South Coast Jobless Numbers, March 13

Coos County’s seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate increased to 5.9percent from a revised 5.5percent in December. The rate is above that of January 2018(5.5%).Oregon’s seasonally adjusted January unemployment rate was 4.3percent; the national rate was 4.0 percent. The county’s total payroll employment decreased over the month by 820jobs, in part reflecting losses associated with the winter break in the school year (-280).  Coos County shed 50jobsover the year ending in January, a decline of0.2percent.However, manufacturing led the county with a gain of 90 jobs, a 5.4percent annual growth rate with job gains primarily in food manufacturing. Curry County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.8percent from arevised6.5percent in December. The rate is above the January 2018 rate (6.3%).Curry County’s total nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the month by 80 jobs. Gains were reported in private education and health services (+60). Leisure and hospitality shed 40 jobs, which is typical this time of year. Trade, transportation, and utilities shed 30 jobs. The federal government shutdown did not noticeably impact Curry County’s January federal government jobs tally. Curry County reported a net gain of about10jobs over the year ending in January, resulting in a 0.2percent over-the-year job gain.