While the rest of the nation has apparently stalled in its economic recovery, the Westside and the urban centers of Oregon are continuing to show signs of life.

 According to the state’s employment department, WorkSource Oregon, Washington County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 7.6 percent in May, a full 1.5 percentage points lower than one year ago in May of 2010.  By comparison, Multnomah County’s unemployment rate also fell by one quarter of one percent last month to 8.4 percent; Clackamas County went down to 8.6 percent; Yamhill County was 9.3 percent; and Columbia County hovered at 10.2 percent.

 Sadly, the month of June marks another dubious landmark in Oregon’s economic productivity.  Our state has endured a higher rate of unemployment than the national average for 180 consecutive months, since June 1996. 

 In an interview with KGW News Channel 8 today, WEA executive director Jonathan Schlueter posed the questions, “Are we the victims of bad luck and poor timing?  Or are we the victims of bad choices and poor planning?”

 But the news is not all bad.  In May, Washington County employers added 700 jobs to the payroll, and Clackamas County added 600, while Multnomah County lost 700.  This helped lower Oregon’s unemployment rate to 9.3 percent, which is just above the national average of 9.1 percent. 

 For Multnomah County, the big loss was 1,400 jobs in the education sector of colleges and universities, but it was offset with added employment opportunities in trade, transportation and utilities (400 jobs); the manufacturing of durable goods (200 jobs); leisure and hospitality (200 jobs); and other services (200 jobs). 

 In Washington County, construction increased by 300 jobs; retail added 200; administrative and waste services grew by 200; and leisure and hospitality improved by 200; and local government jobs expanded by 200.  However, there was a loss in Washington County of 300 professional and technical service positions, and the semiconductor and electronic components manufacturing took a hit of 200 jobs. 

For Clackamas County, the largest increase in payroll was in the trade, transportation and utilities sector where there was an increase of 300 jobs.

Since May of 2010, employment in the private sector has increased with Washington County showing 3,900 additional private sector jobs, Multnomah County 3,600, and Clackamas County 700.

To learn more, see Westside’s economic and demographic indicators.