By ED MERRIMAN

Baker City Herald

Baker County’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.4 percent to 6.5 percent from March to April, according to figures released this week by the Oregon Employment Department.

April’s 6.5 percent unemployment rate was Baker County’s lowest since last November, but the figure exceeds the 6–percent rate from April 2007, and it remained 1 percent above the statewide unemployment rate of 5.5 percent.

The national unemployment rate is 5 percent.

andquot;Year-to-date labor force figures for Baker County suggest that, on average, more people are competing for available job openings this year,andquot; according the department’s June workforce analysis.

Among counties in Northeastern Oregon, Baker County’s 6.5 percent unemployment rate was the lowest, compared to 11 percent in Grant County, 8.6 percent in Harney County, 8.4 percent in Wallowa County, 7.2 percent in Malheur County and 6.7 percent in Union County.

The report went on to say that Eastern Oregon’s economy has become less seasonal in recent years, andquot;but there’s no denying that plenty of seasonality still exists.andquot;

All employment categories for Baker County were stable or expanding from March to April, with preliminary estimates showing a 130-job increase, from 5,350 people employed in March to 5,480 employed in April.

Total employment reported for Baker County for the month of April included 4,200 private sector positions, up from 4,100 in April 2007.

Private sector employment across Baker County in April included: Natural resources (lumber and mining) 20, down from 30 a year ago; construction 290, up from 280; manufacturing 640; trade, transportation and utilities 1,000, up from 980; information 80, up from 70; financial activities 220, down from 230; professional and business services 320, up form 300; educational and health services 720, up from 690; leisure and hospitality 640, up from 630; other services 270, up from 250.

Government employment at 1,280 was identical to April 2007, although federal employment dropped from 210 to 200, state employment increased from 270 to 280 and local employment remained unchanged at 800.