Jobs outlook brightens in Wallowa County

Unemployment rate drops to 11.8% in April compared to 14.3% in March

Unemployment fell a little in Union County in April, and took a healthy downward dip in Wallowa County, according to preliminary figures from the Oregon Employment Department.

Union County joblessness inched downward in April to 9.2 percent, compared to 10.3 percent in March.

Wallowa County unemployment improved to 11.8 percent, compared to 14.3 percent in March.

Overall job numbers in Union County held steady, with a total of 9,780 non-farm jobs filled. Non-farm employment in Union County tallied 9,790 in March. In April 2011, the Union County job count stood at 9,760.

By employment sector, retail trade and trade, transportation and utilities showed the most gains, adding 30 jobs apiece in Union County in April of this year. Jobs in retail trade totaled 1,370 in April. Trade, transportation and utilities had 2,100.

Union County’s closely watched manufacturing sector, which includes wood products and recreational vehicle manufacturing, shed 20 jobs between April and March. However, employment in manufacturing is holding steady in year-to-year totals. In April 2012, the sector employed 1,040 people, a number identical with that of April 2011.

Wallowa County added 50 non-farm jobs in April, bringing the total to 2,170. Government accounted for a big portion of the gain, adding 20 positions. Most other employment sectors added a few jobs or showed no change.

Elsewhere in the region, Baker County’s unemployment rate came in at 9.8 percent for April. In Grant County the rate was 14.6 percent and, in Umatilla County, it was 8.2 percent.

In Oregon for April, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent, down a bit from 8.6 percent in March.

In the United States, seasonally adjusted unemployment registered 7.7 percent, an improvement over March’s 8.4 percent.