Jobless rate high
Officials, though, look toward the future
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Friday, June 19, 2009 10:08 AM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
Jody Thompson monitors traffic movement through the intersection of Columbia Avenue, north of Nyssa, on U.S. Highway 20-26. Although it’s mostly a seasonal job, flagging has kept her busy since winter. Lots of water is required when it’s hot and lots of clothes are needed when it’s cold to do the job, she said. |
ONTARIO —The economic slump continues to impact Malheur County businesses and employment, but officials said they hope the near- record, 14 percent unemployment rate recorded in April for the county is an anomaly, as some seasonal jobs end and other begin.
Jason Yohannan, a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department, blamed the high unemployment rate on temporary and seasonal layoffs, as the onion packing season (among other agriculture industry factors) ended.
However, Yohannan said those layoffs will end, and then the employment picture could improve.
While one set of seasonal jobs may evaporate, another cluster may open up. For example, officials said farming and construction work is beginning to increase while firefighters may already be hooked up with public and private agencies, waiting on work.
A glance at recent job history trends is slightly encouraging. In the past, employment numbers increased in Malheur County through the end of the summer. The 25-month employment chart shows the lowest non-farm payroll employment is in July.
The seasonal employment is in full-swing, particularly with construction. Although highway construction has slowed down in the county, flaggers are still finding employment on Oregon Department of Transportation projects.
Jody Thompson, Baker City, has been working on the two projects in the Nyssa area, at the underpass and at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20-26. Unlike in the past, she has been busy the whole year, Thompson, a 15-year veteran, said.
“Usually, we get the winter off,” she said.
She works for Certified Personal Services in La Grande and finds employment with different contractors.
Thompson’s co-worker, Bill Schisler, a four-year veteran, said he took up flagging because he needed employment but has worked on the side during the downtimes. However, the pay for flagging is better, so he said he stays with that as long as he can.
Her wildland fire training classes are over for the year, and students are getting jobs, Sheryl Romans, who coordinates the program at Treasure Valley Community College. “They are going to work,” Romans said of those who were in the program. “I’ve been busy this year.”
Activity among those wanting to start their own businesses and work for themselves has not picked up. Andrea Testi, director of the Small Business Development Center, said, “We are a little bit slow. We don’t have as many starting businesses.”
However, there are a good number of clients of the center working to make their existing businesses stable or stronger, Testi said.
They focus on marketing to keep their businesses before the public, or may look at ways to push their inventory down and prepare for when the economy does turn positive.
For those who are wanting to start their own businesses, Testi said it is important they have good credit, they have good collateral and a good business plan.
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