Oregon Adds 23,000 Additional Jobs in the Health Care and Social Assistance Industries

Jobs in the health care and social assistance industries are booming, with 23,000 additional net posts filled last year, says Oregon state economist Carl Riccadonna.

But Construction and Manufacturing is Lagging

However, the outlook for the construction and manufacturing industries is not as bright.

The construction industry cut 2,000 net jobs, and the manufacturing sector another 1,000 posts, says Riccadonna in Oregon’s quarterly revenue forecast.

Lopsided Distribution of Jobs

The labor market is superficially strong because of the lopsided distribution of new jobs, says the state economist.

He said four-fifths of new jobs were gained by social assistance and health care, offering positions in daycare, services for disabled and elderly persons, nursing, and positions in doctors’ and dentists’ practices.

Significant job gains were also recorded by the public sector, an employment giver that has taken longer than other job categories to recover after the pandemic, adding 7,000 positions.

Most concerning to economists and lawmakers is the decline in job creation by construction and manufacturing. Riccadonna says the trend is national and not confined to Oregon.

The 3,000 jobs lost by both industries over the last 12 months do not include the 1,300 workers laid off by Intel in mid-October.

However, on the bright side has been the sharp increase in factory work hours, averaging above 40 hours a week, says Riccadonna, pointing out that the increased work hours indicated increased demand, ‘…often a precursor in employment fortunes.’

References

Oregon Insight: https://www.oregonlive.com/oregoninsight/