The Oregonian reports that the state lost 15,900 construction jobs between January 2009 and January 2010, falling from 82,300 to 66,400. That’s a 19 percent fall and 6th highest in the country, according to figures from the Associated General Contractors of America. The only state’s with biggest percentage drops were Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Florida. Washington state was right behind Oregon, also at 19 percent.
This latest report comes on the heels of another Oregonian investigation showing that the state has has grossly exaggerated the number of jobs created by the legislature's stimulus program, called "Go Oregon." The newspaper found that on average, Go Oregon jobs lasted only about two weeks and did little or nothing to dent the state's bleak employment outlook.
The Oregonian recalls that the legislation was put on a fast track and zipped through both legislative chambers. Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed the bill just hours after it emerged from the House, saying it would "help families and get our economy moving."
But contractors say the program, which will cost Oregon's general fund more than $300 million over 20 years because of interest rates, has done little to cushion their industry's free fall.
"It's been a huge disappointment," said John Killin, president of Associated Builders and Contractors, whose members are scraping for every bit of work they can find. Since 2007, the number of construction workers in Oregon has fallen from a peak of 114,000 to fewer than 68,000, he said.
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