November 18, 2009
By Heather Hintze
EUGENE, Ore. -- Oregon's unemployment rate for October remained unchaged from September, despite the 1,900 jobs lost last month. Analysts say this could be the result of a declining labor force.
The employment department shows nearly 8,000 jobs were list the last two months, but the unemployment rate has remained at 11.3 percent in those two months. Experts say one reason for the declining labor force is that people have simply given up looking for jobs.
Last month, more than 200,000 Oregonians were out of work. Lane County's unemployment numbers for October will be out next week.
