FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2017 CONTACT INFORMATION: Damon Runberg, Economist Damon.M.Runberg@oregon.gov (541) 706-0779 Employment in Central Oregon: December 2016 There was a distinct urban-rural divide in Central Oregon s economy in 2016. The predominately urban Deschutes County anchored by our population centers in Bend and Redmond posted exceptional rates of job growth. A high level of labor demand helped to lower unemployment to historically low levels in Deschutes County. These employment gains did not spill over into our rural counties. Both Crook and Jefferson counties saw little change to their employment situation in 2016. Crook County: The unemployment rate dropped significantly to 6.5 percent in December. The last time Crook County posted a rate this low was in October 2007. The rate was 7 percent in November and 8 percent last December. The county shed 120 jobs over the past month, fewer than the expected loss of 180 jobs this time of year. Losses were mainly concentrated in construction, manufacturing, and federal government, each losing 20 jobs from November. 15% 10% 5% Oregon and Central Oregon Unemployment Rates Seasonally Adjusted, December 2011 - December 2016 Oregon Crook Deschutes Jefferson There has been little improvement to the employment situation in 0% Dec-11 Jun-12 Dec-12 Jun-13 Dec-13 Jun-14 Dec-14 Jun-15 Dec-15 Jun-16 Dec-16 Crook County over the past year. The county only added around 50 jobs from last December (+0.9%). Manufacturing continues to lose jobs down 70 from this time last year (-12.1%). No other industry posted significant job losses. There were notable gains in education and health services (+50). Although gains were relatively small (+20 jobs), information saw the fastest rate of job growth in 2016 (+18.2%). Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The unemployment rate remained little changed at 4.4 percent in December. Today s unemployment rate matches the lowest levels reached during the last expansion in 2006. The rate is down significantly from this time last year when it was 5.6 percent.
Employment Department News Release Page 2 of 6 January 24, 2017 Seasonal job losses continued with Deschutes County shedding 550 jobs from November. There were fewer losses than typically expected this time of year despite the large winter storm that disrupted construction and business service firms. However, that same snow event was also a boon for tourism businesses with the leisure and hospitality sector adding 270 jobs in December. Employment levels remain up significantly from this time last year with an additional 3,630 jobs from December 2015. That represents a growth of around 4.8 percent over the past year. Rates of growth slowed through 2016 as the labor supply continues to tighten. Job growth is largely concentrated in the private sector, accounting for over 85 percent of the gains seen over the past year. Education and health services added more jobs than any other industry (+1,100) and was the fastest growing industry (+9%). Retail; professional and business services; and construction all posted impressive job gains from 2015. Jefferson County: The unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent in December from the revised rate of 6.6 percent in November. The rate is down significantly from last December when it was 7.2 percent. Jefferson County shed 90 jobs in December, fewer losses than typically expected this time of year. Employment levels are unchanged from this time last year. There were subtle gains in the private sector (+40 jobs), but these were negated by losses in local and tribal governments. Industry gains were concentrated in construction (+30) and retail trade (+20). Next Press Releases The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the January county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, March 7 th and the statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data on Tuesday, February 28 th.
Employment Department News Release Page 3 of 6 January 24, 2017 Workforce and Economic Research 2015 Benchmark January 19, 2017 Crook County Current Labor Force and Industry Employment Change From Change From Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. 2016 2016 2015 2016 2015 Labor Force Status (Household Data) Civilian labor force 9,030 9,161 8,821-131 209 Unemployed 597 599 751-2 -154 Unemployment rate 6.6% 6.5% 8.5% XX XX Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted 6.5% 7.0% 8.0% XX XX Employed 8,433 8,562 8,070-129 363 Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Establishment Data) Total nonfarm payroll employment 5,590 5,710 5,540-120 50 Total private 4,400 4,480 4,340-80 60 Mining and logging 60 60 70 0-10 Construction 270 290 260-20 10 Manufacturing 510 530 580-20 -70 Wood product manufacturing 400 410 460-10 -60 Trade, transportation, and utilities 1,390 1,420 1,370-30 20 Wholesale trade 530 540 520-10 10 Retail trade 550 560 530-10 20 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 310 320 320-10 -10 Information 130 130 110 0 20 Financial activities 180 180 170 0 10 Professional and business services 270 280 260-10 10 Educational and health services 670 660 620 10 50 Leisure and hospitality 660 670 660-10 0 Other services 260 260 240 0 20 Government 1,190 1,230 1,200-40 -10 Federal government 250 270 240-20 10 State government 230 240 250-10 -20 Local government 710 720 710-10 0 Labor-management disputes 0 0 0 0 0 The most recent month is preliminary, the prior month is revised. Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Status: Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes nonfarm payroll employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture, and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor force. Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics. "Natural resources" includes only Logging (NAICS 1133).
