Oregon jobless rate hits 8.1 percent
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:59 AM PST
SALEM (AP) — Oregon’s unemployment rate shot up nearly a percentage point in November, rising to 8.1 percent.
The November figure marks the state’s highest jobless rate in five years, and it’s the fourth consecutive month that Oregon has lost more than 4,000 jobs, according to the state. In October, Oregon’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent.
The state’s unemployment rate has risen sharply since July, and surpasses the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.
According to the state Employment Department, the net loss of jobs in November was 6,300.
The trade, transportation and utility sector shed a seasonally adjusted 4,200 jobs, while leisure and hospitality lost 1,800.
The government added 1,200 jobs. David Cooke, an economist with state employment department, said the November numbers show the impact of the economic downturn has broadened.
‘‘Everything is weighing on economy activity — almost across the board,’’ said Timothy Duy, an economics professor at the University of Oregon. ‘‘The only thing on the uptick is government, and my only worry there is that growth is going to stop.’’
Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s has proposed a $16 billion budget for 2009-2011 that would make deep reductions in some social services spending, including programs for the disabled. Other sectors that have been hard hit by the recession continue to shed jobs. Construction employers, for example, cut 5,500 jobs in November, a month when 3,300 job cuts represents the normal seasonal movement.
According to state economists, the October jobless rate ranked eighth in the nation. David Cooke, an economist in the state employment department, said figures showing Oregon’s employment standing for November will be released at week’s end.
