Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Review: OSF's 'Roe' frames a contentious piece of history with compassion ... RCC poised to expand again ... Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses ... Review: OSF's 'Roe' frames a contentious piece of history with compassion ... RCC poised to expand again ... Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses ... JACKSON COUNTY EMPLOYMENT Construction industry finding it tough to add workers Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Apr. 19, 2016 at 4:26 PM Updated Apr 19, 2016 at 5:43 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Apr. 19, 2016 at 4:26 PM Updated Apr 19, 2016 at 5:43 PM » Social News The employment numbers kicked out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics look good on the surface. Jackson County's jobless rate was a seasonally adjusted 5.1 percent in March, according to the federal agency's estimates, down a notch from 5.2 percent in February and solidly below the 6.3 percent figure a year ago. There were 93,757 people on payrolls in March, up 469 from February and an increase of 5,280 from a year earlier. Yet, some unsettling trends remain. "Despite the tighter job market and job growth, not all industries are seeing the best of times," said Guy Tauer, a regional economist for the Oregon Employment Department. He points out that the construction sector, a mainstay in the region's economy, has yet to produce job numbers equal those of 2004 to 2006, before the Great Recession. "It's harder to get speculative financing, and there's a lack of available space to build," he said. "That's part of the reason why despite population growth, low (rental) vacancy and rising home prices, we haven't seen a quicker snap back in residential building in Jackson County. Building permits are a forward-looking indicator. They're slightly better than at the depths of the recession, but far from our peak years of 2004 to 2006." Although residential and commercial construction projects dot the landscape, only 200 jobs have been added in the past 12 months. With Central Oregon builders Palisch Homes and Hayden Homes going full tilt on local developments, it is possible the jobs are showing up in Deschutes County totals. Southern Oregon Builders Association Executive Officer Brad Bennington receives telephone calls every day requesting help to find workers for projects, or from contractors seeking skilled laborers or subcontractors, but there aren't enough to go around. "We need more workers than we have right now," he said. "The main reason you're not seeing more building is that once you've hit the maximum, you've hit the maximum. Just about every available construction worker you can get your hands on is working." With the construction workforce down 60 percent from a decade ago, Bennington doesn't expect to see change in the near future. "You just can't snap your fingers and wave a magic wand and create more skilled laborers in every skilled labor category. Until we can grow more workers or import more, we're operating at pretty close to 90 percent capacity." General residential construction labor pay is between $15 and $20, Bennington estimates. That's a figure that may entice some new blood, but other sectors are finding it difficult to fill openings, as well. Brenda Edwards, regional manager for Personnel Source, said production and manufacturing jobs are going unfilled for a variety of reasons, ranging from the cost of living to screening requirements and financial incentives. Starting pay, even if it leads to more substantial opportunities, often fails to reel in applicants. "Production and manufacturing positions coming in under $30,000 per year are not real attractive to most people seeking work," Edwards said. "They may have great upside potential for bigger and better things, but the cost of living in Southern Oregon historically is higher than other regions. A new employee is not very well enticed to accept a position where their rent is higher than other areas and transportation is a challenge." Another part of the equation, she said, is that people receiving government assistance aren't ready to move. "My observations are the incentive to leave the public benefit programs is nonexistent until a wage gets close to $17 to $18 an hour. The charts I've seen show jobs at a level below that are competing with public welfare programs, which in general are worth $16.50 an hour." She said some businesses caught in the competitive squeeze in hiring new workers are reviewing their screening criteria. "They're changing the way they look at people with a criminal background and reconsidering very new workers outside their expected profile for production and manufacturing positions," Edwards said. "I'm sure they are spending more for overtime, too." —Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Apr. 19, 2016 at 4:26 PM Updated Apr 19, 2016 at 5:43 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501