Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Lane County's jobless rate was 5.5 percent in December, matching the statewide rate and closing in on the national rate of 4.9 percent, according to figures released Friday by the Oregon Employment Department.

"It's been a while

The December rate rose just a hair from a revised 5.4 percent in November, the department found. December's rate was 1.1 percentage points lower than the 6.6 percent rate recorded in December 2004.

The number of unemployed people increased by 48 from November, and was 2,208 lower than December 2004.

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,100 to 150,400 in December, which was 2,600 higher than December 2004, for an annualized gain of 1.8 percent.

Most of the gains were from a seasonal boost in hiring in retail trade, and in administrative and support services, the department said.

The job gains seem to bode well for the local economy.

"We just keep chugging along with fairly decent year-over-year employment gains, and the unemployment rate keeps falling," Rooney said.

A December rate of 5.5 percent is low for this area, he said, "and I think it will be interesting in the next few months to see how much lower it goes."

Most areas of the state experience a decline in employment in December, Rooney said. But in Lane County, winter holiday hiring tends to even out the loss of outdoor-related jobs, such as construction, he said.

Retailers added 400 jobs to handle the holiday shopping rush, for a total of 19,300. Professional and business services, which includes temporary employment firms and customer service call centers, increased by 900, for a total of 18,000. Publishing software and other information-related employers added 100. Leisure and hospitality declined by 200.

In manufacturing, employment rose by 100, with a loss of 100 in wood products, which was countered by a gain of 200 in other durable goods. Nondurable goods held steady for the month.

Natural resources and mining lost 100 jobs and construction lost 200, for a total of 7,000.

Employment at all levels of government rose by 100. Federal government increased by 100. State government gained 200. Local government lost 200 jobs, half of them in education and half in other government jobs.