So how is the economy (Bend, Junction City: foreclosed, house, employment)

[bgcty1]

So, I have to ask the question, how is the economy doing in Oregon, I received a lot of good info on my last thread, so I figured I would like to solicit everyones opinion on how the state is doing in this recession. Here in Florida, there are foreclosed homes everywhere, the jobless rate is above, 13% above the national average. How is everything doing out there, I know that everyone is hurting but I think we are getting hit a little harder because all of our economic base is agriculture, construction, or tourism, and two of the three have completely hit bottom. So any input would be greatly appreciated.

[karlsch]

December 2008 Unemployment:
Florida 8.1%
Oregon 9.0%

North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming all under 4% - if you want to move, buy warm clothes and jumper cables and learn how to say "you betcha."

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

[ladyflyfsh]

Well Oregon is being hit hard as is the entire Pacific NW. Boeing just laid off thousands of workers as did Microsoft; Country Coach RV manufacturers in Junction City asked all their employees to come pick up all their belongings as the company faces bankruptcy and they may all have lost their jobs, over 300 people have lost their jobs at Cessna in Bend, Starbucks has laid off another thousand people.....

Last week, the state of Oregon wrote almost 107,000 unemployment benefit checks. In the same week last year, the state wrote a little more than 56,000.

Oregon's unemployment rate for December was 8.8 percent. Jackson County's unemployment rate was 9.9 percent. Josephine County's was 11.7 percent. The national average is 7.1 percent.

It's not a pretty site!

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Yep, times are tough right now. Not a lot of quality jobs.

[Candle]

More like, there ARE NO jobs here.

Unless you are in nursing or a police officer...they have work.

[mikemorrow]

Set your goals low. Jobs are there but they are low wage. It may be a while before I get a Tv or a phone. And even when things get better, a tv is a waist of space. LOL

[BLAZER PROPHET]

On the other hand, all is not gloom & doom.

There are people, like me, who realize they will not build much equity in their house for some time and are trying to turn their focus towards maintenance. In the last year we're painted it, roofed it, fenced it and plan on a deck this summer. As a result, we look carefully and hire people with good reputations and competitive pricing to do all this work. We used our stimulus check from Uncle Sam to get started.

Same with our vehicles. We're knowing we will keep them a long time so we're putting in extra money to maintain them and ward off major problems. As such, we're looking for good mechanics at a reasonable price.

So for those who are honest, of good repute and work for a reasonable fee, we've shelled out about $9,000 last year. It was a big hit, but in the long run we hope it pays dividends.

All that to say, enterprising people good with their hands and with some provable skills can work out a decent living in this economic bad times if they are also smart.

[master of the night man]

jobless rates; surely this is in retail, technology, and construction right? not all employment domains are suffering.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by master of the night man

jobless rates; surely this is in retail, technology, and construction right? not all employment domains are suffering.

The state is hiring extra people for the unemployment offices - but those are just temporary jobs.

[master of the night man]

Unemployment is bad all around, but it doesn't cross all sectors. I am a social worker, and unfortunately, increases in homelessness, poverty, and addiction mean more work for folks like me. What are Oregon's biggest employment sectors? Is lumber still a primary industry?