August 2011 Manufacturing in Rural Oregonlibrary.state.or.us/repository/2010/201010061145443/Aug2011.pdf · August 2011 Manufacturing in Rural Oregon ... metal manufacturing (6%)

Oregon Labor Trends

Quality Information. Informed Choices. www.QualityInfo.org

August 2011

Manufacturing in Rural OregonAndrew Crollard, Workforce Analyst, [email protected], (541) 519-0315

Manufacturing plays a large role in the economy of Oregon’s rural coun-ties. Almost 20 percent of Oregon’s manufacturing employees work in rural Oregon. In 2009, the manufacturing in-dustry in rural Oregon included 1,222 firms spread across the state’s 25 rural counties. These businesses supported 32,351 jobs, with total payroll of more than $1.3 billion.

Change in Manufacturing and Total EmploymentFrom 2001 through the start of the Great Recession at the end of 2007, growth in rural manufacturing em-ployment lagged behind that of total nonfarm payroll employment as seen in Graph 1. Total nonfarm payroll employment grew 6 percent from 2001 through 2007. During this same time period, employment in the manufac-

turing industry in rural Oregon declined 3 percent. From 2007 through 2010, the difference in growth rate was even less favor-able for manufacturing (-21%) compared with total nonfarm employment (-8%). During this time period, the rural manufac-turing industry lost 9,940 jobs, almost two-fifths of the total jobs lost (24,980) in rural Oregon.

Manufacturing SubsectorsRural manufacturing is domi-nated by two subsectors: wood product manufacturing and food manufacturing (Table 1). Wood product manufacturing includes production of lumber, plywood and manufactured homes, and represented almost one-third of total manufacturing employment in 2009. Food manufacturing includes activities such as grain and oilseed milling, dairy product manufacturing, seafood product preparation and packaging, and bakeries. Food manufacturing In This Issue

Oregon Employment Trend Close to Flat Since February .................. 3

Local Highlights: The Mid-Willamette Valley’s Mixed Economic Recovery ....................................... 4

Oregon Business Employment Dynamics: Third Quarter, 2010 .... 5

A Portrait of Oregon’s Licensed Health Care Workforce ................. 7

Wind Turbine Service Technicians: Climbing to New Heights ............. 9

The Spin on Public Relations Specialist ....................................... 10

Oregon’s Veterans: Unemployment and Labor Force Participation Rates .............................................. 12

Labor Conditions in Oregon ........ 14

Defining Rural OregonRural Oregon includes all the counties that do not contain at least part of an area classified as a metropolitan statistical area. This means some counties that may be thought of as rural are really classified as a metropolitan county. For example, Columbia County has a popu-lation of less than 50,000 but is considered a metropolitan county because of its proximity to Portland and the tendency for residents to commute there for work. Conversely, there are metropolitan counties with large cities that also have areas some might consider to be rural. Lane County is an example of this, containing both the population center of Eugene and rural areas outside of Eugene. So, “rural Oregon” includes 25 counties: Baker, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Morrow, Sher-man, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler.

Graph 1

1 10

Rural Oregon Manufacturing Growth Hasn't Kept Up (2001 = 1.00)

1.05

1.10

0.95

1.00

0.90Total nonfarm payroll employment

0.80

0.85 Manufacturing

0.75

0.702001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2

Oregon Labor Trends August 2011


employed 23 percent of the total rural Oregon manufactur-ing workforce. There are only three other industries with a share of 5 percent or greater in rural manufacturing: paper manufacturing (7%), primary metal manufacturing (6%) and transportation equipment manufacturing (5%).

Rural Oregon had a large share of statewide employment in some of these subsectors in 2009. Food manufacturing in rural Oregon accounted for 49 percent of the state’s employ-ment in that subsector. Paper manufacturing (41%), food manufac-turing (32%), primary metal manufacturing (26%), and nonmetallic mining product manu-facturing (23%) also had significant shares of statewide employ-ment in rural Oregon.

The average size of a manufacturing firm in rural Oregon was 26 employees in 2009. Paper manufacturing (255 employees) and primary metal manufacturing (129 employees) had significantly higher employee-per-firm ratios than the industry as a whole. Wood product manufacturing (53 employees), food manufacturing (46 employees), and transportation equipment manufac-turing (27 employees) also had an average number of employees per firm greater than the industry average.

The average earnings per employee came in just shy of $41,000 per year for manufacturing in rural Oregon. Again, paper manufacturing ($73,899) and primary metal manufacturing ($61,695) had a much higher average wage than the industry-wide average. Chemical manufacturing ($48,066), computer and electronic product man-ufacturing ($46,101), and machinery manufacturing ($44,148) also had av-erage earnings per employee greater than the industry-wide average.

Recovering From RecessionThe Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has published employment

projections by indus-try through 2021 for the state of Oregon. While this does not provide a level of detail specifically for rural Oregon, one can look at the indus-tries of importance and use them as a rough proxy for rural Oregon.

Using 2007 as the base year, Graph 2 displays how much each sector has changed since the beginning of the recession, as well as the anticipated path forward. Total manufacturing employment dropped by one-fifth from 2007 through 2010 in rural Oregon. It is predicted to have hit its low in

2010 and will reach 97 percent of the 2007 employment level by 2021. Wood product manufacturing was hit significantly harder than the industry average, dropping 34 percent from 2007 through 2010. It is predicted to reach its low in 2011 and reach 86 percent of the 2007 employment level by 2021. Food manufacturing was the only manufacturing subsector that grew from 2007 through 2010, gain-ing 4 percent. It is projected to gain 14 percent between 2007 and 2021.

SummaryThough employment in the rural man-ufacturing industry decreased more than total nonfarm payroll employment over the last decade, it still remains a vital part of rural Oregon’s economy.

Table 1

IndustryNumber

Employed Annual Earnings FirmsAll manufacturing 32,351 $1,325,221,973 1,222

Wood product manufacturing 10,430 $412,846,288 197Food manufacturing 7,339 $233,648,836 158Paper manufacturing 2,291 $169,302,446 9Primary metal manufacturing 2,070 $127,707,885 16Transporation equipment manufacturing 1,671 $60,118,853 61Fabricated metal product manufacturing 1,329 $49,283,606 163Machinery manufacturing 1,329 $58,672,952 72Nonmetallic mining product manufacturing 1,036 $40,192,825 65Furniture and related product manufacturing 948 $30,535,190 86Miscellaneous manufacturing 839 $27,472,919 123

2009 Employment, Earnings, and Number of Firms for Rural Manufacturing Subsectors

Graph 2

Projected Manufacturing Employment (2007 = 1.00)

1 00

1.20

0.80

1.00

0.60

All f t i

0.40

All manufacturing

Wood products manufacturing

Food manufacturing

0.20

0.002007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

A verage earnings per employee came in just shy of $41,000 per year for manufacturing in rural Oregon.

