Published Feb-1-2010
In December, Oregon's seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment added 2,900 jobs, following a loss of 2,000 (as revised) in November. December was the first month of substantial job gains since July 2008 when 5,400 were added.
Three major industries posted substantial seasonally adjusted job gains in December: educational and health services (+2,900 jobs), manufacturing (+1,800), and trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,400). Three of the other major industries posted substantial seasonally adjusted job losses: construction (-1,100 jobs), mining and logging (-700), and leisure and hospitality (‑1,000).
Educational and health services added 2,200 jobs in December during a month when the sector would normally shed 700 jobs due to seasonal factors. Much of the gain came in social assistance, which added 1,400 jobs and is up 2,500 since December 2008.
Manufacturing cut only 200 jobs in December during a month where it would typically lose 2,000 due to seasonal factors. Typical seasonal declines of 1,300 jobs were felt in fruit and vegetable preserving, which employed 9,900, about the same as in the prior December. Several of the durable goods manufacturing components added close to 400 jobs apiece: fabricated metal products manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and computer and electronic product manufacturing.
Construction employment dropped again in December. The loss of 3,500 jobs was 1,100 more than the typical decline for the time of year. Construction employment has been on a declining seasonally adjusted trend during 2009. Building permits throughout the state remain at depressed levels following the home-building boom that peaked more than two years ago.
Leisure and hospitality shed 1,000 more jobs than normal in December. Accommodation cut 1,000 jobs, while food services and drinking places cut an additional 1,000 for the month. Leisure and hospitality has been on a generally declining employment trend for more than one year.