The continuing trend of the unemployment rate being significantly less than the previous year for the five complete counties on the Oregon Coast, but only slightly better or worse than the previous month, continued during the month of February 2014 according to the latest figures released from the State Employment Dept. The jobless rate in Coos Co. last month was 9.0%, the same as in January, but 1.6% less than the 10.6% recorded in February of last year. In Curry Co., the unemployment rate was 10.2%, up slightly from the 10.0% in January, but significantly less than the 11.3% incurred in February 2013. The further north you go on the Oregon Coast, the less the unemployment rate. In Lincoln Co., the rate laws 7.3% for the second straight month, but one-and-a-half percent less than the 8.8% in February of last year. In Tillamook Co., the rate last month was 6.3%, up from the 6.1% in January, but still less than the 7.7% from last year. Clatsop Co. continues to have the best rate on the Coast at 5.9% in February, up from the 5.8% in January, but down from the 7.4% in February of a year ago. Both Douglas and Lane counties rates are included within their metropolitan communities in the valley.