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Oregon Employment Trend Close to Flat Since FebruaryOregon’s seasonally adjusted unem-ployment rate was 9.4 percent in June, essentially unchanged from the May rate of 9.3 percent. Despite the tenth of a point increase in Oregon’s sea-sonally adjusted rate in June, a longer-term view shows a declining trend. Oregon’s unemployment rate peaked in May and June 2009 at 11.6 percent. It then gradually dropped through-out the rest of 2009 and all of 2010, reaching 10.6 percent by December 2010. Then the rate dropped rapidly during January through May, reaching the recent low point of 9.3 percent in May. Other than May, the June reading of 9.4 percent is the lowest rate for Oregon since December 2008, when the rate was 9.2 percent.

In June, 195,422 Oregonians were unemployed. This is 16,629 fewer individuals than in June 2010 when 212,051 Oregonians were unem-ployed.

Over the past four months the trend in payroll employment was close to flat.

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose 800 in June, follow-ing a revised gain of 700 in May. April also saw a relatively small monthly gain of 1,100 jobs and March de-clined by 2,000. These small monthly movements over the past four months put Oregon’s payroll employment at 1,625,500 in June, which was only 600 above the February total of 1,624,900. This indicates essentially no payroll employment gains since February, following strong gains totaling 22,800 during the prior four-month period of October through February.

In June, three major industries added more than 1,000 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis: professional and busi-ness services (+1,200 jobs), educa-tional and health services (+2,200), and leisure and hospitality (+4,400). Over the month, three other major industries showed weaker job perfor-mance than normal for June: govern-ment (2,900 jobs); manufacturing (-2,000); and trade, transportation, and utilities (1,800).

Since June 2010, Oregon’s economy added jobs in the private sector, while government dropped jobs. Total private employment (on a seasonally adjusted basis) is up 29,600 jobs or 2.3 percent. Meanwhile, government employment is down by 9,100 jobs or 3.0 percent. Most private-sector industries have expanded during the past year of economic recov-ery, with most of the major industries up by between 1.3 and 2.4 percent. Two industries added more than 8,000 jobs during that 12-month period, accounting for over half of the gains in the private sector: educational and health services (+8,600 jobs) and leisure and hospital-ity (+8,300). While other services (-900 jobs) and mining and logging (-300) saw cutbacks, none of the major industries contracted by more than 1,000 jobs since June 2010.

On the other hand, government was affected by budget reductions, cutting its seasonally adjusted employment by 9,100 jobs or 3.0 percent since June 2010.

Visit www.QualityInfo.orgThe Current Employment Statistics (CES) monthly survey provides the most up-to-date employment estimates available. The Current Employment tool at www.QualityInfo.org puts CES data at your fingertips.

Statewide industry employment figures, estimates for all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Oregon, and counties not included in the MSAs are available.

Produce reports showing the most recent monthly data, annual tables, historical reports, and geographic pro-files of selected industries. Historical data from 1990 forward can be accessed online. Just click on the link to “Employment & Labor Force” under “Data Tools” then follow the link to “Current Employment Statistics” in the navigation bar, or use the link on the www.QualityInfo.org “Industry Trends” page.

In 2010, 11 percent of all employees in rural Oregon were employed within the manufacturing industry. More than $1.3 billion in earnings were distrib-uted in 2009 to manufacturing employ-ees. More than half of all employees

in manufacturing work in either wood product manufacturing or food manu-facturing and just less than half of all earnings in manufacturing are paid to employees working in those two sec-tors. Both of these key manufacturing

sectors in rural Oregon are projected to grow over the next 10 years, with wood product manufacturing reversing the trend of job loss and food manu-facturing employment continuing to expand.

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LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS:

The Mid-Willamette Valley’s Mixed Economic RecoveryPat O’Connor, Regional Economist, [email protected], (541) 812-8639

The economic recovery in the Mid-Wil-lamette Valley has been quite uneven at the county level.

Benton County has been a bright spot in Oregon’s recovery. Benton County’s economic losses were not as deep as Oregon’s during 2008 and 2009. A big reason for the less severe employment downturn in Benton County has to do with its industry structure. Similar to the state, the construction and manu-facturing sectors were hard hit during the recession. From January 2008 to January 2011 Benton County’s manu-facturing sector shed 1,210 jobs, or 27 percent. The county’s mining, logging, and construction sector employment declined 320, or 23 percent, over that period of time. However, despite steep losses in those two industries, total nonfarm employment in the county was only down about 700 jobs, less than 2 percent from January 2008 to January 2011; a mild loss compared with its neighboring counties and the state.

State government employment in Benton County proved to be very sta-ble through the economic downturn. It comprises roughly 24 percent of the county’s total employment; the sector is dominated by Oregon State Uni-versity. Oregon State’s enrollment hit a new all-time high during the 2010-2011 school year. With Oregon State’s enrollment growing in recent years, Benton County’s state government employment grew 840, or 10 percent, from January 2008 to January 2011.

The Salem MSA (Marion and Polk counties) did not experience as steep of a downturn as the state in 2008 and 2009. Similar to Benton County, a large state government

102

Total Nonfarm Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)Indexed January 2008=100

98

100

94

96

92

94

Oregon

Li C t

88

90 Linn County

Salem MSA

Benton County

84

86

8201/01/08 07/01/08 01/01/09 07/01/09 01/01/10 07/01/10 01/01/11

sector accounts for 15 percent of the total employment in the Salem MSA. The stability of Salem’s public-sector employment helped cushion the drop in private-sector employment in the area. Similar to the state and the na-tion, construction and manufacturing were the two hardest-hit sectors in the Salem MSA. From January 2008 to January 2011 Salem’s construction employment declined 38 percent while manufacturing employment dropped 20 percent over that period.

Although job losses in Salem slowed in 2010 and 2011, the Salem economy continued to shed jobs and has not seen the boost in employment that the state experienced in the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011. Salem’s housing market continues to be a drag on the economy. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors ranked Salem as the third worst housing market for U.S. metro-politan areas. The median sale price of homes in the Salem MSA dropped by 20 percent over the past year; twice

that of the Portland metropolitan area which recorded a 10 percent decline.

Linn County is known for its strong manufacturing sector, but losses in manufacturing and construction, and a relatively small public sector compared to its neighboring counties, led to a dramatic downturn in employment. Linn County’s employment bottomed out in the summer of 2009 after losing more than 4,600 jobs, or 11 percent of total employment from February 2008 to August 2009. Employment has been fairly stable since that time, but the county struggled to realize significant employment growth in 2010 or 2011. Linn County’s unemployment rate re-mains in double-digits at 11.1 percent in May compared with a statewide rate of 9.3 percent.

