Oregon Public Broadcasting

The rural unemployment picture remains dismal in Central Oregon. April Baer reports that the July numbers showed little improvement in some of the state's most economically depressed counties.

Summer numbers are tricky. Teachers and other school employees head out on break, and seasonal jobs open up for landscapers, rafting guides, and summer help at resorts.

This year, stimulus spending bolstered July's construction numbers, but the net result may be flat, showing that layoffs have been avoided. 

Crook County's jobless rate is down three point seven points from June, but at 18.7 percent,  regional economist Carolyn Eagan says it's still the highest unemployment in the state.

Carolyn Eagan   "There probably are some families choosing to leave Crook County right now, because the search for work has become difficult."

Deschutes County showed slight improvement at 15.3 percent. But the county containing Bend has about twice as many people out of work as this time last year. Eagan says it's hard to say if the situation is leveling out.