Oregon Labor Trends

www.QualityInfo.org
Oregon Labor Trends
April 2015
Digging Into Oregon’s Mining Industry
Andrew Crollard, Regional Economist,
Andrew.R.Crollard@Oregon.gov,
(541) 519-0315
In This Issue
2,500
2,000
Employment Level
Oregon’s state gemstone is the sunstone, and the southeast portion of the
state is one of few places around the
world where it’s found. Oregon sunstone is a particular version of the gem
that includes copper mineralization. It
can only be found in Lake and Harney counties. There are a few mining
companies who extract the gem and
allow people to pay for their chance to
dig and find their own. The mining industry extends far beyond the unique
Oregon sunstone, however. According
to the Geographic Names Information
System, there are almost 600 active
and inactive mines in Oregon.
Annual Employment in Mining
Oregon, 1990-2014
1,500
1,000
500
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
What Is Included in the Mining
Industry?
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Falls
to 5.8 Percent in February ..................2
People Helping People:
Oregon’s Social Assistance
Industry Making a Difference
for Oregonians .....................................3
What Are Certified Work Ready
Communities? ......................................5
Local Highlights: Did Union
County’s Economy Become More
Diverse in Recent Years? ....................6
Social Workers:
Professional Helpers ...........................7
Online Ads See Significant
Growth over the Year ..........................8
When someone thinks of mining as an
industry, they probably get mental pictures of mineshafts leading to a gold
deposit or a coal strip mine. However,
there are many other activities included within the mining industry such as
oil and gas extraction, limestone and
granite quarrying, and gravel and sand
mining. It also includes mining support
activities like mine tunneling services
and oil and gas well drilling.
Mining Industry Still Not Off
Post-Recession Lows
Like most industries in Oregon, mining
experienced a boom and bust surrounding the Great Recession. Rapid
increases in construction in the mid2000s helped to spur growth in mining
employment as most employment
within the mining industry is involved
in extracting sand and gravel for
construction. The industry lost roughly
a quarter of all payroll employment between the 2008 peak and 2014. Unlike
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
most industries, it hasn’t yet started to
recover from post-recession lows.
As might be expected, mining is a
seasonal industry. The peak employment is in the summer months of July
through September and the trough is
in the winter months of January and
February. In a typical year, there are
approximately 20 percent fewer employed in mining during the winter than
during the summer.
The mining industry paid above average wages, at $49,638 in 2013. The
average for all jobs was $45,008 in
Oregon. Total payroll of mining firms
was over $75 million in 2013.
Non-Employer Firms Make up
More than Half of All Mining
Firms
In addition to the businesses included
above which are subject to payroll
taxes, there are also non-employer
firms. These are usually self-employed
people whose business has no paid
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Oregon Labor Trends
employees and have annual business
receipts of $1,000 or more. According to
the U.S. Census Bureau’s non-employer statistics, there were 183 businesses
in 2012 that fit this group. The threshold
of annual business receipts exceeding
$1,000 is an important one as there are
countless amateur and hobbyist rock
hounds that partake in mining activities
throughout Oregon but do not meet the
minimum level of income to be counted
in these statistics.
Mining Industry Firms Tend to
Employ Fewer Employees
The size of firm in the mining industry
in Oregon differs slightly from what
we see for all industries. In the mining
industry, 50.1 percent of firms had
between one and four workers. Across
all industries, 30.6 percent of firms had
April 2015
Size of Firm by Industry, First Quarter 2014
Industry
Mining
All Industries
0
1 to 4
5 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 49 50 Plus
Workers Workers Workers Workers Workers Workers
14.8%
50.1%
15.7%
9.7%
6.0%
3.7%
13.5%
36.0%
17.1%
18.9%
10.8%
3.6%
between one and four workers. Only
9.7 percent of mining firms employed
between 10 and 19 workers, while
this figure was 18.9 percent across all
industries.