Employment Department News Release Page 4 of 6 January 24, 2017 Workforce and Economic Research 2015 Benchmark January 19, 2017 Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA) Current Labor Force and Industry Employment Change From Change From Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. 2016 2016 2015 2016 2015 Labor Force Status (Household Data) Civilian labor force 89,596 90,198 84,901-602 4,695 Unemployed 3,980 4,076 4,845-96 -865 Unemployment rate 4.4% 4.5% 5.7% XX XX Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted 4.4% 4.5% 5.6% XX XX Employed 85,616 86,122 80,056-506 5,560 Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Establishment Data) Total nonfarm payroll employment 78,860 79,410 75,230-550 3,630 Total private 68,860 69,240 65,750-380 3,110 Mining, logging, and construction 5,880 6,140 5,590-260 290 Manufacturing 5,130 5,230 4,920-100 210 Durable goods 3,310 3,320 3,330-10 -20 Trade, transportation, and utilities 15,280 15,360 14,570-80 710 Wholesale trade 1,970 2,000 1,930-30 40 Retail trade 11,300 11,470 10,760-170 540 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 2,010 1,890 1,880 120 130 Information 1,580 1,550 1,570 30 10 Financial activities 4,330 4,290 4,390 40-60 Professional and business services 9,350 9,720 8,870-370 480 Educational and health services 13,300 13,200 12,200 100 1,100 Leisure and hospitality 11,290 11,020 11,010 270 280 Accommodation and food services 9,450 9,540 9,090-90 360 Other services 2,720 2,730 2,630-10 90 Government 10,000 10,170 9,480-170 520 Federal government 840 920 850-80 -10 State government 1,380 1,390 1,390-10 -10 Local government 7,780 7,860 7,240-80 540 Local education 4,510 4,600 4,260-90 250 Labor-management disputes 0 0 0 0 0 The most recent month is preliminary, the prior month is revised. Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Status: Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes nonfarm payroll employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture, and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor force. Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics. "Natural resources" includes only Logging (NAICS 1133).
Employment Department News Release Page 5 of 6 January 24, 2017 Workforce and Economic Research 2015 Benchmark January 19, 2017 Jefferson County Current Labor Force and Industry Employment Change From Change From Dec. Nov. Dec. Nov. Dec. 2016 2016 2015 2016 2015 Labor Force Status (Household Data) Civilian labor force 9,550 9,696 9,380-146 170 Unemployed 597 605 742-8 -145 Unemployment rate 6.3% 6.2% 7.9% XX XX Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted 6.1% 6.6% 7.2% XX XX Employed 8,953 9,091 8,638-138 315 Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Establishment Data) Total nonfarm payroll employment 6,140 6,230 6,140-90 0 Total private 3,660 3,700 3,620-40 40 Mining and logging 10 10 20 0-10 Construction 110 120 80-10 30 Manufacturing 1,050 1,040 1,070 10-20 Wood product manufacturing 700 690 730 10-30 Trade, transportation, and utilities 840 850 820-10 20 Wholesale trade 150 160 150-10 0 Retail trade 580 580 560 0 20 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 110 110 110 0 0 Information 30 30 30 0 0 Financial activities 130 120 120 10 10 Professional and business services 180 190 170-10 10 Educational and health services 580 590 570-10 10 Leisure and hospitality 570 590 560-20 10 Other services 160 160 180 0-20 Government 2,480 2,530 2,520-50 -40 Federal government 130 130 120 0 10 State government 380 390 370-10 10 Local government 1,970 2,010 2,030-40 -60 Indian tribal 1,020 1,030 1,050-10 -30 Labor-management disputes 0 0 0 0 0 The most recent month is preliminary, the prior month is revised. Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Status: Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes nonfarm payroll employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture, and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor force. Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics. "Natural resources" includes only Logging (NAICS 1133).
Employment Department News Release Page 6 of 6 January 24, 2017 The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly payroll employment and labor force data for Oregon s metropolitan areas and counties. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources. The Oregon Employment Department payroll employment estimates are revised quarterly using information from unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use data from this official Oregon series unless noted. The department also makes the BLS-produced nonfarm payroll employment series for metropolitan areas available. These are revised annually by BLS. The pdf version of the news release, including tables and graphs, can be found at www.qualityinfo.org/pressrelease/. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit www.qualityinfo.org, select Economic Data, and choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release. You can subscribe to receive notification of new articles and publications from www.qualityinfo.org. To subscribe, go to www.qualityinfo.org/p-sofrm, enter your email address and click Sign In. In the Publication section, click on the + sign next to a report type category and then click on the geography(s) you are interested in. Take some time to browse the other publications on the page and see if there are some you would like to receive an email notification for. You can receive notifications on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule whichever is most convenient for you. You can change your selected preferences or unsubscribe at any time. 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. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For the deaf and hard of hearing population, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.