For more information on specific regions, visit www.QualityInfo.org, then choose an area on the map in the upper right-hand corner.

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We’re Blogging It!Get employment news daily with the Research Division’s newest resource – the Oregon Employment Blog!

www.OregonEmployment.blogspot.com

The blog provides information about employment at the national, state, and local levels. Check us out and feel free to post your comments!

Oregon Business Employment Dynamics: Third Quarter, 2010Phoebe Colman, Research Analyst, [email protected], (503) 947-1254

In the third quarter of 2010, Oregon’s private sector produced a net gain of 11,368 jobs, the largest such gain since early 2006. There are several ways an economy can generate a net gain or loss of jobs. Oregon’s third quarter 2010 net job gain is the result of an increase in the number of seasonally adjusted gross job gains from 87,560 to 93,583, combined with a decrease in the season-ally adjusted number of gross job losses from 85,849 to 82,215.

By contrast, the Business Employment Dynamics data for the nation as a whole show a net job gain of 151,000 jobs from June to September of 2010, a smaller gain than in the previous quarter. This modest job gain at the national level is the result of a decrease in the number of gross job gains from 6.9 million to 6.6 mil-lion jobs, combined with gross job losses that increased from 6.2 million to 6.4 million jobs. Although both the nation and Oregon produced a net job gain in the third quarter of 2010, the national data show a declining trend while BED data for Oregon show an improving trend (Table 1).

BED data further show that the improving trend for Oregon corresponds to an increase in the num-bers of expanding and opening establishments, from 27,970 in the second quarter of 2010 to 28,197 in the third quarter. Over the same period, the number of establishments contracting decreased from 21,924 to 21,737. However, the num-ber of closing establishments actually increased slightly from 5,500 to 5,628 while the net change in the number of establishments was a loss of 196 establishments.

These figures illustrate that even when gross job gains are trending upwards and gross job losses are trending downwards, as has been the case in Oregon over the past two quarters, the distribution of these jobs among individual establishments is also highly dynamic. BED data enhance under-standing of labor market changes by revealing information about the flow of jobs in an economy from quarter to quarter.

Data on the quarterly gross job gains and losses come from the Business Employment Dynamics program at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A more detailed Business Employment Dynamics Report is available at www.QualityInfo.org on the Publications page in the News box.

Table 1

Oregon Gross Job Gain/Loss Sep. 2009 Dec. 2009 Mar. 2010 Jun. 2010 Sep. 2010Gross job gains 87,415 89,357 87,342 87,560 93,583 At expanding establishments 71,849 72,161 72,790 72,944 77,703 At opening establishments 15,566 17,196 14,552 14,616 15,880Gross job losses 94,954 96,934 87,279 85,849 82,215 At contracting establishments 77,994 79,985 71,360 70,774 67,686 At closing establishments 16,960 16,949 15,919 15,075 14,529Net employment change -7,539 -7,577 63 1,711 11,368

U.S. Gross Job Gain/LossGross job gains (1,000's) 6,341 6,662 6,110 6,935 6,593Gross job losses (1,000's) 7,241 6,890 6,421 6,207 6,442Net employment change (1,000's) -900 -228 -311 728 151

Three-Month Private Sector Gross Job Gains and Losses, Seasonally Adjusted

Three Months Ending

6



Health Care and Social Assistance Employment GrowthThird Quarter 2009 to Third Quarter 2010

Percent Change-30% to -16%

-15% to 0%

1% to 15%

16% to 30%

Labor Day 2011According to the US Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. By 1884, 23 other states adopted the holiday to celebrate workers. In the same year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday within the District of Columbia and its territories.

The United States differs from the majority of the world on the date of their Labor Day holiday. A large number of for-eign countries celebrate May Day (May 1st) which is also called International Workers’ Day as their workers’ holiday.

22.5The average commute time (in minutes) to work in Oregon in 2010. The United States average was higher at 25.2 minutes in 2010.

33.6The 2010 average weekly hours worked per employee in Oregon, slightly lower than the U.S. average of 34.2 hours.

$16.58 and $16.27The 2010 median wage for all occupations in Oregon and the U.S., respectively. The March 2010 National Compen-sation Survey estimated that the average civilian employee had 74 hours of paid vacation in a year, not including sick or personal leave.

1.98 millionThe total civilian labor force of Oregon in 2010. The United States had 154 million in the same time period.

Health Care and Social Assistance Employment GrowthThird Quarter 2009 to Third Quarter 2010

Percent Change-30% to -16%

-15% to 0%

1% to 15%

16% to 30%

7



A Portrait of Oregon’s Licensed Health Care WorkforceKatharine Williams, Employment Economist, [email protected],503-947-1274

If you were to take a picture of an average licensed health care worker in Oregon, what would it look like? According to a recent report by the Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research (OHPR), you’d be looking at an older female, one who is employed by a hospital or clinic in an urban area. And you’d want to make sure that she had “RN” after her name.

Published in April 2011, OHPR’s Oregon Health Professions: Occu-pational and County Profiles report provides detailed demographic and workforce characteristics for licensed health care occupations. There are 17 health care occupations in Oregon that require a license to practice, as directed by the state’s seven health profession licensing boards, covering a variety of dental, nursing, pharmacy, and other jobs. These licensed health care occupations are part of a larger list of health care practitioners and support workers, adding up to a total of 103 occupations.

Painting a Picture of Health Care Licensees In 2010, there were 86,309 active health care licensees work-ing in Oregon. As shown in Table 1, nurses make up just over two-thirds of licensees, the vast majority of which are registered nurses. In addition to being the largest group, the nursing workforce is also the oldest, and most likely to be female. Dentists and physicians, on the other hand, are pre-dominantly male.

As the health care industry continues to grow, even during

the most recent recession, it may be surprising to see some health care workers are still unemployed. There is usually some level of natural unem-ployment among workers as they tran-sition between jobs. But Table 1 shows that licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants may have had more trouble finding jobs than other licensed health care workers in 2010. This measure of unemployment includes those that said they were looking for work, as well as those that were not. Although the licensee data is self-reported, they suggest that these jobs may be more in demand, or that there is a higher rate of turnover in this type of position.

Geographic Patterns and Poten-tial for Practitioner ShortagesThe majority of licensed health care workers were clustered in urban areas, close to the state’s population centers. Multnomah and Washington counties had the greatest number of licensees, holding 28 and 13 percent of this workforce, respectively. After the Portland area, Lane County had the next highest number of health care

practitioners and health care support workers. With the lowest population density in the state, north central Or-egon had the least number of workers, with only five in Sherman County and 14 in Gilliam.

