Statement by Governor Kulongoski on December 2005 Unemployment Rate
(Salem) "Today’s announcement about Oregon’s unemployment rate shows that our economic growth is not only steady, but outpacing national trends.
"Oregon’s unemployment continues to decline, and our job growth continues to reach new highs. More Oregonians have jobs today than at any other time in our state’s history, and our economic growth ranks sixth in the nation.
"Today's numbers show we're heading in the right direction, and continue to grow our economy. Oregon’s job growth is twice the rate of the national average for all industries. In the private sector alone we’re growing at 4.1 percent, compared to the national average of 1.6 percent.
"Manufacturing jobs have declined by 0.3 percent over the last year at the national level, but in Oregon our manufacturing jobs have increased by 9300 – a growth, not decline, of 4.6 percent. Construction jobs are also up by 14 percent in Oregon, which is more than four times the rate of national growth.
"Our investments in capital construction and transportation infrastructure are generating thousands of family-wage jobs. By doubling the Oregon Opportunity Grants, we’re giving more than 60,000 Oregonians the opportunity to go to college, community college or access to skills training. This important investment supports the growth and success of our high-performance industries, such as manufacturing and technology development, while creating more learning and earning potential for all our citizens and all our communities.
"The bottom line is that we should continue to invest in what works. Today’s numbers confirm the wisdom of doing just that."
- Governor Ted Kulongoski
Media Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6496
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