Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's unemployment rate was unchanged in August, remaining a full percentage point higher than the national average, at 10.6 percent.

Oregon's jobless rate peaked this time last year at 11.2 percent. But has now bounced around at about 10.5 percent for 10 months.

State employment economist, Nick Beleiciks thinks employers are reluctant to hire because of the weak economy.

Nick Beleiciks: "Some of them are able to make a profit with the workers that they have and are waiting to hire until they can see if there'll be sustained strength in the economy in the future."

The leisure, construction and government sectors all lost jobs in August. Those losses were partially offset by job gains in the professional and business sectors.

The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis is predicting unemployment may increase slightly in the third quarter, then gradually start dropping by the end of the year.