Oregon Public Broadcasting

Twelve of the Oregon’s 36 counties face 10 percent unemployment, according to state figures.

And the pain from the recession is especially acute in rural parts of the state.

Grant County, in eastern Oregon, has the highest unemployment rate in the state -- at 15.9 percent.

That’s almost three times its unemployment rate from just a year ago.

Jason Yohannon is the state economist in La Grande.

Jason Yohannon: “There is an industry mix in some counties of eastern Oregon that include industries that have not fared well. There are still several communities out here that still are very timber dependent. In Union County, as well, recreational vehicle manufacturing has been hit pretty hard.”

Yohannan says rural Oregon is particularly affected by economic trends, because its employment base is so small.

For instance, if a company lays off 10 people in La Grande, it has a much bigger impact than if the same thing happens in Portland.