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Employment Dept. News & Information
Oregon Employment Department

Oregon's statewide unemployment rate
08/15/2005
Contact:  Jessica Nelson
Economic Analyst
(503) 947-1252
 
 
Oregon’s Employment Situation: July 2005  
Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in July, essentially unchanged from 6.5 percent in June. For the first seven months of the year, the state’s unemployment rate ranged from 6.1 percent to 6.6 percent.
 
In July, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted payroll employment grew by 9,200, after a gain of 3,900 jobs in June. The July employment growth was more than double the typical monthly gains during the first half of the year, when an average of 4,300 jobs per month were added.
 
 
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
In July, most major industry sectors outperformed normal seasonal hiring patterns for the time of year. Educational and health services was particularly strong, posting a seasonally adjusted gain of 3,600 jobs. Three major sectors - leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and trade, transportation, and utilities - each saw seasonally adjusted employment gains of more than 1,000 for the month. Two major industries posted declines, while the remaining five each boosted employment by between 200 and 600 above their typical July trends.
 
  • Educational and health services gained 800 jobs in July, when a loss of 2,800 jobs would be the normal seasonal trend due to schools being out for the summer. Health care employment rose substantially in July. The establishment survey tracked many hospitals and care facilities that were hiring during the month. Hospitals added 400 jobs, nursing and residential care facilities added 800, while ambulatory health care services added 800. Conversely, the private-sector education piece of this major industry sector cut 700 jobs, which was near normal during this time of summer vacations. Social assistance cut 500 jobs in July, but is still up by 2,400, or nearly 10 percent, over the past 12 months.
 
  • Leisure and hospitality added nearly double the expected gains for the month as its payrolls swelled by 2,400. This industry has grown 3.2 percent over the past 12 months, which is essentially the same growth rate as nonfarm payroll employment in Oregon. In July, all published components of this sector grew.
 
  • Manufacturing gained 4,700 jobs in July, which was 1,700 above the normal July trend. The sector added 6,300 jobs since July 2004, for growth of 3.1 percent. Durable goods accounted for 400 of the July increase, largely due to transportation equipment manufacturing, which gained 300. Nondurable goods accounted for the other 4,300 jobs added, as food manufacturing, its major component industry, added 3,100.
 
  • Trade, transportation, and utilities added 2,200 jobs, 1,400 above the normal seasonal trend. Wholesale trade added 1,000, with 500 of those jobs added in electronic markets and agents and brokers. Retail trade gained 1,000 jobs in July. Food and beverage stores added 700, and is up 1,700 jobs (4.5%) over the last year. Miscellaneous store retailers - an industry that includes such retailers as florists, office supply, stationery and gift stores, and used merchandise stores - gained 300.
 
In July, truck transportation added 500 and reached its highest level ever, at 20,200 jobs. Over the past 24 months, it has grown quickly, adding 1,800 jobs.
 
  • Government employment trends were normal in July. Local government cut 25,400 jobs as many schools reduced staff during summer vacations. Over the past 12 months, government registered the slowest percent gain of the major industries, up only 1.5 percent during that time.
 
 
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in July and 6.5 percent in June. In July 2004, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.4 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent in July 2005.
 
In July, 120,540 Oregonians were unemployed, compared with 134,966 in July 2004.
 
The Oregon Employment Department will release statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for August 2005 at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 12, 2005.
 
— end —
 
 
 
For the complete version of the news release, including this text, tables and graphs, visit:
www.QualityInfo.org/pressrelease.
 
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.
 
 
Page updated: March 05, 2007

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