Mining Is More Concentrated
in Rural Counties than Other
Industries
As one might expect, there is a higher
concentration of both businesses and
employment in the mining industry in
rural counties than what we see for
all industries. About 80 percent of all
businesses in Oregon are in metro
counties, but only 63 percent of mining
industry businesses are. Similarly, 82
percent of employment in all industries
is in metro counties, but only 67 percent of mining industry employment is
located in metro counties.
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.8 Percent
in February
have been unemployed for six months
prised largely of restaurants – added
David Cooke, Economist,
David.C.Cooke@state.or.us,
(503) 947-1272
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped
to 5.8 percent in February from 6.3
percent in January. This was the
second consecutive large drop in the
rate, putting February’s rate at the
lowest since May 2008. Oregon’s unemployment rate is now within three
tenths of a percentage point of the
U.S. rate, which was 5.5 percent in
February. This was the smallest gap
between Oregon and the U.S. since
October 2013.
Several other labor market indicators
are reflecting strength. The number
of long-term unemployed continued
to drop. Roughly 35,000 Oregonians
or more, compared with more than
100,000 in that situation at the worst
of the recession. In addition, the
number of involuntary part-time workers dropped to 105,000 in February,
20,000 fewer than one year ago. Also,
the number of Oregonians unemployed because they lost their job
dropped below 40,000 for the first time
since 2007. In February, more Oregonians were unemployed because they
chose to leave their prior job or joined
the labor market than because they’d
lost their job.
Nonfarm payroll employment rose
by 2,400 in February – the smallest
monthly increase in six months. Restaurants, health care, and construction
were among the big gainers. Leisure
and hospitality – an industry com-
2,100 jobs in February. Nationally,
consumer spending at restaurants
rose rapidly since last year, perhaps
partially due to people having more
money to spend since gasoline prices
plunged. Health care and social assistance added 1,100 jobs in February, bolstered by rapid hiring among
firms providing services for the elderly.
Construction activity, benefiting from
Oregon’s warm and dry winter, added
900 jobs.
Despite these improvements, wage
gains remain modest with average private-sector payroll earnings in Oregon
rising only 18 cents per hour, or 0.8
percent, during the past 12 months.
Note: all numbers above are seasonally adjusted.
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2
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Oregon Labor Trends
April 2015
People Helping People: Oregon’s Social Assistance
Industry Making a Difference for Oregonians
Shawna Sykes, Workforce Analyst,
Shawna.L.Sykes@oregon.gov,
(503) 397-4995 ext. 232
People helping people: workers in
the social assistance industry are just
that. Whether you’re looking for a job,
counseling through a difficult time, caring for your children or elderly parent,
or helping with housing or a hot meal,
Oregon’s social assistance providers
are here to help.
Graph 1
Oregon's Social Assistance
Industry Employment
Child Day Care
Services, 10,058,
20%
Vocational
Rehabilitation
Services, 6,750 jobs,
13%
Emergency and
Other Relief
Services, 498 jobs,
1%
Covered employment in the social
Community Housing
Services, 1,649 jobs,
assistance industry in Oregon has
3%
grown quickly in the past few years,
from over 46,000 in 2009 to more than
51,000 in 2013 (up 11.6% in the past
Community Food
five years). The industry contributed
Services, 690 jobs,
1%
nearly $1.2 billion in payroll stateOther Individual and
wide in 2013. About 63 percent of its
Family Services,
9,939 jobs, 19%
employment is in the private sector
and 37 percent is in government.
Covered employaverage employment counts only
ment of 10,058,
employees who
20 percent of the
are covered by
ervices for the elderly and
industry’s emunemployment
disabled make up the largest
ployment. This
insurance. The
sector includes
self employed
portion of the social assistance
private and
also contribute
industry.
publicly funded
significantly
daycare and preto this indusschool facilities,
try; there were
after school programs, and resource
11,435 non-employer establishments
and referral services.
in Oregon with $157 million in sales
receipts in 2012 according to the U.S.
