Good news, bad news, on jobless rate
Employment rate climbs in September locally
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:49 AM PST
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| A forklift moves a load of pallets at Ontario Produce, as a truck is loaded with onion waste Friday afternoon. Onion packing and other ag-related wholesale trade businesses are the main bright spot in the local labor market. |
Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
ONTARIO — Malheur County is in the midst of its annual fall uptake in employment, with unemployment figures for September lower than August.
That’s the good news.
The bad news is simple: While the unemployment rate for September 2009 declined, that rate was still above the estimate for September 2008 and higher than September 2007, according to statistics from the Oregon Employment Department.
In his monthly report for November, Jason Yohannan, regional economist, estimated the county’s September jobless rate at 9.3 percent, down moderately from the August revised rate of 10.7.
While September’s rate, if it holds, would be the lowest since last December, it is still way above the rate — 6.3 percent — registered a year ago in September.
Two years ago, the county’s jobless rate was 3.9 percent.
The biggest gain in jobs was in the local wholesale trade industry — which accounted for an additional 360 jobs above August, tied to agriculture production, packing sheds and processors, Yohannan said.
The increase in wholesale trade jobs was only 60 above September 2008.
However, Malheur County’s nonfarm industries generally are performing weaker than a year ago, Yohannan said, at least as measured by their latest employment estimates.
Yohannan agreed the onion industry represented the biggest share of the seasonal increases in employment in the wholesale sector for Malheur County, but added those numbers could also include some implement dealers and farm supply businesses. That positive impact continues into November, he said, and then typically tapers off in February ad March. Construction jobs were down 10 in September.
“The labor market is still weakening,” Yohannan said, noting the national figures. If there is any light, he said, “It is the degree is lessening.”
Locally, there is apparently some business and job creation going on, as a local sign company has had steady work. Lisa and Tate Turner, owners of TNT Signs and Graphics, are in a position to see what is coming to town and have seen some small business activity.
“We’re among the first businesses they talk to,” Lisa Turner said about newcomers. “It’s exciting to help them get started.”
Figures on the usage of local food banks are reflecting the weak economic picture.
Numbers for the month of October on food distribution at local emergency food pantries climbed, Peter Lawson, branch coordinator of the Eastern Oregon Regional Food Bank, said.
“They show a substantial increase in September over July and August,” he said, possibly as many 40 to 50 additional boxes.
