Jobless rate jumps upward

SANDPOINT - In what is becoming a disheartening trend, Bonner County's unemployment rate rose once again in December.

The county's jobless rate jumped from 6.9 percent in November to 7.7 percent in December. The figures, released this week by the Idaho Department of Labor, are just the latest in a months-long trend that has seen the county's unemployment more than double in a year's time. The county's unemployment in December 2007 was 3.3 percent.

As has been the case in previous months, many of the lost jobs came from the timber industry, said Kathryn Tacke, a regional economist with the Department of Labor.

"Most of it has to do with the terrible troubles in the timber industry in Bonner County, but it also has to do with general weakness in the economy and a continued decline in construction and related industries."

Despite the steady upward trend in unemployment figures, Bonner County rates near the middle of the pack, statewide. Of Idaho's 44 county's, Bonner County has the 18th highest jobless rate.

The times are certainly tough, but Tacke said Sandpoint's economy has remained relatively strong.

"One of the things that really surprises me is the vitality of the Sandpoint area. It really has not taken any major hits," Tacke said. "The manufacturing sector is still performing extremely well, despite the troubles that the U.S. manufacturing sector continues to face."

Sandpoint is weathering the storm, but the same cannot be said of Priest River, according to Tacke.

"It's really a tough time, especially if you go over to Priest River right now, where it seems like it's just one piece of bad news after another," she said.

The Department of Labor does not measure unemployment in individual cities, but Tacke said she believes the jobless rate in Priest River could be as high as 20 percent, while Sandpoint's rate could be as low as 5 percent.

All of the numbers add up to a staggering and historic recession that Tacke said will likely continue for months to come.

"The majority of opinions, when looking at the national economy, don't expect a turnaround until May or June, if we're lucky," Tacke said. "That will make this the longest recession we've had since the Great Depression."