Other individual and family services
Census Bureau.
make up another 19 percent of social
assistance industry employment with
Over One-Third of Jobs Help
9,939 jobs. Businesses in this sector
Elderly and Disabled
include marriage and family counselors, mental health and addiction
Services for the elderly and disabled
services providers, sexual assault and
make up the largest portion of the
abuse crisis services, support groups,
social assistance industry, with more
and more.
than one-third of the industry’s total
covered employment in Oregon – an
Vocational rehabilitation services
average of 17,819 jobs statewide in
include organizations specializing in
2013 (Graph 1). This sector includes
career counseling, developmental
senior citizen centers, adult foster
care, Alzheimer’s care facilities, senior and cognitive disability services, apprenticeship and employment training
volunteer programs, government
programs, and occupational therapy.
senior and disability services agenThis group makes up about 13 percent
cies, and meal sites. Child day care
of social assistance workers, with
services account for the second larg6,750 jobs.
est segment of social assistance, with
S
Child and Youth
Services, 4,038 jobs,
8%
Services for the
Elderly and Persons
with Disabilities,
17,819 jobs, 35%
Source: Quarterly
Census of Employment &
Wages, 2013 annual.
Child and youth services (4,038 jobs)
round out the top five sectors in the
social assistance industry, with 8
percent of the industry’s employment.
Although community food and housing services and emergency and other
relief services do not have high concentrations of employment (2,837 jobs
combined), the services they provide
to Oregon residents are essential,
especially during desperate times.
Private sector social assistance industry employment grew by 32 percent in
the past 10 years, from 24,429 jobs
in 2004 to 32,360 in 2013. During
the same time period, all of Oregon’s
private industries combined grew by
14 percent.
Most Common Jobs
Home care workers, who provide
personal assistance to the elderly and
disabled in their home, are the most
common occupation within Oregon’s
social assistance industry. Preschool
teachers, personal care aides, social
and human service assistants, and
child care workers round out the top five
most common social assistance jobs.
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3
Oregon Labor Trends
April 2015
Table 1
10 Most Common Jobs in Oregon's Social Assistance Industry
Home Care Workers
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Personal Care Aides
Social and Human Service Assistants
Childcare Workers
Teacher Assistants
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Social and Community Service Managers
2012
Employment
11,827
3,739
3,100
2,094
2,057
1,561
1,140
1,139
1,065
1,029
2014 Median
Hourly Wage
$11.85
$10.81
$14.11
$9.84
$29,660*
$20.76
$11.84
$12.21
$28.40
* Average annual wage
The 2013 average annual wage for
Oregon’s social assistance industry
was $23,117, just over half of the
state’s average across all industries of
$45,008. Only one of the top 10 social
assistance occupations, social and
community service manager, had an
average wage higher ($61,516) than
the state’s average wage.
Which Skills Do You Need to
Work in This Industry?
Thinking about working in the social
assistance industry? Working as a
team member, processing records,
maintaining forms and files, and applying active listening techniques are
among the skills most commonly requested for social assistance industry
jobs. See the list of the most common
skills for additional insights into what
Oregon’s social assistance industry
businesses are looking for in their applicants (Table 2).
Most workers in this industry didn’t
choose their positions because of
the big paycheck. They do it because
they want to help others. Lynne
Fuller, a Business and Employment
Specialist for the Oregon Employment Department’s Astoria office, has
been helping people find jobs for the
past 10 years. She says, “The most
successful people in this industry
have experienced the needs of their
clients first-hand. They’re human, not
elitist, and they sincerely care about
their clients. They help them find the
resources they need to get on their
feet, and remind them of their worth.
4
For some people it means helping
them find the most basic assistance
– housing, food, clothing, child care.
If they don’t have those basic needs
met, they can’t think about looking
for a job.”
Someone in Lynne’s past helped her
at a time when she needed it, with
obtaining clothing appropriate for a
professional environment and transportation to and from a job training
site. She hasn’t forgotten their kindness and is passionate about paying
it forward to others. “I need to feel like
I made a difference. It’s important to
my soul to do this,” says Fuller. Now
that Lynne is approaching retirement,
it doesn’t mean she’ll stop helping
people find jobs. “Giving people the
tools they need to reach their next
step, whatever it is they need, is very
rewarding work.”