One way to measure whether there are enough health care workers to serve a given population is to calcu-late a population-to-practitioner ratio. These ratios are most often cited for full-time doctors and dentists. The Health Resources and Services Ad-ministration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services generally define “health professional shortage areas” as those counties or other ser-vice areas with a population-to-prac-titioner ratio of more than 3,500-to-one for primary care physicians, and 5,000-to-one for dentists.

Other factors, such as insufficient ac-cess, infrastructure, and/or capacity to meet the resident population’s health care needs, are also considered. More specific criteria for other health occu-pations, including health care support workers, are not easily identified. How-ever, as team-based models of health

Table 1

Occupation

ActiveLicensees

Working in Oregon

Percent of Licensees

Age 55 +

Percent of Female

Licensees

Percent of Unemployed

LicenseesRegistered Nurses 35,849 37% 90% 1%Certified Nursing Assistants 16,674 19% 86% 6%Physicians 10,822 36% 31% 1%Certified Pharmacy Technicians 4,492 16% 82% 1%Licensed Practical Nurses 3,332 46% 91% 6%Dentists* 2,559 39% 21% 0%Physical Therapists 2,400 21% 66% 0%Dental Hygienists* 2,369 23% 97% 1%Pharmacists 2,228 27% 54% 0%Nurse Practitioners 1,955 49% 91% 3%Occupational Therapists 1,030 6% 90% 0%Physician Assistants 918 20% 57% 0%Physical Therapist Assistants 578 24% 82% 1%Dietitians* 451 28% 95% NACertified Registered Nurse Anesthetists 307 40% 41% 1%Occupational Therapy Assistants 199 32% 91% 2%Clinical Nurse Specialists 146 46% 96% 1%

*Estimates based on license renewal cycleSource: Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research

2010 Licensed Health Care OccupationsWorkforce Trends

8



care provision become more wide-spread, the need for larger practitioner support networks will likely grow.

In 2010, there were an estimated 1,494 Oregonians per dentist, and 930 per primary care physician. As shown in Table 2, doctors and dentists in the northern half of the state face a great-er patient load, with higher population-to-practitioner ratios. The proportions for primary care doctors were more concentrated in metro areas, while the areas with greater shortages of dentists were a bit more widely spread throughout Oregon. When the health professional shortage area criteria are applied to OHPR data, several coun-ties appear to be close to, or over, the health professional shortage area thresholds: Crook and Polk Counties for dentists, and Columbia and Morrow for primary care physicians.

Keep in mind that metro areas are also home to younger populations, so there may not be as great of a need for health care workers in these areas. Eastern and Southern Oregon, on the other hand, have a larger share of their residents over the age of 45. At 62 percent, Curry County had the greatest share of this age group in 2010, followed by Wheeler at 60

percent and Sherman at 57 percent. In these locations, the demand for primary care physicians may be stronger.

Health Care: The Next GenerationEmployment among all health care occupations is projected to grow 23 percent between 2008 and 2018, creating a lot of new jobs over that period. However, not all of these jobs are created equal. Some result from growth, as companies create new positions; while others are caused by retirements, or due to a worker leaving an oc-cupation.

As a group, licensed health care occupations will have 30,422 total job

openings between 2008 and 2018. Pharmacy-related jobs will have a higher share of replacement open-ings, as illustrated in Graph 1. On the opposite end of the spectrum, health care support occupations – including those with “assistant” or “aide” in the title – are expected to have a much higher percentage of new jobs, with over half of their openings resulting

Table 2

Rank DentistsPrimary Care Physicians 1

1 Crook (5,437) Columbia (3,227)2 Polk (4,586) Morrow (2,508)3 Lake (3,800) Crook (2,471)4 Tillamook (2,903) Gilliam (1,885)5 Jefferson (2,839) Sherman (1,830)6 Harney (2,572) Polk (1,563)7 Linn (2,464) Lake (1,520)8 Wallowa (2,367) Jefferson (1,420)9 Columbia (2,200) Curry (1,334)10 Yamhill (2,071) Umatilla (1,293)

Source: Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research

Ratios by County*

Crook County Dentists and Doctors Face Highest Patient Load

2010 Population-to-Practitioner

1 Includes family medicine, general internal medicine, general practice, pediatrics, geriatrics and adolescent medicine.

* Total count, includes full-time, part-time, and other statuses.

from growth. Health care practitioners fall in the middle, with dentists, occu-pational therapists, registered nurses, and physicians and surgeons closing in on a more balanced one-to-one re-placement to growth ratio. Medical and health services managers, the equiva-lent title for clinical nurse specialists, will see almost exactly one growth opening for each replacement.

As many health care workers reach retirement age, we might expect these occupations to have a higher projected share of replacement openings over the next decade. But the recent reces-sion may have put their plans on hold, forcing them to work longer than they might have otherwise done. OHPR finds some evidence for this in their report: despite the fact that about one out of three were 55 years of age or older, only 6 percent of respondents cited plans to leave their jobs or cut back hours in the next few years. This lack of turnover may reflect the increasing workload of health care professionals and the shortage of available workers. In fact, a number of these licensed health occupa-tions were ranked near the top of the Employment Department’s 2010 list of high demand/high skill occupations.

To read the full Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research report, visit their website: www.oregon.gov/OHA/OHPR/index.shtml.

Graph 1

Pharmacy Among Those With Highest Shareof Replacement Openings

2008-2018 Employment Projections

35%

34%

65%

66%

Dietitians and Nutritionists*

Pharmacy Technicians

y jGrowth Openings Replacement Openings

46%

40%

38%

54%

60%

62%

Dentists, General

Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses*

Pharmacists

54%

53%

51%

46%

47%

49%

Dental Hygienists

Registered Nurses

Occupational Therapists

,

60%

56%

55%

54%

40%

44%

45%

46%

Occ pational Therap Assistants

Physician Assistants

Physicians and Surgeons

Dental Hygienists

64%

61%

60%

36%

39%

40%

Physical Therapists

Physical Therapist Assistants

Occupational Therapy Assistants

68% 32%Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants*

Percent of Total Openings by Type*Equivalent occupational titles. Some equivalents include more than one occupation.

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Wind Turbine Service Technicians: Climbing to New HeightsBrooke Jackson, Occupational Skills Analyst, [email protected], (503) 947-1263Erica Thatcher, Research Analyst, [email protected], (503) 947-1713

Wind turbine service technician is the second of five occupations to be stud-ied by the WorkSource Oregon Employment Department under the Green Jobs Labor Market Information (LMI) Improvement Grant of 2009. The five occupations were identified as having “green” workers based on a survey and analysis of current employment. A green job works to do at least one of the following:

• Increase energy efficiency• Produce renewable energy• Prevent, reduce, or mitigate environmental degradation• Clean up and restore the natural environment• Educate, consult, and provide other services that support the above

Wind turbine technicians fit the definition of green jobs because the major focus of the job is repairing wind turbines that produce renewable energy.

