South Coast Economic Indicators - June 2023

Attached are June’s South Coast indicators with the latest May data but you can also view them by following this QualityInfo link.

South Coast Oregon’s Economy

Coos County gained 280 jobs over the year in May 2023 and Curry County employment gained 30 jobs. Both counties saw gains in leisure and hospitality. Both counties also saw unemployment rates drop over the month. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8% for both counties. You can find the latest South Coast Employment Press Release that dives deeper into industry specific employment details here:

• South Coast Employment in May

Special Topic: How Has Tourism Fared Throughout the Pandemic?

The special topic this month looks at one of the many moving pieces that make up the Southern Oregon Tourism industry: overnight travelers which we can track via Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT). Transient guests are charged a percentage of the rent for their overnight accommodation, hence why it is often referred to as the “bed tax.” This indicator gives good insight on the general health of tourism for an area.

To learn more about the varying TOT rates for an area, check out the data from TravelStats here:  Oregon Transient Occupancy Tax Rates.

Curry County was one of the few counties that actually had more transient guests at the onset of the pandemic.

Good Labor Market Reads

• Oregon’s Child Care Industry – By Jessica Nelson on QualityInfo

• Recruitment and Retention in a Tight Labor Market – By Henry Fields on QualityInfo

• Oregon’s Natural Population Continued to Decrease in 2022 – By Luke Coury on Quality Info

• Oregon’s Forestry and Logging Industry: From Planting to Harvest – By Brian Rooney on Quality Info

Thanks for reading, don’t hesitate to reach out with data questions or if you have a suggestion for the next special topic!

Carlos D. Diaz

Workforce Analyst/ Economist

Quality Information, Informed Choices | Qualityinfo.org