Industry Projected to Grow
The social assistance industry is
projected to grow by 21 percent from
Table 2
Most Common Skills Among Social Assistance Industry Jobs
Work as a team member
Process records and maintain forms and files
Apply active listening techniques
Recognize physical and emotional abuse
Apply teaching techniques
Access social service resource providers
Apply confidentiality procedures
Follow safety procedures
Refer clients and patients to community services
Work with persons with mental disabilities and illnesses
Relate to clients' socioeconomic conditions
Provide emotional support to social services clients
Apply health and sanitation standards
Understand needs of the elderly
Empathize with other while providing counseling or related services
Prepare meals
Use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling
Prepare reports in timely manner
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Oregon Labor Trends
2012 to 2022, adding 6,800 jobs
statewide.
About half (3,400) of the additional
jobs are projected to be in Multnomah
and Washington counties, and another
480 in Clackamas County. The balance of the growth will be spread
across other regions of the state.
Though the job market has begun
to strengthen, individuals’ needs for
April 2015
housing, food, energy, mental health,
job search, and other assistance will
continue. Luckily, the professionals in
the social assistance industry are here
to help.
What Are Certified Work Ready Communities?
Oregon is one of the first four states
in the country selected to participate
Oregon Labor Trends
in the Certified Work Ready Communities initiative (CWRC). CWRC is
a designation by American College
Testing (ACT) that attracts new businesses and new jobs by showing that
the community has a pool of skilled
The CWRC fosters integration between businesses, economic development, workforce development, and education.
arch 2015
•Designed to help current businesses understand the M
workforce
in the community, the county, and the state. Cities, counties, and states know that certified communities are ready to go to work.
•Aligns workforce training programs, schools, and economic development
with the needs of the community, and matches appropriate applicants to jobs
based on skills levels, industries and occupations.
•Work ready communities are based on high national standards.
•Promotes intentional relationship building.
It helps the business community today and tomorrow. CWRC is setting the
stage to attract higher paying and higher quality jobs to our communities,
counties, and state.
and capable workers.
Union County became the first county
in Oregon to meet Certified Work
Ready Community status in December 2014. Clatsop and Lane counties
have been certified in 2015, with more
Oregon counties and communities to
follow in 2015. For more information
on progress around the state you can
visit workreadycommunities.org and
click on Oregon on the national map.
•CWRC provides assurance that employers can find workers that meet the
employers’ basic skills needs.
•Businesses get the right person, in the right job, the first time. Benefits small,
medium and large businesses.
•Job seekers have confidence they can do the job and do it well.
•Documents the skills of the talent pool in our communities for existing businesses that are hiring, and so communities and the state can better recruit
businesses to Oregon.
A community that is strongly committed to rebuilding its economy stands out
from the rest. Through the CWRC initiative the message is being sent that
Oregon’s communities and employees want to work, are ready to work, and are
able to work.
For more information on the initiative, go to Work Ready Oregon at oregonworkready.com/.
2015 Annual State Conference for Business
May 4-5 Sunriver Resort
A Voice for Business!
Featuring top professional presenters, educational breakout sessions,
informative exhibits, and more!
For more information, or to Register,
go online: http://goo.gl/Xd8PJt
Shaun.c.engstrom@oregon.gov • 503-947-1692 • www.oec.org
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5
1
Oregon Labor Trends
April 2015
LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Did Union County’s Economy Become More
Diverse in Recent Years?
Andrew Crollard, Regional Economist,
Andrew.R.Crollard@oregon.gov,
(541) 519-0315
Economic diversity helps an area
avoid the variability of downward
cycles within a specific industry. There
are many aspects to economic diversity, including: sources of income, skills
of the workforce, size of businesses,
and size of industries. In terms of
industry diversity, Union County’s
economy hasn’t changed much in the
past decade.
