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Klamath growth of jobs best in state
Published Wednesday April 13, 2005
By ANGELA TORRETTA
If it feels like you're seeing a lot more bustle around Klamath County, you're right.
According to officials who monitor employment in Oregon, the number of jobs in Klamath County in February was up by more than 7 percent from last year at the same time.
It's the highest growth rate of any county in the state, said Steve Williams, a regional economist for the Oregon Employment Department. However, he cautioned that the number doesn't reflect the year as a whole. That number will be significantly smaller, he thinks.
Instead, it shows a good recovery from a number of job cuts the Klamath Basin had at about the same time last year.
The Employment Department doesn't do projections for the county's growth, but Williams thinks the year-end number will be in the 1 to 5 percent range.
The overall job growth from 2003 to 2004 was 1.1 percent.
The 7.2 percent growth is still a positive indicator, though, he said, and should give local economic developers validation in their feeling that the economy in the county is improving.
"It's good, because although folks might think things are going really good, this substantiates that," he said.
The biggest spike in the number of jobs are increases in construction, with 110 more jobs this February than last, and retail, with 200 new jobs.
Williams said the rebound is in part because of national trends of increased consumerism, but he also credited local economic development officials who moved quickly to replace lost business after the Sykes Enterprise call center closed early last year.
The National Electronic Warranty Corp. was opened the same year, adding 660 jobs to the local economy.
"Replacing those jobs, that's a lot of the health we're seeing here," he said.
The Employment Department gathers numbers by surveying about 200 local businesses and government entities monthly.
Every county in the state participates, but the Portland metro area consists of a five-county area tallied separately.
Keeping track of these numbers helps businesses who are thinking about locating to an area or expanding their already existing facility. It also helps local governments decide which sectors they could use more of.
Despite good job growth, Klamath County continues to lag behind the rest of the state in employment.
The county was up to 10 percent unemployment in February, compared to 7.4 percent at the statewide level and 5.8 percent nationally.
That number doesn't account for seasonal retail layoffs that are standard after the holiday season.
In February 2004, the jobless rate was 12.3 percent.
The numbers don't include any farm industry.
Klamath County saw losses in the manufacture of nondurable goods, retail jobs in grocery stores, and federal government jobs. All of those losses were accounted for about 60 jobs total.
The number of increases in jobs in Klamath County was followed by Clatsop County, home to Astoria, at 6.6 percent and Crook County, with Prineville and Redmond, at 5.8 percent.
Wheeler County, which borders Crook, lost about 8 percent of its jobs in the same time period.
By ANGELA TORRETTA
If it feels like you're seeing a lot more bustle around Klamath County, you're right.
According to officials who monitor employment in Oregon, the number of jobs in Klamath County in February was up by more than 7 percent from last year at the same time.
It's the highest growth rate of any county in the state, said Steve Williams, a regional economist for the Oregon Employment Department. However, he cautioned that the number doesn't reflect the year as a whole. That number will be significantly smaller, he thinks.
Instead, it shows a good recovery from a number of job cuts the Klamath Basin had at about the same time last year.
The Employment Department doesn't do projections for the county's growth, but Williams thinks the year-end number will be in the 1 to 5 percent range.
The overall job growth from 2003 to 2004 was 1.1 percent.
The 7.2 percent growth is still a positive indicator, though, he said, and should give local economic developers validation in their feeling that the economy in the county is improving.
"It's good, because although folks might think things are going really good, this substantiates that," he said.
The biggest spike in the number of jobs are increases in construction, with 110 more jobs this February than last, and retail, with 200 new jobs.
Williams said the rebound is in part because of national trends of increased consumerism, but he also credited local economic development officials who moved quickly to replace lost business after the Sykes Enterprise call center closed early last year.
The National Electronic Warranty Corp. was opened the same year, adding 660 jobs to the local economy.
"Replacing those jobs, that's a lot of the health we're seeing here," he said.
The Employment Department gathers numbers by surveying about 200 local businesses and government entities monthly.
Every county in the state participates, but the Portland metro area consists of a five-county area tallied separately.
Keeping track of these numbers helps businesses who are thinking about locating to an area or expanding their already existing facility. It also helps local governments decide which sectors they could use more of.
Despite good job growth, Klamath County continues to lag behind the rest of the state in employment.
The county was up to 10 percent unemployment in February, compared to 7.4 percent at the statewide level and 5.8 percent nationally.
That number doesn't account for seasonal retail layoffs that are standard after the holiday season.
In February 2004, the jobless rate was 12.3 percent.
The numbers don't include any farm industry.
Klamath County saw losses in the manufacture of nondurable goods, retail jobs in grocery stores, and federal government jobs. All of those losses were accounted for about 60 jobs total.
The number of increases in jobs in Klamath County was followed by Clatsop County, home to Astoria, at 6.6 percent and Crook County, with Prineville and Redmond, at 5.8 percent.
Wheeler County, which borders Crook, lost about 8 percent of its jobs in the same time period.
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Ralph Sayre wrote on Jan 31, 2009 6:13 AM:
" I've just read an article (2005) titled "Discarded Soul at Peace."
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
I'm trying to complete a bio for an ancestor, VIRGIL ELROY SNOW, who was born in Roane County, West Virginia 2 December 1884. Last info I have was that at age 48, he was killed in Klamath Falls by a hit and run.
There is no indication that he fathered children. We were hopeful that there may have been a male child to carry on the SNOW name.
If anyone knows, please email me.
Thanks,
Ralph Sayre in WV "
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Ilene S wrote on May 21, 2009 9:36 AM: