Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Lane County's jobless rate fell slightly in May to 5.2 percent, down from 5.4 percent in April, but still higher than a year ago, according to the state Employment Department. The increase in nonfarm employment from April to May was more

"We usually would have gone up 810," he said Monday, mostly because of seasonal increases in construction and in leisure and hospitality. The actual increase recorded by the department in May was 600.

For the first time since October 1996, the county's monthly jobless rate matched the national rate - but for very different reasons this time, Rooney said. "Last time, we were coming out of a recession and a period of rapid growth in the mid '90s in this area. This time, we're in a national economic slow down, and the rest of the country is in more of an economic downturn than the local area."

The local rate in May was just under the Oregon rate, 5.3 percent.

Lane County's rate in May was up one-half percentage point from 4.7 percent in May 2007. The number of unemployed in May was down 218 from April, but up 1,153 from last May.

Government accounted for the single biggest employment gain in Lane County in May, adding 300, mostly summer employees of local governments.

Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Springfield hired about 38 people from May 15 through June 30 last year, said Pam Caples, the district's administrative services director. The district is set to hire a similar number this year, she said.

A gain of 100 in other durable goods manufacturing, such as high-tech and machinery, and a gain of 100 in nondurable goods manufacturing, such as food processing, canceled out a loss of 100 in wood products and a loss of 100 in transportation equipment.

Construction showed a gain of 100 in May, about equivalent to the gains recorded in May 2007 and in May 2006, Rooney said.

Other sectors that recorded a gain of 100 in May were retail, health care, and administrative and support services, which includes call centers and temporary firms. Information, a category that includes software and publishing, lost 100 in May.

Rooney said he'll be interested to see whether the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials has much impact on Lane County's employment figures.