Industry Share of Total Private Employment
Industry
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Educational and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
2004
1%
6%
21%
27%
2%
5%
5%
16%
12%
4%
2009
1%
6%
14%
28%
2%
5%
6%
21%
13%
4%
2014
1%
5%
18%
28%
1%
5%
6%
21%
11%
4%
Measured by Change in Share of
Private Employment
One way to determine if the economy
became more diverse is to examine
how each industry’s share of total
private employment changed over a
given period of time. If we go back a
decade to 2004, we can see that most
industries shrank in terms of their share
of employment. The two that gained
the most, educational and health
services (+4.3 percentage points) and
trade, transportation, and utilities (+1.2
percentage points) were already two
of the three largest industries in Union
County. If we go back just five years to
2009, we get an even starker picture
of the lack of diversification. Only two
industries increased their share of total
private employment, other services
(+0.1 percentage points) and manufacturing (+4.0 percentage points). Similar
to the 10-year comparison, the manufacturing industry already held the third
highest share of private employment.
Measured by Change in
Employment
Alternatively, we can look at the raw
employment change over the same
6
Change in Industry Employment
Industry
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Educational and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
time periods. Looking back 10 years,
we see that the same industries gained
jobs. Using this method, we see that
professional and business services
grew at a faster rate than trade, transportation, and utilities. However, we
see that four industries, including the
two smallest, lost more than 10 percent
of their employment over the decade. A
similar story unfolds looking five years
back, where the five industries that lost
the largest share of their employment
Change
Change
Since 2004 Since 2009
-55%
-38%
-5%
-15%
-15%
32%
5%
1%
-21%
-8%
-13%
-3%
14%
-7%
27%
0%
-6%
-9%
3%
3%
were already five of the six smallest in
the county.
Conclusion
Using these two methods we can conclude that Union County’s economy did
not become more diverse over either
the last five or 10 years. The industries
that grew most using both methods
were already some of the largest in the
county in terms of employment.
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Oregon Labor Trends
April 2015
Social Workers: Professional Helpers
Chris T. Greaves, Research Analyst,
Chris.T.Greaves@oregon.gov,
(503) 947-1271
In a world of ups and downs, there are
those whose vocation is to assist others. They are social workers; people
who help others productively cope with
life’s problems. Even if you’ve never
sought out the services of a social
worker, it’s likely you have benefitted from one. Maybe it was a school
social worker running an anti-bullying
program or a social worker supporting
an elderly relative in a group home.
Job Settings, Growth, and
Wages
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, social workers are found in
a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, mental health clinics, or
private practice. They commonly work
full-time, which can include weekends
and holidays. Nationally their median
wage is $44,200 per year, or $21.25
an hour. Job prospects are good;
the field is expected grow faster than
the average for all occupations. This
growth will be driven by increased
demand for health care and social
services, depending on the social
worker’s specialty.
Clinical and Non-Clinical
Social Work
There are two types of social work:
clinical and non-clinical. Both are
important. Clinical work includes men-
tal health diagnosis and addressing
issues like trauma, substance abuse,
and family dysfunction. Non-clinical
social workers impact lives in ways like
policy analysis, rehabilitation services,
or program implementation. They are
also qualified for some types of counseling, such as conflict resolution or
emotional health. Due to the sensitive
nature of the issues they deal with, social workers must receive specialized
training and are often licensed.
Training and Licensing
Post-secondary training is an important step to becoming a social worker.
Degrees must be earned from institutions accredited by the Council on
Social Work Education. Receiving and
maintaining a social work license requires completing professional examinations, criminal background checks,
continuing education requirements,
and (if required) supervised practice.
Social worker licensing is overseen by
the Oregon Board of Licensed Social
Workers (BLSW). State law requires
anyone engaged in clinical social
work, or who uses the title of “social
worker,” to be licensed. There are
four different types of licensure available, depending on one’s training and
professional interest. Those pursuing
non-clinical work without the title of
“social worker” do not need licensure;
though obtaining one can improve job
prospects. An important exception involves those working as public school
social workers. If they have a license
from the Oregon Teacher Standards
and Practices Commission, they may
use the title of “school social worker”
without licensure by the BLSW.
License Descriptions
With a bachelor’s degree in social
work, one can take the examinations
to become a Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker (RBSW). While a
RBSW is not permitted to engage in
clinical practice, there are ample options for meaningful work.