In 2011, research, interviews, and surveys were used to collect information on wind turbine technicians. Oregon employers participated in individual inter-views and surveys. Their feedback was used to create an occupational profile consisting of common licenses, skills, and alternate job titles associated with wind turbine technicians. The profile will be used on both the WorkSource Oregon Employment Department’s job matching tool iMatchSkills® (www.iMatchSkills.org) and QualityInfo.org.

Defining Wind Turbine Service TechniciansOregon adopted the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) 2010 definition of wind turbine service technicians, which states that they inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. They also perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.

Wind turbine technicians were only recently identified in 2010 as an independent occupation by BLS. These workers were previously classified with a broad mix of other installation, maintenance, and repair workers.

The WorkSource Oregon Employment Department will not have official employment or wage estimates for wind turbine technicians until 2013. However, a BLS article on the occupation estimates the wage for an entry-level technician at about $15 an hour. As techni-cians gain experience and take on supervisory responsibilities, they can make significantly more – up to $50 an hour (article available at www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2010/fall/yawhat.pdf.)

Some alternate titles for this occupation include wind energy me-chanic, wind turbine mechanic, wind turbine repairman, and wind plant technician.

Skills, Education, and LicensingThe WorkSource Oregon Employment Department compiles a unique set of skills for nearly all occupations defined by BLS. Each

occupation in Oregon has a skill set that was created specifically to help match job seekers to job openings and aid in career advancement in Oregon. These particular skill sets are made up of both skills that transfer among occupations, as well as skills that are unique to particular occupations. Identifying transfer-able skills allows workers who may want to become wind turbine service technicians see how similar their skill sets are to the general range of skills required in this occupation.

As seen in Table 1, the skill set of wind turbine technicians includes some advanced skills, but also includes general skills that can be learned in a classroom setting or transfer from previous work experience.

Employers repeatedly emphasized several skills needed for wind turbine technicians, such as following safety procedures when working with elec-trical components; the ability to re-peatedly climb to significant heights, since most turbines are at least 200 feet from the ground; and the ability to work in a confined space.

Many Oregon employers indicated that when hiring for wind turbine technicians, they tend to look for applicants with related work experi-ence, particularly doing mechanical or electrical work. Employers also stated that they expect to provide on-the-job training to workers, due to the specialized nature of repairing wind

Table 1

Sample Skills of Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Advanced SkillsAssemble gear systemsPerform bolt torquingRead schematics and specificationsUse crane operator signalsUse voltmeter and ohmmeter

General, Transferable SkillsFollow safety proceduresMaintain repair recordsUse basic mathematicsUse metric systemWork as a team member

10



The Spin on Public Relations Specialist Katharine Williams, Employment Economist, [email protected], 503-947-1274

Writing press releases, preparing speeches, or talking with reporters…all in a day’s work, if you’re a public relations specialist. As the go-to media contact for many organizations, public relations specialists work to promote businesses through television, radio, internet, and print publications.

With statewide occupational employ-ment projected to grow 9.4 percent between 2008 and 2018, adding about 70 jobs each year, there will be a num-ber of opportunities available for those interested in becoming a public rela-tions specialist. And the good news is: it pays well! Here in Oregon, public re-lations specialists earned, on average, $58,046 per year, or $27.91 per hour, in 2010. This is about $24,000 above the Oregon statewide median wage for all occupations.

What to ExpectSo, what exactly do public relations specialists do? In a nutshell, they develop communication strategies that portray their business in a posi-tive light. To accomplish this goal, they generate good publicity and spread awareness of their company by pitching new products and services, promoting an upcoming event, or even minimizing negative press, i.e., “dam-age control.” Much of this work in-volves targeted outreach efforts, such

as designing advertising campaigns, but it also involves building relation-ships with various customer and media groups. Susan Appleby, Communica-tions Director at the Strategic Economic Development Cor-poration in Salem, agrees. “Public relations and com-munications allows you to talk to many of the individuals involved with your organization and create stories and press releases to promote their successes. It’s a great way to make connections.”

Nearly all industries employ someone devoted to public relations, whether they are called communications direc-tors, public affairs managers, business development representatives, or other similar titles. Public relations special-ists often work as part of a team, though some small businesses have a single person covering this role, han-dling everything from public relations to marketing and advertising. In 2008, about one-third were employed by fundraising organizations, advertising agencies, and news media, as these groups tend to rely more heavily on their public persona to ensure fund-ing, and to maintain a professional and credible reputation. Jobs within the public sector are also available, though they comprise a smaller share of opportunities. Government agencies

and legislators are in constant commu-nication with the public, whether it be to provide services or seek feedback on various programs and policies.

Despite the many different titles as-signed to public relations special-ists, they all utilize the same general knowledge and skill set. Most public relations jobs will require at least a bach-elor’s degree, and you’re on your way to success if you know the basic principles of

communication, media, sales, market-ing, and customer service. Since these strategies are used to reach a wide variety of audiences, public relations specialists are usually excellent writ-ers and presenters, with strong social skills. Related work experience is also helpful. Appleby says her prior work in advertising, sales, marketing, and graphic design were what helped her move into her current position.

Now Trending…Whether you’re thinking about a ca-reer in public relations, have recently graduated college with the requisite degree, or are a seasoned industry veteran, you’ll want to know what kinds of issues are influencing current and future job opportunities.

turbines. As far as education level, employers generally cited a high school education as the minimum level needed to perform this job, al-though they prefer to hire individuals who have at least some postsecond-ary education. Wind turbine service technicians in Oregon do not need a specialized

license in order to repair wind tur-bines, although having an electrician’s license would provide an advantage when applying for a job or working in the field.

Additional Career InformationThe final occupational profile for wind turbine service technicians will be avail-

able for public use on iMatchSkills® and QualityInfo.org within the next few months. For more information on turbine technicians, visit Iowa Public Television’s career profile page at www.careers.iptv.org and select “Engi-neering Technician” from the occupa-tion drop-down box.

N early all industries employ

someone devoted to public relations, whether they are called communications directors, public affairs managers, business development representatives, or other similar titles.

