OLMIS

by Gail Krumenauer
Published Jul-21-2010

No, that's not a typo in the title. Despite the massive construction job losses across Oregon, a few areas saw gains in private-sector construction employment between 2007 and 2009. These three counties, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler, were certainly the exception to the rule. As shown on the map, steep declines in construction employment occurred across the state over the two-year period.

As expected, the majority of private-sector construction jobs loss between 2007 and 2009 occurred in metropolitan areas, where most construction activity is concentrated. The five counties that shed the largest number of construction jobs over the period were Washington (-4333), Multnomah (-4210), Deschutes (-3929), Clackamas (-2911), and Marion (-2911). In terms of the portion of jobs lost, Morrow and Deschutes counties experienced the largest rate of decline over the period, 81percent and 51 percent respectively. Over half of Oregon's counties shed between 20 percent and 40 percent of their private-sector construction employment between 2007 and 2009.