503) 947-1272 David.C.Cooke@state.or.us Oregon’s Employment Situation: September 2007 Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.3 percent in September, compared with 5.4 percent in August. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in September and 4.6 percent in August. In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment dropped by 1,000, following a gain of 3,500 in August. Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data) In September, seasonally adjusted payroll employment shrank by 1,000 after a revised gain of 3,500 in August. Most major industries performed in line with their normal seasonal September trend. The exceptions were the three industries with seasonally adjusted employment changes of more than 1,000. Manufacturing added 1,200 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, while construction (-1,400 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (-1,000 jobs) both dropped more than normal for the time of year. Over the past four months, seasonally adjusted payroll employment has expanded at only a 0.3 percent annual pace, by adding an average of 500 jobs per month. Over the 12 months ending in September, payroll employment has grown by 13,900 jobs or 0.8 percent. Manufacturing employment was essentially flat in September, when a loss of 1,100 would be the normal seasonal trend for the month. Food manufacturing has shown an unusual summer trend by declining 400 jobs in August and then expanding by 900 in September. This puts food manufacturing employment at 25,100 jobs, down 500 from September 2006. In September, most other components of manufacturing held employment steady, with the exception of wood product manufacturing, which cut 300 jobs and is down 3,000 in the past 12 months. Construction registered a seasonally adjusted job decline of 1,400 in September, following a gain of similar magnitude the prior month. This put construction’s seasonally adjusted employment at 102,700. This measure of construction employment has been close to 100,000 since February 2006, indicating that construction activity overall has leveled out following rapid expansion in 2004 and 2005. Leisure and hospitality employment dropped 1,000 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in September. This loss followed a gain of 500 jobs in August. Leisure and hospitality employed 175,500 in September, equaling 10 percent of Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment. The industry is comprised primarily of restaurant workers, as food services and drinking places makes up 130,200 or nearly three quarters of its total employment. Monthly business survey results indicate rapid employment growth in food services and drinking places over the last 12 months, with employment up 4,800 jobs or 3.8 percent since September 2006. The industry’s employment base has grown rapidly over the past four years. Government added 10,800 jobs in September, which was in line with its normal back-to-school trend. Since September 2006, local government is up 5,900 jobs, with strong gains in its three components: local education (+3,700), Indian tribal (+500), and other local government (+1,700). Trade, transportation, and utilities has trended steadily higher over the past four years. In September, this sector added 1,800 jobs, which was 500 above its normal seasonal increase. Wholesale trade, which in the past has been closely linked with manufacturing, has been doing better than manufacturing over the past year. Wholesale trade is up 2,100 jobs over the past 12 months. Retail has also expanded faster than the state’s overall economy and is up 4,300 jobs since September 2006. Unemployment (Household Survey Data) Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in September and 5.4 percent in August. It remains close to levels seen throughout the past 21 months, when the rate ranged from 5.0 percent to 5.5 percent. In September, 91,937 Oregonians were unemployed, compared with 92,008 in September 2006. The Oregon Employment Department will release statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for October 2007 at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. — end —
For help finding jobs and training resources, visit one of the state's WorkSource Oregon Centers or go to: www.WorkSourceOregon.org. Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. |
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