South Coast Jobs
Coos County’s total payroll employment increased by 240 in February, according to the latest report in the Oregon Employment Department’s South Coast Labor Trends monthly newsletter. The increase was “mostly due to seasonal increases in local government education.” Over the year, industries gaining jobs include wood product manufacturing (+30), wholesale trade (+40), retail trade (+40), mining and logging (+40), and local government education (+110). Curry County’s employment declined by 20 jobs in February, with the greatest losses occurring in retail trade (-30). During the past year, total payroll employment declined by 210 jobs. Curry County is one of seven in Oregon losing jobs over the year.
Adding Jobs on the South Coast
Coos and Curry counties will add more than 1,900 jobs from 2012 to 20122 according to new projections from the Oregon Employment Department. According to a report in the South Coast Labor Trends newsletter for April 2014, “this represents a 7 percent increase in employment over 10 years. The growth stems from anticipated private-sector gains of 1,490 jobs (7%) and the addition of 460 jobs (7%) in government. This projected 7 percent growth rate exceeds the 1.0 percent losses seen during the past decade.” Industry projections show “there will be job growth in nearly all of the broad private-sector industry groups. All groups except professional and business services and information are expected to add jobs by 2022.”