Recent Trends Employment generally increases in Region 1 (Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties) in summer as seasonal industries add workers - but that didn't happen this year. Summer employment ticked up only slightly from this winter's low. Nonfarm employment in August 2009 was actually about 1,300 jobs lower than in January 2008 - the middle of last winter. Employment was 3,370 below August of one year before. There was the typical sharp drop in government education employment in July as local schools closed for the summer holiday Published Oct-1-2009 ...more