Thursday, Jun 23 2011 3:25PM
Some industries in Oregon have seen many jobs disappear, a new report states.
New reports from IHS Global Insight and the Oregon Employment Department show the job picture in rural Oregon, and the state as a whole, is worsening.
The report by IHS Global Insight projects it will take several years for many of the state's metropolitan and rural areas to recover from poor employment markets, including the Medford, Bend and Eugene-Springfield areas.
"There's no sign of a fast recovery," said IHS Global Insight chief regional economist Jim Duffey. "The depth of the recession was so great."
Additionally, statistics from the Oregon Employment Department's unemployment report for May show some Oregon counties' jobless rates remained worse than the national average and well above 10 percent. In Crook County, for example, the unemployment rate was 15.1 percent. Fifteen other counties had jobless rates above 10 percent for the month.
The report shows only 100 jobs were added to the manufacturing industry statewide in May, while construction work decreased from a month earlier.
KTVZ-TV financial analyst Bill Valentine stated improving the job situation in Oregon is essential to mending the state's economy.