When job-hunting, it’s important to
know that positions at the RBSW level
do not usually carry the title of “social
worker.” Search instead for jobs that
require a bachelor’s in social work.
They often have titles like: mental
health assistant; group home worker;
or program coordinator.
For higher level non-clinical work, one
can become a Licensed Master’s
Social Worker (LMSW). As the name
implies, a master’s degree in social
work is required along with professional examinations. Common jobs
include: case management; administrative supervision; or non-clinical
counseling in areas like employment
or sanitation. A LMSW can also practice privately.
Those wishing to practice clinical
social work must follow a two-step
licensing process. After completing
a Master’s Degree in Social work,
a Clinical Social Work Associate
Social Work Employment and Wages by Specialty in Oregon
Specialty
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Healthcare Social Workers
Social Workers, All Other
2012
Employment
3,448
2,172
1,328
1,573
Total
Average
Projected
Average
Hourly
2022
Annual
Employment Openings Wage 2014
3,888
117
$21.57
2,555
84
$21.71
1,559
51
$28.82
1,767
52
$23.01
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Average
Annual
Wage 2014
$59,953
$45,167
$59,953
$47,853
7
Oregon Labor Trends
(CSWA) license must be secured. This
involves complying with official ethical
standards and other pre-requisites,
and submitting a plan to the State
Board to complete a set number of
clinical practice hours. If the plan is
accepted the Board approves a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
to supervise the CSWA candidate’s
clinical work. Completion of the plan
involves working several thousand
hours over at least two years; after
75 supervised hours the CSWA exam
can be taken and license awarded,
while the remaining hours are completed. Upon successful completion
of the work-plan, a CSWA can sit for
the examinations to be a full Licensed
Clinical Social Worker.
April 2015
Social work can be a very rewarding
occupation. The work is demanding,
but the opportunities to help others
are abundant. Official job projections
anticipate growth in the field. Through
the licensing system, one can decide
what kind of social work to practice
and how much training it will take.
Online Ads See Significant Growth over the Year
Will Burchard, Employment Economist,
William.G.Burchard@oregon.gov,
(503) 947-1873
Over the year, employment has increased by 59,000 jobs (+3.5%) and
the unemployment rate has decreased
by 0.9 percentage points. The positive
movement of these economic indicators is joined by another positive
upward trend, which is the dramatic
increase in online advertisements for
jobs in most of 2014 and into 2015.
Online advertisements, tracked by
Wanted Analytics and The Conference
Board, are an indicator of demand for
workers. Over-the-year growth
was significant across all occupations, but Wanted Analytics also
tracks growth by individual occupation. Patterns of the most indemand occupations are similar
across the state, even in metro
and non-metro areas. Registered
nurses and truck drivers top the
list of ads in most regions, along
with retail salespersons, customer services reps, and a number of
computer-related jobs.
Growth Was High in All
Areas of the State
Employers placed 26 percent
more ads for workers in Oregon
in February 2015 than in February 2014. Between February
2013 and February 2014, ad
growth was just 3 percent.
Generally, ads grew in the range
of 20 to 30 percent for metropolitan statistical areas, aside from
the Corvallis MSA (5%), which
8
saw slower growth. Oregon’s two newest MSAs, Grants Pass and Albany,
grew by about 50 percent. Encouragingly, growth in non-metro Oregon was
almost 20 percent. Between February
2013 and February 2014, growth in
non-metro Oregon was 11 percent.
Nurses are the Most-Advertised
Occupation in Oregon
Employers placed more ads for registered nurses, by far, than any other occupation. More than 4,300 ads went out
for nurses across the state, about 2,300
of these in the Portland MSA. Nurses
topped the list in five of the state’s eight
MSAs, as well as in the state’s non-metro areas. Truck drivers also made the
top five lists in almost all of the state’s
MSAs and the non-metro areas.
Portland saw a few occupations high
on the list that weren’t prevalent in
other MSAs. Employers in the Portland metro area advertised heavily for
software developers and computer
systems analysts.
