Friday, Jul 22 2011 3:06PM
Many Oregon residents are jobless, the latest figures from the Oregon Employment Department show.
According to the Oregon Employment Department, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate in the state rose in June to 9.4 percent, up from 9.3 percent a month earlier.
The state's unemployment rate is still above the national average of 9.2 percent, the report states. Additionally, the report shows there has been no gains in payroll employment since February.
The manufacturing industry lost 2,000 jobs in June, while the trade, transportation and utilities industry incurred a loss of 1,800 jobs.
"Oregon has hit the same slowdown that the national economy is going through," economist Bill Conerly, of Conerly Consulting in Lake Oswego, told the Oregonian.
Economist Tom Potiowski told the newspaper a substantial loss of government jobs clearly hurt the state's economic progress in June.
Employment opportunities in Oregon, including rural areas, appear to be dwindling. Despite adding 4,000 jobs to the state in the second quarter, thanks to aid from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Governor John Kitzhaber said more needs to be done to help residents gain employment.