11



In the short-run, the public relations field will be heavily influenced by the demand for this kind of service, and the recent recession may have been a game-changer for public relations specialists. Even as many companies tighten their budgetary belts, public relations firms emphasize that busi-nesses can’t afford not to use their services in a tough economic climate: they’ll need extra media exposure to really stand out to increasingly frugal consumers. Although many indus-tries cut back during the economic downturn, there is some evidence to suggest that public relations actually flourished – at least in terms of earn-ings. According to The Economist, public relations spending in the U.S. actually grew by 4 percent in 2008, and 3 percent in 2009.

However, Oregon’s overall employ-ment dropped during the recession in the major industries where public relations specialists are employed, as shown in Graph 1. Losses among these industries averaged about 8 percent between 2008 and 2009.

Since 2001, broadcasting and pub-lishing companies have been on the decline, dropping 23 and 29 percent, respectively. Public relations and advertising agencies have fared better, losing 8 percent of industry employ-ment over the period. And yet, despite the odds, new companies in these industries continue to open. Across the state, several public relations, advertising, and marketing firms made their debut over the past year: Notes Handwritten, HPR Social Media, and Public Good PR opened in Corvallis; BullDog Media Solutions opened in Prineville; RedFusion Media opened in Bend; and Mobility Public Relations opened in Lake Oswego. A number of new fundraising organizations also opened their doors during the recession, likely due to the increase in demand for the social and human services that nonprofit organizations often provide. This may be seen in the slight uptick among fundraising and business organizations in 2010, and the fact that employment losses were moderate in these sectors, compared to the other industries.

Technology Drives CommunicationsTechnological change is, and al-ways will be, a driving force in public relations. The rise of the internet and mobile devices over the past decade continues to offer new ways of com-municating. Where radio, television, and newspapers once dominated the public relations scene, cell phones and computers have increasingly become the public’s primary source of news. Once upon a time, public relations specialists were forced to rely upon a relatively captive audience, hoping they may pick up the newspaper in the morning, listen to a radio show in the car on their way to work, and catch the 5 o’clock news when they get home. Now there is near constant access to audiences, as iPads and Blackberrys provide nearly 24/7 exposure to the public. Online communities like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, where people check their accounts throughout the day, provide even more opportunities as a bulletin board for announcements and advertisements.

Competition is another factor. In the long-term, the Oregon Employment Department’s 2008 to 2018 projections show that only one-quarter of annual public relations job openings will result from growth, or in other words, from the creation of new positions. The

remainder of job openings will arise due to replacement, mostly from older workers retiring. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most of those in the public relations and advertising field are between the ages of 25 to 54, reflecting the fact that entry-level jobs may be scarce and potential employees will have to work their way up. Likewise, the jobs themselves will be highly sought-after. In 2008, there were about 2,050 public relations specialist jobs in Oregon, and in 2009, there were 347 graduates statewide from related degree programs. When you add people moving in from out of state (though grads also move out of state), you potentially have 300 plus applicants competing for an estimated 70 job openings each year. Needless to say, competition will likely be stiff!

As a student, job seeker, or profes-sional, the bottom line is that it’s important to keep up with the latest trends in your prospective field. To remain a competitive job candidate, Appleby encourages those interested in public relations to take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities offered by local business associations, such as the Public Rela-tions Society of America: http://www.prsa.org/.

Graph 1

90

95

100

105

110

Trends Among Oregon's Major Industries of Employment for Public Relations Specialists

(Indexed to 2001 = 100)Public Relations & Advertising Agencies Radio & TV BroadcastingNewspaper & Periodical Publishing Fundraising & Business Organizations

60

65

70

75

80

85

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

12



Oregon’s Veterans: Unemployment and Labor Force Participation RatesGail Kiles Krumenauer, Economist, [email protected],(503) 947-3098

The average annual unemployment rate for Oregon’s veterans ages 20 and over was 8.3 percent in 2010. Across the U.S., veterans faced a slightly higher rate (8.7%). In recent years, the roles have been reversed: the unem-ployment rate for Oregon veterans exceeded the national rate in six of the last eight years (Graph 1). The jobless rate for Oregon veterans exceeded the U.S. level by a high of 3.5 percentage points in 2003. In 2010, the Oregon unemployment rate for veterans hit its widest margin below the national rate (0.4 percentage point).

Nationwide, veterans experience a lower unemployment rate than nonvet-erans (Graph 2). Between 2003 and 2010, the veterans’ unemployment rate sat at least 0.3 percentage point below the rate for nonveterans each year. In Oregon, the picture looks a bit more mixed. From 2003 to 2005, vet-erans in the state saw higher jobless rates than nonveterans. In subsequent years, Oregon has fallen in line with the national trend. In fact, the 2010 un-employment rate for veterans (8.3%) was 2.2 percentage points below the nonveteran rate. That’s a far greater advantage than the 0.3 percentage point edge for veterans from their nonveteran counterparts nationwide in 2010. However, the nominal unem-ployment rate for Oregon veterans has outpaced that of veterans nationwide nearly every year since 2003.

Lower Labor Force Participation as WellLabor force participation rates for veter-ans and nonveterans are measured by taking the sum of both employed and unemployed persons in each category, then dividing it by the total civilian non-institutional population for that group. The civilian noninstitutional population does not include active members of the armed forces, or individuals who are in nursing homes, mental facilities, or correctional institutions.

The nonveteran labor force participa-tion rates in Oregon and nationwide have generally been stable near the 70 percent level since 2003. Veterans have substantially lower participation rates over the period. In 2003, the labor force participation rate for all veterans in the U.S. was 57 percent, compared to 69 percent for nonveter-ans. Oregon showed a similar dispar-ity in participation, with a 58 percent

rate for veterans and 71 percent for nonveterans.

Since 2003, the gap between veteran and nonveteran labor force participa-tion gradually increased at the national level. In 2003, U.S. veterans posted a participation rate almost 13 percent-age points below nonveterans. By 2010, the veteran labor force participa-tion declined to 53 percent, 15 per-

Graph 1

10%

Average Annual Unemployment Rates for Veterans Oregon and the United States, Ages 20 and Over

8%

10%

Oregon United States

8%

Rat

e

6%

ploy

men

t R4%

Une

mp

2%

0%2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Source: Current Population Survey

Graph 2

12%

Veterans Face Lower Unemployment Rates than Nonveterans Average Annual Rates, Ages 20 and Over

Oregon VeteransOregon NonveteransU.S. Veterans

9%

U.S. Nonveterans

6%

3%2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Source: Current Population Survey

13



centage points below the nonveteran rate. Veteran labor force participation fell off similarly in Oregon (Graph 3). Veteran labor force participation sat 12 percentage points below the nonvet-eran rate in 2003. At just below 50 percent in 2010, the state’s veteran participation rate had dropped 20 per-centage points below the nonveteran rate (70%). Unlike the U.S., the gap between Oregon’s veteran and non-veteran participation rates narrowed slightly over the last two years. The gap between the two peaked in 2008 at 21 percentage points.

