Oregon Public Broadcasting

Another month, another big jump in Oregon’s unemployment rate.  New figures released Tuesday show the jobless rate climbed to nine percent in December.  

That’s the highest it’s been since 1985.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

State economists say at the current pace, Oregon could hit double-digit unemployment in a matter of months.  The rate has rocketed upwards, gaining more than three points since July.  It’s well above the national average.

People apply for jobs and benefits at a state unemployment office in Tigard.

So many jobless claims are coming in, state employees are working nights and weekends to process them.  But new applications keep flooding in at places like this unemployment office in Tigard.

Dorothy McCarthy lost her job recently at a copier service company.  She says she has enough savings to keep her going for three or four weeks.

Dorothy McCarthy:  “That’s about how long that I have before I really start really panicking.”

State lawmakers want to put some people back to work building roads and classrooms.  They’ll consider a $100 million public works construction package later this week.

Idaho’s unemployment rate went up to 6.6 percent in December.  Figures for Washington state will be released Wednesday.

Online:

Oregon Unemployment Claims