Oregon Public Broadcasting

The state’s employment department released November’s regional unemployment data Monday.

Once again, Crook County -- in central Oregon -- has the highest unemployment rate in the state. Although this month, Grant County shares the unfortunate ranking.  Both claim a 12.4-percent unemployment rate.

Scott Cooper is the Crook County judge.

Scott Cooper: “They always say, when the country gets a cold, Oregon gets the flu. And when Oregon gets the flu, Crook County gets pneumonia. Well, welcome to pneumonia.”

Cooper says the problem is two-fold: Crook County and Prineville continue to boast high population growth. At the same time, the region’s construction jobs have basically evaporated.

Only three Oregon counties have unemployment rates lower than 6 percent. The state’s overall unemployment rate is 8.1-percent, adjusted for seasonal swings.

And the national unemployment rate stands at 6.7 percent.