Why the Difference?The lack of detailed Oregon data in this specialized crosstab of veteran and nonveteran numbers limits our ability to fully explore why Oregon veterans have lower – and generally declining – labor force participation rates relative to nonveterans. In its annual Employment Situation of Vet-erans Summary, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offers more detailed data at the national level on unemploy-ment rates of veterans such as period of service, gender, age, and group. However, these statistics cover slightly different age categories. Although not directly comparable, annual employ-ment situation numbers lend some additional insight into the difference between veterans and nonveterans in terms of labor force participation.

If Oregon’s figures for veterans and nonveterans ages 18 and older mirror the available numbers at the national level, then age is a likely culprit af-fecting labor force participation rates. Nationally, there were approximately 10.3 million veterans who were a part of the civilian noninstitutional popula-tion, but not participating in the labor force in 2010. More than two-thirds (69%) of these veterans were 65 years or older, and likely (hopefully!) enjoy-ing their retirement years. The nonvet-eran, civilian noninstitutional popula-

tion that was not active in the labor force totaled 66.7 million, with closer to one-third (37%) in the 65 and over age category.

For more information about veterans’ unemployment, see the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situa-tion of Veterans summary (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/vet.pdf),or visit the Current Population Survey (http://www.bls.gov/cps/) at the BLS website.

Fast Facts Fast Facts is a monthly snapshot of key workforce indicators produced by the Workforce & Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department.

If you would like to be added to the Fast Facts email list, contact Kathi Riddell at [email protected] or (503) 947-1266.

Graph 3

Relatively Low Veteran Labor Force Participation Rate, 2003 - 2010

Average Annual Rates, Ages 20 and Over80%

g g

OR Veterans OR Nonveterans

60%

Rat

e

40%

artic

ipat

ion

20%or F

orce

Pa

20%

Labo

0%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Source: Current Population Survey

14



Labor Conditions in OregonO. P. Hoff, State Commissioner of LaborFrom the 1911 commemorative edition of the Oregon Blue Book

While Oregon is largely undeveloped and thought of in the east as a new land, sparkling with opportunity and “overflowing with milk and honey,” the conditions that confront the labor-ing man here are very much the same as in the states whose names contain no suggestion of the wild west with its frontier hardships and rewards, because such a conception of Oregon is largely a mistaken one.

While Oregon’s undeveloped resources are truly great and all that is claimed for them by her many enthusiasts, every ambition and ad-vanced system of civilization known to the elite east exists in full flower in Oregon. There are no bonanzas of gold or silver merely awaiting the eye of the casual observer. All such have long ago been staked and prospected, and like many other eldorados, they are largely a thing of the past to the man with the pick and shovel.

Workingmen who come to Oregon with little save brawny arms and willing hearts, will find little more here to repay them for the great expense of emigrating to a new country, than they already have in a reasonably prosperous community in the east, middle west, north or south. Manual labor is the same here as everywhere. Salaried situations are no different. Wages compared with living expenses are so nearly similar to the average of other places as to warrant no boasting of our advantages in this respect. When loud announcements are seen telling of wonderful opportunities, and fabulous wages for labor on the Pacific Coast, the thoughtful and fairly satisfied workingman should consider the matter seriously and understand these allurements are often misleading.

Large projects require many laborers, and often these spring up in Oregon, but the means of bringing workingmen here is just as rapid and cheap as in any sec-tion of the country, hence it is not to be expected but that wages are very much the same.

Oregon’s advantages for laboring people without sufficient accumulations to give them a start, are: A mild climate, certainty of crops, absence of damaging storms, and opportunities as good as any other state.

With empty hands, I question that the emigrating workingman, has much to gain over other places by coming out here. If he, on the other hand, has been able to accumulate, say a couple of thousand dollars to start with, he is then in a condi-

tion to take advantage of such oppor-tunities as the State offers. During the harvesting of the different crops there is a demand for additional labor; the rest of the year there are many idle unable to find employment. The work-ingman who can expect to reap benefit from the condition that exists in this State is he who can get possession of a few acres of land and make a home, and such land must be mostly got-ten by purchasing part of subdivided farms. It is a mistake to figure now on getting valuable government land even out here, although some is to be had, it is true, that will yield splendidly to the man who is willing to pay the price incident to the hardships of developing and improving it, and putting up with the disadvantages of isolated living.

The Oregon Blue Book Turns 100!In celebration of this milestone, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office is offering a limited edition commemorative version of the original 1911 Oregon Blue Book.

The first Oregon Blue Book provides a window into life in Oregon a century ago. Dozens of vintage images illustrate the state. These include scenes of Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, the Columbia Gorge, and other sights. Many images depict the bounty of Oregon’s agriculture and timber industries while others tout the state’s hunting and fish-ing opportunities.

Along with the images, the 1911 Oregon Blue Book is full of text describing the beauty and resources of the state in language that is both quaint and evocative. The book reports on every aspect of Oregon’s economy and society a century ago. Thus, the reader will find descriptions of 1911 transportation, agriculture, livestock, fish-ing, dairy, education, labor, and taxation conditions, among others.

You can find information to order a copy of the limited edition 1911 Oregon Blue Book by visiting http://bluebook.state.or.us/misc/news/1911.htm.

15



Oregon C

urrent Labor Force and Industry Employm

entJune May June Change From Change From2011 2011 2010 May 2011 June 2010

Labor Force StatusCivilian labor force 2,007,028 1,978,893 1,990,224 28,135 16,804 Unemployed 195,422 178,100 212,051 17,322 -16,629 Unemployment rate 9.7 9.0 10.7 0.7 -1.0 Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted 9.4 9.3 10.8 0.1 -1.4 Employed 1,811,606 1,800,793 1,778,173 10,813 33,433

