Oregon's unemployment rate remained flat in September at 5.3 percent. But behind the figures released Monday is a continuing decline in manufacturing jobs this year as sawmills close and truck and recreational-vehicle makers gear down.
Although factory employment held even last month, avoiding a usual seasonal drop, economists cited a longer-term trend: the loss of 6,900 manufacturing jobs, or 3.3 percent, in a year.
The decline contributes to a slowing state economy as the national housing market turns down. Conditions would be worse if Oregon restaurants, bars and retailers weren't hiring so many workers to keep up with in-migration and restaurant-chain expansion. Health care and education jobs are also up.
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