|
| ||
 |
||
| September 2008 statewide unemployment rate | ||
| 10/13/2008 | ||
|
CONTACT: David Cooke, Economist WorkSource Oregon Employment Department (503) 947-1272 david.c.cooke@state.or.us Oregon’s Employment Situation: September 2008 Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4 percent in September and 6.5 percent in August. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in both August and September. In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment fell by 7,300, following a revised loss of 10,000 in August. Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data) In September, total seasonally adjusted payroll employment dropped by 7,300, following a revised loss of 10,000 in August. This economic measure has declined 12,400 jobs or 0.7 percent since September 2007. In September, four major industries posted substantial seasonally adjusted job losses: manufacturing (-1,100 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (-2,000); professional and business services (-2,100); and government (-3,000). Meanwhile, educational and health services (+1,700 jobs) and financial activities (+900) were the only major industry sectors to post substantial monthly job gains. Manufacturing cut 1,600 jobs at a time of year when a loss of only 500 is expected. Within transportation equipment manufacturing, makers of trailers and motor coaches continued to shed jobs in the wake of declining sales, leading to 300 jobs lost in September. Computer and electronic product manufacturing was down 500, as chip makers reduced their workforce. Continued declines in housing construction in California and elsewhere in the U.S. contributed to declining demand in Oregon’s wood product manufacturing sector, which cut 400 jobs in September and is down by 2,300 in the past 12 months. Trade, transportation, and utilities cut 400 jobs in September, when a gain of 1,600 is the normal seasonal pattern. Motor vehicle and parts dealers shed 200 jobs and is down 2,600 since September 2007 as this industry suffers from some of the weakest national auto sales totals in 20 years. Merchant nondurable goods wholesalers is an industry that has avoided job losses and is up 700 jobs over the past 12 months. Firms in this industry include footwear wholesalers; grocery, food and beverage wholesalers; and flower and nursery stock wholesalers. Professional and business services cut 2,600 jobs during a month in which a loss of 500 is the norm. This sector has shown choppy employment patterns over the past two years, making it difficult to characterize overall trends. Employment in the sector stood at 200,100 in September, which is close to the level last September (201,000) and in September 2006 (199,700). The closely watched employment services industry was down 600 jobs in September and is off 2,200 jobs over the past 12 months. Government added only 6,400 jobs during the back-to-school month of September. This was below the typical gain of 9,400. Government is coming off an abnormally high summer employment pattern in local government. The September government total of 285,100 is 6,000 higher than a year ago, a 2.1 percent increase. Construction continued to trend downward with a loss of 1,200 jobs in September, which was double the typical job loss for the month. Although construction is down 11,100 jobs since September 2007, there has been stability in two component industries with fewer ties to home building. Nonresidential construction is up 300 jobs in that time, while building equipment contractors is essentially flat with its year-ago employment figure. Financial Activities bounced back in September with a gain of 300 jobs, when a loss of 600 is the typical seasonal pattern. Most component industries were stable for the month; however, real estate cut 700 jobs. Over the past 12 months, financial activities continues to reflect the drop in mortgage origination and tight credit conditions, with a loss of 2,000 jobs, or 1.9 percent. Educational and health services again posted by far the strongest job gains of the major sectors, up 7,300 jobs, when a gain of 5,600 is the typical pattern. Most of this gain was in the private-sector education industry, which added 6,300 jobs to start the school year. Ambulatory health care services continued its rapid payrolls expansion with a gain of 800 in September. Unemployment (Household Survey Data) In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 6.4 percent compared with 6.5 percent in August. In September 2007, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.3 percent. Thus, the rate has risen by 1.1 percentage point over the past 12 months. In September 115,103 Oregonians were unemployed, an increase of 23,036 from the September 2007 level of 92,067. The Oregon Employment Department will release statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for October 2008 at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2008. — 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. |
||