Employers Recruiting for Plenty
of Other Occupations
Job seekers not fitting the mold of
these top recruited positions should
Table 1
Demand for Labor Growing Fastest in Bend
Help Wanted Online Ads by Metro Area, Seasonally Adjusted
Area
Oregon
Portland
Eugene
Salem
Medford
Bend
Corvallis
Albany
Grants Pass
Non-Metro Combined
(not seasonally adjusted)
February
2015
85,100
February
2014
67,500
Change
17,615
Percent
Change
26%
52,200
7,100
6,700
4,800
4,200
2,100
1,500
900
41,200
5,300
5,100
4,000
3,100
2,000
1,000
590
11,000
1,800
1,600
800
1,100
100
500
310
27%
34%
31%
20%
35%
5%
50%
53%
8,300
7,000
1,300
19%
Source: Oregon Employment Department, The Conference Board, and
Wanted Analytics
Quality Information. Informed Choices. www.QualityInfo.org
Oregon Labor Trends
not feel discouraged by the limited
lists. Employers are advertising for
plenty of other occupations, too.
Help wanted ads could be found for
hundreds of occupations in each
area of the state. Although there is a
consistent demand for certain occupa-
April 2015
tions across the state, employers are
advertising for a wide range of different occupations.
Table 2
Top 5 Occupations by Number of Help Wanted Online Advertisements, February 2015
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Registered Nurses
2,346
Software Developers, Applications
1,590
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
1,118
Customer Service Representatives
906
Computer Systems Analysts
878
Eugene-Springfield
Registered Nurses
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Personal Care Aides
Retail Salespersons
Customer Service Representatives
543
294
185
137
126
Salem
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Registered Nurses
Social and Human Service Assistants
Retail Salespersons
Computer Systems Analysts
251
234
167
162
136
Medford
Registered Nurses
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Retail Salespersons
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Personal Care Aides
440
198
120
86
82
Bend
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Retail Salespersons
Registered Nurses
Customer Service Representatives
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
239
114
108
89
73
Corvallis
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Registered Nurses
Social and Human Service Assistants
Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Supervisors of Office and Admin Support Workers
111
83
46
41
31
Albany
Registered Nurses
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Nursing Assistants
105
81
66
43
37
Grants Pass
Registered Nurses
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Social and Human Service Assistants
Speech-Language Pathologists
Oregon (statewide)
Registered Nurses
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Software Developers, Applications
Retail Salespersons
Customer Service Representatives
4,305
2,538
1,718
1,502
1,412
Non-Metro Counties (combined)
Registered Nurses
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Physical Therapists
Retail Salespersons
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
67
50
31
26
23
637
304
245
206
184
Source: Oregon Employment Department, The Conference Board, and Wanted Analytics
Quality Information. Informed Choices. www.QualityInfo.org
9
Oregon Labor Trends
April 2015
Oregon Current Labor Force
andCurrent
Industry
Employment
Oregon
Labor
Force and Industry Employment
Labor Force Status
Civilian labor force
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted
Employed
February
January
February
Change From
Change From
2015
2015
2014
January 2015
February 2014
1,940,394
119,515
6.2
5.8
1,820,879
1,942,694
127,925
6.6
6.3
1,814,769
1,910,782
153,829
8.1
7.1
1,756,953
-2,300
-8,410
-0.4
-0.5
6,110
29,612
-34,314
-1.9
-1.3
63,926
61.4
12.1
61.6
12.7
60.9
14.8
-0.2
-0.6
0.5
-2.7
1,735,800
1,432,000
7,100
76,700
181,600
128,100
53,500
324,100
72,400
194,100
57,600
32,100
91,800
222,900
88,100
41,700
93,100
258,100
37,600
220,500
178,600
59,000
303,800
26,400
87,200
34,800
190,200
101,600
0
1,727,800
1,428,700
7,100
76,400
180,400
127,300
53,100
328,900
73,000
197,000
58,900
32,300
92,200
222,200
86,700
41,600
93,900
253,700
34,500
219,200
176,400
59,100
