As the state continued to see a decline in employment during February, Oregon construction jobs were hit the hardest over the year.
During February, Oregon's unemployment rate decreased from 10.7 percent to 10.5 percent, following an increase from 10.6 percent during January. Despite the latest decrease, the state's rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent.
Oregon had a total non-farm employment of 1,590,500 workers during February, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 1,591,700 workers during January and a 3.2 percent decrease from last year.
Six industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment during February, including: mining and logging by 300 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 800 jobs; information by 400 jobs; education and health services by 400 jobs; leisure and hospitality by 900 jobs; and other services by 1,000 jobs.
However, only one industry saw a yearly increase in employment. The education and health services industry employed 225,400 workers during February, up from 225,000 workers during January and a 1.5 percent increase from February 2009.
The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 64,500 workers during February, down from 66,300 workers during January and an 18.4 percent decrease from last year.
Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:
- mining and logging by 4 percent
- manufacturing by 7.7 percent
- trade, transportation and utilities by 2.5 percent
- information by 2.4 percent
- financial activities by 3.3 percent
- professional and business services by 5.9 percent
- leisure and hospitality by 1.5 percent
- other services by 2 percent
- government by .6 percent
