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The Roseburg News Review---April 2, 2008
Some bright spots accompany gloomy job news. The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians just broke ground on a $40-million Hotel - Casino expansion project that is expected employ 200 people during the construction phase and provide 100 permanent, full time jobs in the future.
One could almost hear the collective groan upon the announcement of a nearly 10 percent unemployment rate for Douglas County in January and February.
Still, with the recent downturn in the economy and the negative effect on the wood products industry, it wasn't much of a surprise for a community that has diversified somewhat, but remains dependent on the timber industry.
While the rate may be discouraging to those looking for work, there's a lot more to this story.
The unemployment rate is actually less than half what it was during one of Oregon's worst recessionary periods. In January of 1982, Douglas County had an unemployment rate of 21.8 percent, according to Brian Rooney, regional economist for the Oregon Employment Department.
The rate averaged 17.2 percent over that entire year. It was during those early years of the 1980s that the local wood products industry lost 30 percent of its work force. Ironically, even when the timber industry was doing well, such as in 1973, the annual unemployment rate was 7.3 percent — still higher than the current state and national rates.
That's just a fact of life for rural counties.
"Rural counties tend to have somewhat higher unemployment rates because the work is seasonal in nature, with agriculture, logging, more resource-based activities," Rooney said.
And January and February always face higher rates than the rest of the year because of layoffs of holiday help, winter break for school employees and inclement weather playing havoc with outdoor jobs.
So what does the high unemployment rate mean for the area?
"For most employers looking to locate somewhere, a high unemployment rate, depending on the quality of the labor force, is a positive thing for them," Rooney said. "If they move there, they should be able to find the workers."
It becomes an employer's market, however, when the employer has the choice of many workers to fill positions. That's when the competition among job seekers can intensify, giving the advantage to those most qualified and suited for particular positions.
Douglas County should definitely see jobs created in the coming months, considering the developments that have been announced.
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians just broke ground on a $40 million expansion that will include hotel rooms, a spa and 250-seat buffet restaurant in Canyonville.
As many as 200 people are expected to work on the hotel expansion during construction, while more than 100 jobs will be added to the casino and resort's overall employment.
Construction is near completion on PETCO and is due to get under way soon on a Sonic drive-in and Walgreens, all in Roseburg and Costco continues to eye the area.
When talk of unemployment is framed with an expanded business community, the rate seems less ominous. But the workers who want the jobs being created will have to stand out among their peers, because the competition for good jobs in this county could remain stiff.