Nonfarm Payroll EmploymentTotal nonfarm payroll employment 1,642,700 1,629,900 1,619,800 12,800 22,900 Total private 1,336,900 1,323,500 1,305,600 13,400 31,300 Mining and logging 6,700 6,800 6,900 -100 -200 Logging 5,100 5,200 5,200 -100 -100 Construction 69,900 67,200 68,300 2,700 1,600 Construction of buildings 15,900 15,400 16,000 500 -100 Heavy and civil engineering construction 8,300 8,000 9,200 300 -900 Specialty trade contractors 45,700 43,800 43,100 1,900 2,600 Manufacturing 167,800 166,500 164,300 1,300 3,500 Durable goods 118,300 118,100 115,500 200 2,800 Wood product manufacturing 18,700 18,800 20,500 -100 -1,800 Primary metal manufacturing 8,000 7,900 7,500 100 500 Fabricated metal product manufacturing 14,500 14,200 13,900 300 600 Machinery manufacturing 10,500 10,500 9,700 0 800 Computer and electronic product manufacturing 36,500 36,200 34,900 300 1,600 Semiconductor and electronic component mfg. 27,100 26,800 25,700 300 1,400 Transportation equipment manufacturing 10,400 10,700 10,400 -300 0 Nondurable goods 49,500 48,400 48,800 1,100 700 Food manufacturing 25,100 24,800 23,600 300 1,500 Trade, transportation, and utilities 312,400 311,200 306,400 1,200 6,000 Wholesale trade 72,200 72,300 73,000 -100 -800 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods 30,000 29,700 30,800 300 -800 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods 28,700 29,200 29,600 -500 -900 Electronic markets and agents and brokers 13,500 13,400 12,600 100 900 Retail trade 187,700 186,400 181,500 1,300 6,200 Motor vehicle and parts dealers 22,800 22,600 21,600 200 1,200 Building material and garden supply stores 13,800 13,700 14,000 100 -200 Food and beverage stores 40,600 40,100 37,800 500 2,800 Clothing and clothing accessories stores 15,800 15,500 15,400 300 400 Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores 10,100 10,100 9,800 0 300 General merchandise stores 37,800 37,900 36,900 -100 900 Miscellaneous store retailers 9,600 9,700 9,700 -100 -100 Nonstore retailers 6,000 6,000 5,700 0 300 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 52,500 52,500 51,900 0 600 Utilities 4,400 4,400 4,600 0 -200 Transportation and warehousing 48,100 48,100 47,300 0 800 Information 33,000 33,200 32,700 -200 300 Publishing industries, except internet 14,100 14,200 14,100 -100 0 Telecommunications 6,600 6,700 6,800 -100 -200 Financial activities 94,300 93,500 93,300 800 1,000 Finance and insurance 56,000 56,100 55,500 -100 500 Real estate and rental and leasing 38,300 37,400 37,800 900 500 Professional and business services 187,600 184,000 181,900 3,600 5,700 Professional and technical services 72,800 72,300 69,800 500 3,000 Management of companies and enterprises 30,100 30,000 30,600 100 -500 Administrative and waste services 84,700 81,700 81,500 3,000 3,200 Administrative and support services 79,200 76,600 76,200 2,600 3,000 Employment services 31,800 31,100 31,200 700 600 Educational and health services 232,100 235,800 226,000 -3,700 6,100 Educational services 29,200 32,600 28,900 -3,400 300 Health care and social assistance 202,900 203,200 197,100 -300 5,800 Ambulatory health care services 71,500 71,500 70,000 0 1,500 Hospitals 54,100 54,200 52,800 -100 1,300 Nursing and residential care facilities 44,500 44,400 43,100 100 1,400 Social assistance 32,800 33,100 31,200 -300 1,600 Leisure and hospitality 175,700 167,600 167,300 8,100 8,400 Arts, entertainment, and recreation 26,200 24,600 22,000 1,600 4,200 Accommodation and food services 149,500 143,000 145,300 6,500 4,200 Accommodation 22,300 20,600 22,200 1,700 100

Oregon Current Labor Force and Industry Employment

Food services and drinking places 127,200 122,400 123,100 4,800 4,100 Other services 57,400 57,700 58,500 -300 -1,100 Government 305,800 306,400 314,200 -600 -8,400 Federal government 29,300 28,100 34,000 1,200 -4,700 State government 83,500 82,200 82,300 1,300 1,200 State education 33,500 33,000 31,400 500 2,100 Local government 193,000 196,100 197,900 -3,100 -4,900 Local education 102,200 106,100 106,800 -3,900 -4,600Labor-management disputes 0 0 0 0 0

The most recent month is preliminary, the prior month is revised. Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Labor Force Status: Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes nonfarm payroll employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor force.

Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics.

Cautionary Note to Users: Starting in December 2009, revised estimation procedures mandated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics may result in unusually large or volatile month-to-month employment changes. These survey-based estimates are revised annually, based on more complete information from quarterly employer tax records.

Unemployment Rates

Total Nonfarm Payroll Employment

1,650,000

1,700,000

1,750,000

1,800,000

Oregon Employment Trend Flat Since FebruaryOregon Nonfarm Payroll Employment, Seasonally Adjusted

1,500,000

1,550,000

1,600,000

Jun-05 Jun-06 Jun-07 Jun-08 Jun-09 Jun-10 Jun-11

Oregon and U.S. Rates Up Slightly in JuneUnemployment Rates, Seasonally Adjusted

12%

14%

8%

10%

Oregon

6%

8%United States

2%

4%

0%Jun-05 Jun-06 Jun-07 Jun-08 Jun-09 Jun-10 Jun-11

State of OregonEMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT875 Union Street NESalem, Oregon 97311

Indicators

Unemployment Rate (Seasonally adjusted)

Oregon U.S.June 2011 9.4 9.2May 2011 9.3 9.1 June 2010 10.8 9.5

Seasonally Adjusted Employment (Total Nonfarm Payroll Jobs)

Oregon U.S.June 2011 1,625,500 131,017,000May 2011 1,624,700 130,999,000 June 2010 1,605,000 129,281,000 Change From June 2010 20,500 1,036,000 % Change 1.3% 0.8%

Consumer Price Index (CPI) (All urban consumers, 1982-84=100)

Port.-Salem, Yearly OR-WA Index ChangeJuly-Dec. 2010 219.179 1.6% Annual Average 2010 218.344 1.3% United States June 2011 225.722 3.6% Annual Average 2010 218.1 1.6%

OREGON LABOR TRENDSOregon Labor Trends is published by the Workforce & Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department. Oregon Labor Trends can be found under “Publications” on OED’s labor market information Web site, www.QualityInfo.org.

Laurie Warner, DirectorGraham Slater, Administrator for Workforce & Economic ResearchProduction Team: Gail Krumenauer Kathi Riddell Brenda TurnerMark Miller Paul Marche Jessica Nelson Address changes: Workforce & Economic Research 875 Union Street NE, Rm 207 Salem, OR 97311 or phone (503) 947-1204, 1-800-237-3710, e-mail: [email protected]

Material contained in this publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Please credit Oregon Labor Trends, Oregon Employment Department. Any information on individual companies comes from nonconfidential published sources.

WorkSource Oregon is an equal opportunity employer/program.WorkSource Oregon es un programa/empleador que respeta la igualdad de oportunidades.

August 2011 Manufacturing in Rural Oregonlibrary.state.or.us/repository/2010/201010061145443/Aug2011.pdf · August 2011 Manufacturing in Rural Oregon ... metal manufacturing (6%)

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