Oregon Public Broadcasting

Crook County has the highest unemployment rate in the state.

More than 10 percent of workers in the fast-growing central Oregon county do not have a job.

That’s according to the regional statistics released by the Oregon Employment Department Monday.

State workforce analyst Jan Swander says the national economic slowdown has clearly reached the state.

She says central Oregon may be one of the hardest-hit places.

Jan Swander: “Probably a big factor on that was manufacturing, and especially wood products that have been hit so hard, and suffered from the housing decline. And we see leisure and hospitality, summer peak industries, adjust their labor force for the winter months, which is normal.”

The unemployment rate in Deschutes County, home to Bend, jumped to 8.1 percent. That’s its worst employment status since 1990.

Statewide, 7.3 percent of workers are unemployed – the highest level since August of 2004.