By David Bates • Staff Writer • 

Along the Street: Unemployment falls to lowest level since 2007

Yamhill County’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent in April, down from 5.1 percent in March, according to the latest statistics from the Oregon Department of Employment.

That’s the lowest point since June 2007. It continues a downward trend that began in May 2009, after local unemployment peaked at 12.2 percent.

Along The Street

David Bates covers local business and economics news for the News-Register.

He can be reached at 503-687-1228 or by e-mailing to dbates@newsregister.com.

Officials said local employment gains in April were normal. Total non-farm employment declined by 240 jobs — about what was expected. Seasonally adjusted employment was unchanged. 

The county has gained 700 in the last 12 months, a 2.2 percent increase. The private sector accounted for 490 of the new jobs, an increase of 1.8 percent, and the public sector 210, an increase of nearly 4.5 percent.

The fastest-growing private-sector industries over the past year were construction, manufacturing, retailing and health services. Additional data may be found at the www.qualityinfo.org.

 

BUSINESS PORTAL

The Strategic Economic Development Corporation, a Salem-based business advocacy group, has launched a website designed for businesses operating in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.

In addition to information about doing business in the region, the site provides a portal where SEDCOR members can maintain a company profile and register for events. It can be found at www.sedcor.com.

 

IN THE CHIPS

The Oregon Community Foundation recently awarded $438,000 in grants to nonprofits in the Northern Willamette Valley. Recipients include the McMinnville chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which was awarded $20,000.

In Newberg, the Chehalem Cultural Center received $3,000 to help fund development of a recording studio. Meanwhile, Nomadic Teacher Educational Programs Inc. received $6,720 to fund publication of a book on the history of the Springbrook community, established in 1880 and annexed to Newberg in 1980.

 

NEW AGENT

Windermere Pacific Crest Realty has hired Abby Cohen as an agent.

Cohen is a 2015 graduate of Western Oregon University, where she studied music and business. She is a longtime Yamhill County resident who grew up in a real estate family. 

She can be reached at 503-984-0663.

 

AG MONEY

The McMinnville-based agriculture supplier OVS is partnering with Montana State University Northern’s College of Technical Sciences to offer a two-year scholarship to a local student interested in the field.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved in farm and agriculture mechanics right now,” said Dennis Gubbels of OVS. “It’s not just about tractors, implements and mowers anymore.”

The program offers tuition assistance, summer employment and post-college employment at one of the company’s two local outlets. The company wants to select someone by the time classes resume in the fall.

For more information, call Gubbels at 971-701-5011 or visit www.ovs.com.

Comments

TTT

The news register now predicts the future... "Unemployment falls to lowest level since 20007"

miketubbs1

I fondly remember when the tomato picking machines were invented. Those machines kept me working 90 hours per week. The tomato itself had to be genetically re-engineered, so as to be made tough enough to withstand the physical stress when harvested.


listen*up

then why are there so many people,men and women on welfare,and why are there so many homeless people?

Don Dix

People who are receiving welfare or other assistance many times are not interested in applying for work -- and if they don't apply, they are not counted as unemployed. That not only skews the balance, but the numbers look much better than the true count.

Web Design and Web Development by Buildable