299,100
26,400
85,500
33,400
187,200
99,100
0
1,677,500
1,380,600
7,400
73,700
174,100
123,700
50,400
315,600
71,700
188,000
55,900
31,800
90,000
210,700
83,100
39,300
88,300
247,400
36,600
210,800
172,200
57,700
296,900
26,400
84,200
34,400
186,300
100,500
0
8,000
3,300
0
300
1,200
800
400
-4,800
-600
-2,900
-1,300
-200
-400
700
1,400
100
-800
4,400
3,100
1,300
2,200
-100
4,700
0
1,700
1,400
3,000
2,500
0
58,300
51,400
-300
3,000
7,500
4,400
3,100
8,500
700
6,100
1,700
300
1,800
12,200
5,000
2,400
4,800
10,700
1,000
9,700
6,400
1,300
6,900
0
3,000
400
3,900
1,100
0
Other Labor Force Indicators
Labor force participation rate, seasonally adjusted
Labor underutilization rate – U-6, seasonally adjusted
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Total nonfarm payroll employment
Total private
Mining and logging
Construction
Manufacturing
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Professional and technical services
Management of companies and enterprises
Administrative and waste services
Educational and health services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Federal government
State government
State education
Local government
Local education
Labor-management disputes
The most recent month is preliminary, the prior month is revised. Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Labor Force Status: Civilian labor force includes employed and unemployed individuals 16 years and older by place of residence. Employed includes nonfarm payroll
employment, self-employed, unpaid family workers, domestics, agriculture and labor disputants. Unemployment rate is calculated by dividing unemployed by civilian labor
force.
U-6 is the total unemployed plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force plus total employed part-time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force
plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force.
Nonfarm Payroll Employment: Data are by place of work and cover full- and part-time employees who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the
month. The data exclude the self-employed, volunteers, unpaid family workers, and domestics. These survey-based estimates are revised quarterly, based on more complete
information from employer tax records.
10
Quality Information. Informed Choices. www.QualityInfo.org
Unemployment Rates
Indicators
Oregon's Unemployment Rate Lowest Since May 2008
Unemployment Rate
(Seasonally adjusted)
Unemployment Rates, Seasonally Adjusted
14%
Feb. 2015
Jan. 2015
Feb. 2014
12%
Oregon
10%
United States
8%
Oregon 5.8
6.3 7.1 U.S.
5.5
5.7
6.7
6%
Seasonally Adjusted Employment
(Total Nonfarm Payroll Jobs)
4%
2%
0%
Feb-07
Feb-08
Feb-09
Feb-10
Feb-11
Feb-12
Feb-13
Feb-14
Feb-15
Total Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Oregon U.S.
Feb. 2015
1,775,100 141,126,000
Jan. 2015
1,752,700 140,831,000
Feb. 2014
1,698,200 137,830,000
Change From
Feb. 2014 56,900 3,296,000
% Change 3.4% 2.4%
Job Growth Continues in Oregon in February
Oregon Nonfarm Payroll Employment, Seasonally Adjusted
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
(All urban consumers, 1982-84=100)
1,800,000
1,750,000
Port.-Salem, OR-WA Index July-Dec. 2014
242.679
Annual Average
2014 241.215
1,700,000
1,650,000
United States
Feb. 2015 Annual Average
2014
1,600,000
1,550,000
1,500,000
Feb-07
Feb-08
Feb-09
Feb-10
Feb-11
Feb-12
Feb-13
Feb-14
Yearly
Change
2.3%
2.4%
234.722
0.0%
236.736
1.6%
Feb-15
OREGON LABOR TRENDS
Oregon Labor Trends is published by the Workforce & Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department.
Oregon Labor Trends can be found under “Publications” on OED’s labor market information Web site, www.QualityInfo.org.
Lisa Nisenfeld, Director • Graham Slater, Administrator for Workforce & Economic Research
Production Team:
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Address Changes:
Workforce & Economic Research • 875 Union Street NE, Rm 207 • Salem, OR 97311
Phone (503) 947-1266 • 1-800-262-3912 ext. 71266 • E-mail: Lmipubs.emp@state.or.us
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Please credit Oregon Labor Trends, Oregon Employment Department. Any information on
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