Byline: Ilene Aleshire The Register-Guard

February's unemployment figures brought a dose of unalloyed good news for Lane County.

Unemployment was down significantly compared to a year ago, a broad variety of industries created new jobs, and there were indications that the local

"We're getting back to the same employment levels we had in 2000, which was the peak for Oregon," said Brian Rooney, a regional labor economist with the state Employment Department. "We've gained back the jobs we lost in the recession."

The Lane County unemployment rate in February was 7.3 percent, almost a full point lower than about a year ago, when it hit 8.2 percent. The local unemployment rates aren't adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, so year-to-year comparisons are considered the most accurate reflection of what's happening in the economy.

A total of 3,282 new jobs were created in the past 12 months, according to figures released Monday by the state. "For this area to be growing by 3,000 to 4,000 jobs is a pretty good base," Rooney said. "This matches the kind of growth we had in the mid- to late '90s. We'll see if it can be as sustained."

A little over one-third of the new jobs were in what's called "durable goods" manufacturing - items that last a long time, like vehicles. "They had a pretty good rebound from the recession in 2002 and 2003," Rooney said.

Local RV manufacturers accounted for a lot of the increase in manufacturing jobs, he said. But industries across the board were adding workers, he said. "It's a pretty broad-based recovery."

"Health care was up some, professional and business services was up, even government is up some," Rooney said.

The leisure and hospitality industry, which had been hard-hit by the sluggish economy and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has been adding jobs again. "This has just been since last year; people are starting to travel more," Rooney said.

About the only area that's been flat, he said, is the information sector, which includes the media and some technology companies. Improvements in technology have kept a lid on job growth.

There are a couple of clouds on the horizon - higher oil prices and rising interest rates - Rooney said. "But nothing immediate. It looks like for several months we'll be moving (econ- omically)."

One good sign is an increase in the number of jobs in professional and business services, he said. That category includes temporary workers.

" A lot of companies will hire temp workers when things start to get better," Rooney said. "Once they're convinced that the recovery is in place, that things are really getting better, they'll turn to permanent employees."