South Coast Jobless Rates, Feb. 5

The unemployment rates in Coos and Curry counties dropped between the months of November and December according to the latest figures from the Oregon Employment Dept. According to the monthly newsletter South Coast Labor Trends, the jobless rate in Coos Co. during the last month of 2015 was 7.1%, lower than the 7.4% in November and more than a percentage point less than the 8.3% in December of 2014. In Curry Co., the rate in December was 8.1%, down from the 8.4% in November, and greatly less than the 9.5% from last year. The unemployment rate statewide in December was 5.4%, and nationally 5.0%.