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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 Home News Latest Stories Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal Public Meetings: Feb. 2-6 Super cheerleader Restaurant Inspections Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Emergency services UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Former Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb dies Man who allegedly almost robbed Purple Parrot returns Politics and Elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten State boosts class time expectation A wealth of experience Environment Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Public sounds off on gas pipeline Mt. Ashland ski area announces layoffs Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho State News 'Seven Wonders' ads pay off, Oregon park officials say Sales call leads to rescue of beaten woman Feds: Oregon logging rules don't protect fish, water Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Oregonians face Feb. 15 health insurance deadline Nation - World Obituaries Nordica Mae Irvin William (Bill) Earl Shewman III A Celebration of Life for Karen Weaver Joseph Richard �Rich� Halliday, Jr. Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Detroit downs Houston, ends four-game skid Kennedy earns 200th win as Raiders roll Hunters lead North swimmers to victory Spartans romp past Seattle Bucks cap fine week at Blazers' expense Varsity 541 College Sports Kennedy earns 200th win as Raiders roll Defense keys No. 7 OSU's rout of USC Duke knocks Virginia from unbeaten ranks West has double-double, key basket in triumph Young's hoop leads Oregon over Arizona State Pro Sports Detroit downs Houston, ends four-game skid Bucks cap fine week at Blazers' expense Sons represent Seau at Hall ceremony Rodgers MVP, Watt sweeps defensive votes Clutch putts keep Laird in lead Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Homes for the long haul Blog: Southern Oregon Business Conference 2014: Gross, unadulterated enthusiasm Blog: Better than Ordinary...Extraordinary! Medford moving up in economic rankings Umpqua now largest community bank on West Coast Real Estate News Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Agriculture Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Letters to the Editor, Feb. 1 Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you George Will: Our annual season of wretched excess Dana Milbank: Bernie Sanders is right to be outraged Editorials Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Other Views: Nothing to see here; move along Our View: Improving graduation rates isn't easy Our View: Revving up the gas tax debate Our View: Updating Oregon's presence in the U.S. Capitol Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 1 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 30 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 29 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Guest Opinions Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline A fair shot for all: addressing our low-wage crisis Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Lifestyle Latest stories Southern Oregon Journal: Discovery of the Bigfoot brownie Some like it hot Time with the Tiger-lilies Pet of the Week — meet Fuzz Charleston's Marine Life Center eyes spring opening Food Community blog: Raise a cup of bone broth to better health Good to the Bone Gail Ciampa: Marcona almonds make this a salad with substance The next Pike Place Market? Food for Thought: These healthy Super Bowl snacks are game-changers Home and Garden Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Home Help: 5 ways to revamp your outdoor living space this year Paint a room or two in a weekend Dear Monty: Sell home now? Or wait until summer? Health Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health HealthStyle: Are you in an unhealthy relationship? Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Old stained-glass windows face threats Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Eric Johnson and Mike Stern at The Rogue Theatre Alcyon Massive and Frankie Hernandez play acoustic at Howiee's Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Theater Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Music Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense ... Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you ... Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense ... Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you ... EMPLOYMENT December report shows jobless rate improving Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 26, 2015 @ 4:51 pm Updated Jan 27, 2015 at 8:52 AM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 26, 2015 @ 4:51 pm Updated Jan 27, 2015 at 8:52 AM » Social News Thanks to local manufacturers and retailers, more people worked in Jackson County last month than in December 2013. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Monday there were 1,070 more job holders here during the holiday shopping crunch than a year earlier. Just as national and state jobless figures have declined, Jackson County saw its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edge down to 8.4 percent in December from 8.6 percent in November and 9.1 percent a year earlier. Oddly enough, however, several hundred more people had jobs here during November. The government counts employment by place of work, not the employee's residence. It does not distinguish full-time from part-time work in its monthly reports. Ignoring those vagaries of government figures, 90,658 people worked in Jackson County in December, compared with 91,293 in November and 89,588 during December 2013. Nikki Jones of Express Employment Professionals in Medford said she has found steady job creation locally in the industries with which she works. "If you're talking job creation, and the changes we've seen in the last six months, the majority — 80 percent — are full-time in nature," Jones said. "The real change has been in the overall volume. The full-time jobs have been there, but there are just a lot more of them." Jones has a book of 400 associates hoping to catch on with employers. "Manufacturing has kicked into gear, and we're seeing full-time requests in that sector," she said. Her contacts range from plastic mode injection and fiberglass security case makers to general wood products, electronics and cabinetry firms. Food production, large and small, has picked up as well, she said. "Where you see more part-time employment is in retail," she said. "I don't necessarily work with retailers, but I do see a lot of part-time positions posted." During the preceding 12 months, payroll employment grew at a 3.7 percent rate, adding 2,940 jobs. Manufacturing accounted for 350 additional jobs, and retailers handed out 850 more paychecks. "The numbers show things are starting to hit on all cylinders," said Guy Tauer, a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department. "That's the good news." The bad news lies to the south and Mount Ashland. "There's no snow, so there aren't people skiing, so there aren't people being employed," Tauer said. While a variety of sectors steadily have added to their staffs, leisure and hospitality isn't among them. Neither is financial activities. "Leisure and hospitality is pretty much unchanged from a year ago," Tauer said. "It's been a growth sector for a while, but it's pretty much taken a breather year-over-year." Following the economic nosedive launched by the housing bubble, federal government average weekly hours data show Jackson County didn't surpass the 35-hour mark for workers in the private sector until last year. Again, both limited-hour employees and those working overtime are mixed together. Jackson County employees worked 34.3 hours per week last month, down from 35.3 hours in December 2013. In November, the average weekly hours number was 34.7, very similar to the 34.8 hours a year earlier. "We have a lot of project workers, where they are needed less than five days, so they end up working less than 40 hours," Jones said. "And we have people taking on projects who already work, so they can go beyond 40 hours." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 26, 2015 @ 4:51 pm Updated Jan 27, 2015 at 8:52 AM » 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. 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 Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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